Richard Lee 1677 - 1726: Lees of Virginia Lost Lineages a Series by Jacqueli Finley, #2

By Jacqueli Finley

Richard Lee was born 1677 Surrey County, Virginia to William Lee and Alice Felton. He married Mary Young in 1695 in King and Queen County, Richmond, Virginia. Richard Henry Lee died on 10 Dec 1726 in West Farnham, Parish, King and Queen County, Richmond, Colony of Virginia. He was the grandson of Colonel Richard Lee and Anne Constable, and the father of John Lee, Esquire.

 

Many previous Lee researchers failed to note that William Lee the son of Col Richard Lee was of age to inherit when his father passed away in 1664 as Will and Last Testament does not stipulate William was not of age as his younger siblings were mentioned as when probated 1664/65. Most previous researchers and genealogy references have William's birth circa 1650 per Edmund J Lee's research in Lee of Virginia setting that stage William's birth would have been more of circa 1640, as men were to be age 21 to inherit without a legal guardian, yet he would have been legally able to wed at a younger age, as was customary at that time as it appears that he did just that. A practice of when giving a 'circa' date in genealogy research as EJ Lee had done usually gave a 10-year span in general understanding not to be taken literally. The math tells us William Lee would have been born around 1640 to be more accurate to his father's probate instructions which would also coincide with marriage record date for William Lee (Lea was a phonic spelling as was often the case in records of that time as with this record) to widow Alice Felton and land transactions that they had both witnessed as well.

 

By following the land that the court reversed back to William Lee's sons John and Richard, as William took money and not land, taking into consideration the numerous land, and county redivisions and renaming that occurred over a 100 year period of time to that same land, confirmation of William Lee's sons can be traced.

 

One could literally be standing in one place in the vicinity of Richmond County, Virginia in 1677, and be standing in the vicinity of Nansemond County, North Carolina today, without taking a step.  It is because of the fluidity of these land boundaries and the countless renaming that has stumped researchers for decades making assumptions the person of the research interest had moved about, which was not the case at all.

 

I will be presenting the evidence to prove up that Richard Lee born 1677 was the son of William Lee and grandson of Colonel Richard Lee from which hundreds of Lees of Virginia descendants lines derive even though they have been denied the acknowledgment of their rightful ancestry.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jacqueli Charlene Finley
• Release date: Mar 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215748046

Jacqueli Finley

I am a professional Genealogist, APG Member (Association of Professional Genealogists) and have over 40 years of genealogy experience and research.  About a decade ago I was hit by a drunk driver and the accident left me disabled with severe spinal injuries so I have been forced into a "retirement" of sorts - my focus remains on my lifetime research and repairing of the Lees of Virginia descendant lines, sharing my lees of Virginia data, writing on my discoveries about our Lees of Virginia lineages, and helping others find the truth in their own genealogy and family ancestry when I am able for even though I have limitations now physically, I am still unlimited mentally and my determination has not been hindered by my hardships. I am always here to help. As a professional genealogist: I proudly abide by the code of ethics of the Association of Professional Genealogists as I undertake my genealogy and history research.

Book preview

Prologue

RICHARD LEE WAS BORN 1677 Surrey County, Virginia to William Lee and Alice Felton. He married Mary Young in 1695 in King and Queen County, Richmond, Virginia. Richard Henry Lee died on 10 Dec 1726 in West Farnham, Parish, King and Queen County, Richmond, Colony of Virginia. He was the grandson of Colonel Richard Lee and Anne Constable, and the father of John Lee, Esquire.

MANY PREVIOUS LEE RESEARCHERS failed to note that William Lee the son of Col Richard Lee was of age to inherit when his father passed away in 1664 as Will and Last Testament does not stipulate William was not of age as his younger siblings were mentioned as when probated 1664/65. Most previous researchers and genealogy references have William’s birth circa 1650 per Edmund J Lee’s research in Lee of Virginia setting that stage William’s birth would have been more of circa 1640, as men were to be age 21 to inherit without a legal guardian, yet he would have been legally able to wed at a younger age, as was customary at that time as it appears that he did just that. A practice of when giving a ‘circa’ date in genealogy research as EJ Lee had done usually gave a 10-year span in general understanding not to be taken literally. The math tells us William Lee would have been born around 1640 to be more accurate to his father's probate instructions which would also coincide with marriage record date for William Lee (Lea was a phonic spelling as was often the case in records of that time as with this record) to widow Alice Felton and land transactions that they had both witnessed as well.

A quick synopsis of situations that had occurred upon William Lee’s death, as it appears his wife Alice died simultaneously or near the same time as her husband as there is no mentioning in his Will, if she was still alive when he wrote it, she would have been executor of estate and guardian of their minor children.

He also hand wrote his Will as he was passing in haste as he had no time to make prior arrangements especially when one considers William’s legal background and education - he would have done so in advance if he had known his passing was imminent. So the assertions that Alice Felton Lee died after her husband William makes no sense at all as is what is currently promoted on genealogy sites without any record of why.

