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The Life and Adventures of David Lewis - The Robber and Counterfeiter, the Terror of the Cumberland Valley
Rare, reprinted book recording stories and sources of David Lewis adventures as a gentleman criminal and robber. Text provides a historical overview of Cumberland, Bedford, and Centre county in Pennsylvania, as well as details and locations where David Lewis traversed and evaded authorities.
Book reprinted in Breinigsville, PA.
Book reprinted in Breinigsville, PA.
84 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1890
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 18, 2025
An interesting read about some local history/legends.
May 17, 2017
This third generational reprinting (direct lineage of recopying the original text—not necessarily total editions) offers insight to thievery and criminal organizations in the region of Pennsylvania and surrounding states in the early 1800s. Using a historical overview (many references or sources are either not cited or reference poorly) of David Lewis's exploits and a summary of the regions he traversed, I was impressed the writing style is entertaining even today. This may be a combination of David Lewis's own account of his journey and that of his editor polishing the final work; but I am inclined to consider the editor may have been more faithful to making Lewis's last words and accounts read accurately with improvements to smoothness and with greater clarity given Lewis's implied personality.
Supposing the editor and Lewis were true to their words, David Lewis fell victim to being tormented by his earlier memories of being a robber and counterfeiter. His initial induction to a criminal career was a "petty offense" (it may have been more serious than he claimed) in the military, desertion and a double enlistment in the army. After nearly receiving the death sentence and receiving a pardon reduced to imprisonment, he escaped and started down the path of a career criminal.
What separated Lewis from other criminals is he was comparable to a modern-day Robbin Hood when he later shifted to primarily robbing the rich, aiding the poor and needy, and being a gentleman to man and lady alike. At least as much as a robber and counterfeiter may be. He was not known to kill anyone or brutally harm them, nor would he permit his fellow highwaymen to harm their victims either. His personally was also well received, and he was known to allow some of his targets to walk away unscathed after a conversation where he eventually revealed he was the David Lewis. His legacy may suggest genuine regret from a his entire criminal career. He claimed he tried to avoid this lifestyle later on, but always succumbed to the temptation. At least, before his death of what seemed to be an infected arm due to a gunshot wound during his capture.
I found the most significant of his remarks on pages 61-62, where he exclaimed, "When I look back on the my ill-spent life and endeavor to discover the cause or source of all my misfortunes and crimes have sprung and proceeded, I am inclined to trace their origin to the want of early instruction." Being the son of a poor widow, he believed affording schooling would have provided him—and other criminals like him—a better moral system had the Pennsylvania Legislature made education a public expense. Although I considered this potentially something added by the editor as propaganda, it may have been David Lewis's own words considering his later resentment for the rich oppressing the poor and his reflections on his life of crime. In many ways, his account seems his last chance at making right a life of crime by providing an example of avoiding crime and other related suggestions (something he would never see published as he died in Bellefonte's jail on July 13, 1820). In some cases, Lewis seems to stretch the truth in some recollections and stories, so I would caution readers to critically read his account. Whether stretched or not, he would defend others from seemingly undeserved ridicule in his recollections, such as a jailer who was (supposedly) wrongly ashamed for aiding in Lewis's and other criminals in their escape (Lewis claimed it was the ingenuity of him and those imprisoned). Concerning his regret, whether he was honest about it or was trying to save face (or a combination of the two) may be something up for debate.
Historians and researchers may find value in this book regarding the survey of areas where David Lewis acted. The first two chapters provide (mostly dry) period overview of geography, population, brief noteworthy regional culture, and names of significant people at the time. There are also non-cited allusions to or occasionally cited sources, stories about Lewis's life regarding why he was admired, and references to places & individuals he operated with. The remaining chapters are dedicated to Lewis life from his account. There are references to military enlistment, how counterfeit money was passed out, New York City crime, travel and transportation during the early days, robberies (mostly from a non-violence or avoiding-violence perspective), organized crime, farm land/buildings, gambling & college, jails, officers and arrests, and so forth. Please be aware this is a rare book reprinted by Kessinger Publishing.
Supposing the editor and Lewis were true to their words, David Lewis fell victim to being tormented by his earlier memories of being a robber and counterfeiter. His initial induction to a criminal career was a "petty offense" (it may have been more serious than he claimed) in the military, desertion and a double enlistment in the army. After nearly receiving the death sentence and receiving a pardon reduced to imprisonment, he escaped and started down the path of a career criminal.
What separated Lewis from other criminals is he was comparable to a modern-day Robbin Hood when he later shifted to primarily robbing the rich, aiding the poor and needy, and being a gentleman to man and lady alike. At least as much as a robber and counterfeiter may be. He was not known to kill anyone or brutally harm them, nor would he permit his fellow highwaymen to harm their victims either. His personally was also well received, and he was known to allow some of his targets to walk away unscathed after a conversation where he eventually revealed he was the David Lewis. His legacy may suggest genuine regret from a his entire criminal career. He claimed he tried to avoid this lifestyle later on, but always succumbed to the temptation. At least, before his death of what seemed to be an infected arm due to a gunshot wound during his capture.
I found the most significant of his remarks on pages 61-62, where he exclaimed, "When I look back on the my ill-spent life and endeavor to discover the cause or source of all my misfortunes and crimes have sprung and proceeded, I am inclined to trace their origin to the want of early instruction." Being the son of a poor widow, he believed affording schooling would have provided him—and other criminals like him—a better moral system had the Pennsylvania Legislature made education a public expense. Although I considered this potentially something added by the editor as propaganda, it may have been David Lewis's own words considering his later resentment for the rich oppressing the poor and his reflections on his life of crime. In many ways, his account seems his last chance at making right a life of crime by providing an example of avoiding crime and other related suggestions (something he would never see published as he died in Bellefonte's jail on July 13, 1820). In some cases, Lewis seems to stretch the truth in some recollections and stories, so I would caution readers to critically read his account. Whether stretched or not, he would defend others from seemingly undeserved ridicule in his recollections, such as a jailer who was (supposedly) wrongly ashamed for aiding in Lewis's and other criminals in their escape (Lewis claimed it was the ingenuity of him and those imprisoned). Concerning his regret, whether he was honest about it or was trying to save face (or a combination of the two) may be something up for debate.
Historians and researchers may find value in this book regarding the survey of areas where David Lewis acted. The first two chapters provide (mostly dry) period overview of geography, population, brief noteworthy regional culture, and names of significant people at the time. There are also non-cited allusions to or occasionally cited sources, stories about Lewis's life regarding why he was admired, and references to places & individuals he operated with. The remaining chapters are dedicated to Lewis life from his account. There are references to military enlistment, how counterfeit money was passed out, New York City crime, travel and transportation during the early days, robberies (mostly from a non-violence or avoiding-violence perspective), organized crime, farm land/buildings, gambling & college, jails, officers and arrests, and so forth. Please be aware this is a rare book reprinted by Kessinger Publishing.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews