See also

Family of Birdseye Blakeman LEWIS and Charlotte Pearsall THORNE

Husband: Birdseye Blakeman LEWIS (1888-1917)
Wife: Charlotte Pearsall THORNE (1890-1957)
Children: Oakleigh Thorne LEWIS (1909-1978)
Birdseye Blakeman LEWIS (1910- )
Status: Separated
Marriage 27 Jun 1908 Millbrook, Washington, Dutchess, New York, New York, USA

Husband: Birdseye Blakeman LEWIS

Name: Birdseye Blakeman LEWIS
Sex: Male
Father: John Van Buren LEWIS (1848-1909)
Mother: Marianna BLAKEMAN (1852-1906)
Birth 23 Feb 1888 New York, New York, USA
Death 3 Nov 1917 (age 29) France
Burial 1917 Thiaucourt-Regniéville, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France.
Saint Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial

Wife: Charlotte Pearsall THORNE

Name: Charlotte Pearsall THORNE
Sex: Female
Father: -
Mother: -
Birth 1890
Death 1957 (age 66-67)

Child 1: Oakleigh Thorne LEWIS

Name: Oakleigh Thorne LEWIS
Sex: Male
Alt. Name: Oakleigh Lewis THORNE
Birth 1909 Millbrook, Dutchess, New York, New York, USA
Death 1978 (age 68-69) Florida, USA

Child 2: Birdseye Blakeman LEWIS

Name: Birdseye Blakeman LEWIS
Sex: Male
Birth 1910

Note on Birdseye Blakeman LEWIS (1)

BIRDSEYE LEWIS FALLS IN DITCH

Millionaire Aviator Breaks Machine

 

SAN DIEGO APRIL 1 1916. Birdseye B.Lewis, wealthy New York aviator, poloist, and all-round sportsman, who left here Thursday in an aeroplane, with the announced intention of flying to New York City, got 125 miles on his way before misfortune overtook him. Word received here last night from Lewis, said that he, in attempting to cross Cajon Pass in the San Bernardino Mountains, lost his way, and in volplaning to the earth, landed in an irrigation ditch at Beaumont,30 miles north of San Bernardino. He was uninjured, but his machine was badly damaged.

According to the word received her, Lewis has telegraphed to Dayton, Ohio, for new parts and that when his aeroplane is repaired he intends to resume his cross-country flight.

Note on Birdseye Blakeman LEWIS (2)

Cause of death: suicide. He deliberately crashed his plane . "MAJOR BIRDSEYE LEWIS DIED BY HIS OWN HAND. HE WAS ON PERSHING'S STAFF. Washington November 7th, 1917 -- Major Birdseye B. Lewis, detailed to the aviation section of the Signal Corps, and attached to General Pershing's staff, whose death was previously reported to relatives in private cables, committed suicide last Saturday. The War Department was so advised today in a message giving no details. Major Lewis, who was 29 years old, and a resident of Millbrook, N.Y., entered the army after the war began. He is survived by his widow, a daughter of Oakleigh Thorpe, New York capitalist." The Atlanta Constitution 8th November 1917, (Atlanta, GA). His married life was troubled.  In his last will he made no provision for his wife ("as she is about to sue me for divorce") but with some provision for his children, and $1000 for his sister Anna Vesey, he had otherwise left his estate of £205,000 to Franc Pinkerton, the wife of the Detective Agency's head, Allen Pinkerton. There was silence concerning Birdseye's relationship with Franc. His wife did indeed divorce him.