The daughter Mary had married William Heath at age 15 had two sons, Thomas, and Samuel the last being born after his father died. Mary and William Heath lived on the farm next to William and Alices estate. Mary remarried to Bartholomew Schriever. Because Bart was of age, he over saw the inherited estate from William Lee and paid out a yearly living to the three boys: William, John, and Richard. What he paid was far less than the estate could manage; and they deserved more; but it was legally large enough that they could not sue their guardian until ALL of them were of age. But before this would occur, the uncle, Richard Lee, William’s brother, took Mary Lee Heath Schriever and her husband Bart to court using an out of area circuit court that their uncle Richard had used many times prior as one can see if one researches Richard Lee’s court records. It was through this judge Uncle Richard convinced the court to reverse his brother William’s inheritance back to himself from missing verbiage that was not used in his father’s Will when it came to son William Lee’s mention.

Research from my mentor Dr. James Lawler personally given to me on William Lee given to shows son of Richard Henry Lee and Ann Constable: Edmund Jennings Lee had not found any record of what happened to one son William Lee and blew it off finally saying he appears to have died young. Well sort of. He did die earlier, 1694-5, than other siblings, leaving a 18 year old daughter and three younger minor sons. The daughter Mary had married William Heath at age 15 had two sons, Thomas, and Samuel the last being born after his father died. She remarried to Bartholomew Schriever who when he was of age so grabbed the estate and paid out yearly a gentleman’s living to the three boys; Wm, John, and Richard. What he paid was far less than the estate could manage; and they deserved more; but it was legally large enough that they could not sue their guardian until ALL of them were of age. The instant the youngest turned 21 they did sue. BUT not in probate court but common pleas court to recover their inheritance. And not in the original county (Westmoreland) but the county had been split and then re-split in the meantime (at this time it was Surry Co) and worse the judge (a VIP ) did not travel to them he stayed put and they had to come to him in King and Queen County.

William Lee’s boys did sue the instant the youngest turned 21 which was in 1710/11.

By following the land that the court reversed back to William Lee’s sons John and Richard, as William took money and not land, taking into consideration the numerous land, and county redivisions and renaming that occurred over a 100 year period of time to that same land, confirmation of William Lee’s sons can be traced.

One could literally be standing in one place in the vicinity of Richmond County, Virginia in 1677, and be standing in the vicinity of Nansemond County, North Carolina today, without taking a step.  It is because of the fluidity of these land boundaries and the countless renaming that has stumped researchers for decades making assumptions the person of the research interest had moved about, which was not the case at all.

And then there is also the Lee Y-DNA project Haplogroup misinformation which has exacerbated false Y-DNA claims and separations of many Lee descendants from their rightful Lees of Virginia ancestry. With the advancement of the use of Autosomal DNA in unison with linear DNA tools using the DNA of both Lees of Virginia male and female, Autosomal, Y-DNA, and Mitochondrial DNA, match Lee descendants with their correct Lees of Virginia ancestry has become accessible and transparent.

I will be presenting the evidence to prove up that Richard Lee born 1677 was the son of William Lee and grandson of Colonel Richard Lee from which hundreds of Lees of Virginia descendants lines derive even though they have been denied the acknowledgment of their rightful ancestry.

Part 1: The Lee Letter

HERE IS A COPY OF A letter written by Narcissus Verlilia 'Lily' Lee, at age 66, explaining what was believed to be the family connection with Henry 'Light Horse Harry' Lee, and his son, Gen. Robert E Lee. It is well known that some descendants of the 'Virginia Lees' went to Alabama at that time.

"The history of the Lee family, to my Harry Lee, and Jerry Lee, were my fathers own grandfathers. My father were Robert Edward Lee's own nephew,and he is a son of Harry Lee. My father were named after two uncles of his Robert, Washington Lee. I am told that my grandmother was a Lee, and married his cousin See that is why both our grandfathers are named Lee. This is a true history. See I am a great grand child of theirs and a great neice of R. E. Lee. My name is by birth Narcissus Verlilia Lee, but known now as Mrs Lily Williams, Patsy Jean Williams grandmother. Hope she can honor the name...

He is her great great great uncle. I wish her all of the honors can be bestowed upon her for my sake and Stanleys. Respectfully, Mrs Lillie Williams Pine Valley, Miss to Port Arthur, Tx postmarked 1938 with a three cent stamp".

I have found the connection, although not exactly as she thought.

