74 The Story of The Bronx 



to one of his biographers, he "strolled away to Virginia and 

 thence to Jamaica in the West Indies, where, to support him- 

 self, he set up for a scrivener." One of his early pranks, so 

 it is reported, was played upon his preceptor, a zealous and 

 pious Friend. The worthy man was wandering in the woods 

 engaged in silent meditation, when he heard a voice from 

 heaven, as he supposed, telling him to go and preach the gospel 

 to the Indians. The voice w.as that of young Lewis, who was 

 hidden in a tree in the vicinity. The good Friend, believing 

 the command to be a divine one, actually made preparations 

 for his mission among the Indians; but just on the eve of his 

 departure he was informed of the truth. 



It is likely that his uncle presaged all sorts of futures for 

 such an unruly lad; but, instead of going to the dogs, as one 

 might suppose from such a beginning, he settled down, married 

 Isabella Graham, the daughter of the attorney-general of the 

 Province, took up his residence in New Jersey, whose first 

 governor he became when it ceased to be proprietary. Later 

 he removed to New York and became chief justice of the 

 Province and a member of the Assembly. He resisted the 

 tyranny of the English Governor, Cosby, stood by Zenger in 

 defending the liberty of the press, and became the champion 

 of the people against De Lancey, Philipse, and other supporters 

 of royal prerogatives as exemplified by the royal governors; 

 which last aroused such a spirit of mutual antagonism that 

 the feeling remained with their descendants until the time of 

 the Revolution. In fact, his whole life was spent in public 

 office and in serving the Province. 



On May 8, 1697, 



"Benjamin Fletcher, captain-general and governor-in-chief 

 of the province of New York and the territories and tracts 

 of land dependent thereon in America, and vice-admiral 



