Lewis Burwell, the son of Edward and Dorothy Burwell, was born ⁱⁿ England and baptized on 5 March 1622. He came to Virginia while still quite young with his mother and her second husband, Roger Wingate.

    In June 1648 he patented 2350 acres north of the York River along Rosewell Creek in the area that four years later became Gloucester County. The plantation became known as "Fairfield", and later "Carter's Creek".  In July 1648 his mother, Dorothy, appears in the records of York County conveying to Lewis all of the rents due at her husband's death. Lewis died in 1653 and his tombstone relates his position as a major  of Gloucester County.

    Lewis had married Lucy Higginson, daughter of Capt. Robert Higginson, commander at Middle Plantation, and they had one child, Lewis, born probably about 1652. The son inherited his father's estate and then married well so that by 1704 he held a total of 26,650 acres in seven counties.  In 1702 he was appointed to the council and was also a governor of the College of William and Mary.