Alonzo Lewis

Who was Alonzo Lewis?

Alonzo Lewis was a teacher, writer, surveyor, poet, reporter, editor, and publisher of Lynn, Massachusetts. He was an ardent abolitionist and edited the Lynn Weekly Mirror, the Lynn Record, 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.

He was born Aug. 28, 1794, son of Zachariah and Mary Lewis, and grandson of Nathan and Mary Lewis. His siblings were Irene, Mary, and Henry.

Alonzo married Frances Maria Swan on Jan. 7, 1822. They had six children: Alonzo, born Nov. 30, 1822; Frances Maria, born Oct. 17, 1824, died Aug. 28, 1826; Aurelius, born Mar. 12, 1827, died May 7, 1828 at age 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 age 36.

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.