Alonzo Lewis



Alonzo Lewis (1794–1861) was a teacher, surveyor, writer, poet, reporter, editor, and publisher of Lynn, Massachusetts.

Life
He was born Aug. 28, 1794, son of Zachariah (1765–1810) and Mary (Hudson) Lewis, and grandson of Nathan and Mary (Newhall) Lewis. His siblings were Irene (born June 10, 1797), Mary (born Oct. 18, 1802), and Henry (born Nov. 3, 1807).

He was an ardent abolitionist and edited the Lynn Weekly Mirror, the Lynn Record (in 1830), and Freedom's Amulet. He created the 1829 Map of Lynn on order of the Lynn selectmen and Massachusetts Legislature. In 1838 he created a survey of Lynn Beach and Harbor for the US Congress.

Alonzo married Frances Maria Swan on Jan. 7, 1822. They had six children: Alonzo born Nov. 30, 1822 (married Esther Neal Oct. 8, 1847); Frances Maria born Oct. 17, 1824, died Aug. 28, 1826; Aurelius born Mar. 12, 1827, died May 7, 1828, aged 14 months; Lewellyn born Apr. 29, 1829; Arthur Lynnworth born Sept 2, 1831; and Thomas, who died Jan. 26, 1839; all in Lynn. Alonzo's wife Frances died May 27, 1839, aged 36.

Writing
He published three books of poetry between 1824 and 1834, and his collected poems were published posthumously in 1883.

He wrote and published The Picture of Nahant, printed by J. B. Tolman in 1845. He also wrote and published A Guide through Nahant with an account of its earliest inhabitants printed in 1851.

His History of Lynn was first published in 1829, printed by J. H. Eastburn in Boston with 260 pages. The second updated version was published in 1844, printed by Samuel N. Dickinson with 276 pages. This 1844 book identifies him as "The Lynn Bard." . James R. Newhall created an updated version in 1865, published by John L. Shorey with 620 pages. This was republished in 1890 by George C. Herbert.