Lewis Family Tenant Agricultural Complex

The Lewis Family Tenant Agricultural Complex is a nineteenth-century example of an eighteenth-century building tradition. Hall/parlor plan buildings in Delaware were uncommon by the first decade of the nineteenth century. That this dwelling was erected in the fifth decade of that century is evidence of the maintenance of traditional architectural forms beyond their generally accepted period of use. The farm is also an excellent example of agricultural patterns during the nineteenth century. The farm was the property of both Delaware and out-of-state land speculators and later a part of a large holding for a local family.

The farmland was part of an original patent titled "Barnes Chance" which was granted in 1682. Secondary historical sources indicate that the land was farmed but there does not appear to have been a dwelling on this particular parcel. It had a long series of owners during the eighteenth century. In 1813 it became the property of Dr. Ezekiel Needham of Smyrna. Needham was principally a land speculator.

As the farmland in central Delaware was abused by poor farming practices during the eighteenth century, it became less valuable and productive. As a result, large numbers of farmers abandoned their land to speculators and moved to new lands in the West that had recently been made available for settlement. Individuals such as Needham purchased the farms of those leaving and rented them
out to tenants. Needham is listed in land records and local histories as the owner of huge blocks of land in the Smyrna/Dover area. In most cases, he bought intact agricultural farm complexes. This particular farm complex was not erected till 1850. Only the house survives from that first period of construction.

Upon Needham's death, the land became the property of his three sons who were all residents of Massachusetts. They held the land until 1845 when it was sold to William Lewis. Lewis was the head of a local family that had settled on a tract of land known as Tomahawk. That tract is just south of the complex under discussion. The Lewis family had arrived in Delaware from Wales in 1740. The Lewis family holdings were limited to the family farm and a few small holdings until William Lewis (1800 - 1872) took over the management of the family holdings.

William inherited the home farm upon his father's death in 1806. His father, Thomas, had died as the result of injuries that he had received in a log-rolling contest. He was bound out to a neighbor under whom he studied blacksmithing and carpentry. However, when he came of age, he took up farming. He increased the family holdings over time. The 1859 Byles Atlas of Kent County and the 1868 Beers Atlas of Delaware both show extensive holdings near the home farm. The principal crops were wheat and corn along with some dairy products.

The farm eventually became the property of his son Garrett L. Lewis. William Lewis had 12 children and was married to Ann Allaband, whose family were local farmers and mill owners. The home farm, Tomahawk was sold by William's oldest son in 1882. This tenant farm was sold out of the family in 1899. The conservative values of the Lewis family are evident in William's choice of the hall/parlor plan for the tenant's house. The use of a stair hall was well fixed as the dominant dwelling type by the mid-nineteenth century. While in
some instances, hall/parlor plan dwellings were erected for low-income housing, most of those were framed. This particular dwelling was erected in brick. Tax records indicate that the majority of domestic structures in central Delaware were framed. The fact that this is a brick building clearly indicates that it was not intended for use by common tenants. Since William Lewis had 12 children and this particular farm was given to his son. Garrett Lewis may have built it with the intention of providing family housing.