Here is what research has shown:

Descendants of Richard Henry Lee I

1 Richard Henry Lee I Abt. 1617 - 1664

..+Ann Constable Abt. 1621 - Aft. 1664

2 Richard Lee 1647 - 1714

...+Laetitia Corbin Abt. 1656 - 1706

3 Henry Lee Abt. 1691 - 1747

....+Mary Bland

4 Henry Lee

......+Lucy Grymes

5 Henry Light Horse Harry Lee 1756 - 1818

.......+Matilda Lee

6 Robert Edward Lee, General 1807 - 1870

.........+Mary A R Custis

2 William C Lee Abt. 1650 - 1696

...+Alice Felton 1648 -

3 Richard Lee Abt. 1670 -

.....+Mary Young - Aft. 1690

4 John Lee, Esquire Abt. 1690 - 1766

......+Mary W Bryan 1704 - Bef. 1780

5 Edward Lee 1725 - 1775

........+Mary Allen Abt. 1730 - Abt. 1815

6 Jeremiah Lee 1771 - 1824

.........+Elizabeth Avera Abt. 1771 - Aft. 1830

7 Henry 'Harry' Lee 1810 - 1835

...........+Elizabeth Jane Lee 1814 – 1877

Descendants of Hugh Lee I

1 Hugh Lee I Abt. 1609 - 1661

....+Hannah Hewitt Abt. 1616 -

2 Hugh Lee, II, of Blackwater Bef. 1650 - 1714

.....+Ann Barnett Abt. 1643 - 1735

3 Hugh Lee III Bef. 1669 - 1739

.......+Ann Tatum Abt. 1670 - 1743

4 William Lee Bef. 1696 - 1761

........+Rebecca Burchet Abt. 1698 - 1759

5 William Lee II 1727 - 1796

..........+Elizabeth Ann Westbrook Abt. 1725 -

6 Samuel Lee Abt. 1747 - Aft. 1828

...........+Kessiah (Lee) - Bef. 1828

7 Samuel Lee, Jr 1772 - 1857

.............+Sarah Thorton - 1807

8 Jonathan Lee 1799 - 1836

..............+Absebeth (Lee) Bef. 1801 - 1830

9 Robert Washington Lee 1823 - 1881

*2nd Wife of [1] Robert Washington Lee:

................+Mary Ann Henry 1828 - Aft. 1880

10 Narcissus 'Nannie' Verlilia 'Lillie' Lee 1872 - Aft. 1938

..................+Abner B Williams 1859 - Aft. 1905

11 Stanley Lee Williams 1898 - 1951

....................+Gladys Neva Walker 1904 - 1982

12 Patsy Jean Williams 1928 -

.....................+Frederick Lale Varnado 1927 -

13 Debra Susan Varnado 1951 - 1981

*2nd Husband of Debra Susan Varnado:

.......................+John Randall (Carlson) Farmacka 1951 -

14 Sandra Gail Farmacka 1976 -

.........................+Marco Antonio Leal 1974 -

15 Alana Nicole Leal 1998 -

15 Alyssa Susan Leal 2001 -

(7) *2nd Wife of Samuel Lee, Jr:

..........+Mary Rhodes Abt. 1789 - 1814

8 Samuel Washington Lee 1811 - 1867

8 Elizabeth Jane Lee 1814 - 1877

*2nd Husband of [4] Elizabeth Jane Lee:

+Henry 'Harry' Lee 1810 – 1835

General Robert E Lee and Henry 'Harry' Lee are both descendants of Richard Henry Lee, I

They are 4th cousins, once removed.

Henry 'Harry' Lee married Elizabeth Jane Lee.

JONATHAN LEE IS THE half-brother... of the wife... of the 4th cousin, once removed. of General Robert E Lee. From her letter, the 'Robert' part of Robert Washington Lee's name was from Robert Edward Lee that was the son of Henry 'Harry' Lee. But this Henry 'Harry' Lee was not the same person as the famous

Henry 'Light Horse Harry' Lee, father of General Robert E Lee.

ALSO, ROBERT WASHINGTON was born before Henry 'Harry' had any known children.

Henry 'Harry' did have at least 3 brothers, but I have not verified their names at this time. It's possible.

the name came from one of them.

THE 'WASHINGTON' PART of Robert Washington Lee's name possibly came from his uncle, Samuel

Washington Lee, brother of Elizabeth Jane, and half-brother to Jonathan. Or there may be another Washington that I have not found yet, such as the brothers of Henry 'Harry'. The Jerry Lee is Jeremiah Lee, of Johnston county, North Carolina, and father of Henry 'Harry' Lee. In one North Carolina census he is listed as Jerry Lee, and Jeremiah in others.

ELIZABETH JANE LEE would be the grandmother that Lily was told married a cousin.

It should be noted that the mother of Elizabeth Jane Lee was Mary Rhodes, 2nd wife of Samuel Lee, Jr.

Robert Washington Lee's first wife was Margaret Rhodes, and there is a strong probability she was a

relation to Mary Rhodes, his step-grandmother. This could make for all kinds of other possible connections.

STARTING IN NORTH CAROLINA and continuing through into Alabama there were several families very.

closely associated that had many marriages among them. Just some of these were the Lee, Allen,

Rhodes, Thigpen, and Williams lines.

WITH THE WAY THE NAMES match, the locations, and the time-period, it's easy to see how mistakes could be made. Lily was born in 1872, many years after most of these people had died, and was given handed down information.

Everyone in the South, then and now, looked to a 'family connection' with the famous 'Virginia Lees'.

I hope this makes sense, and you can follow the rationale. It has taken a LOT of research to reach this point, and I believe these are the mostly likely conclusions, based on