Parents of Colonel Richard Lee: Lees of Virginia Lost Lineages a Series by Jacqueli Finley, #1

By Jacqueli Finley

In 1988, a study by William Thorndale was published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, he stated that his research proved that Col Richard Lee was the son of a John Leyes, a clothier, and his wife Jane Hancock and that Richard had been born not at of Coton Hall in Shropshire England, but in Worcester England. In this publishing, Thorndale presented what appeared to be legitimate sources and arguments which carefully and systematically dispelled the accepted ancestral lineage of Col Richard Lee from the prominent English Lee's from Shropshire.  Since that publishing, it appears that most of the research today has adopted this parentage of Richard Lee from this John Lyes and Jane Hancock assertion, even though this 1988 publishing had overridden the legal and historic documented facts that stated otherwise.  I have discovered that there is no evidence of historical documentation that can back up Thorndale's claim.

 

This probably does not surprise many of you who research the Lee family that deal with more than often heated arguments, hidden records that were available no longer visible, mis-information, lines that seem to go nowhere and let us not forget the documented lines that constantly get thrown out of the Lee family because of purportedly wrong DNA matches from DNA projects that promote DNA from individuals whose lines cannot be properly verified, which by the way is an inappropriate misuse of DNA material and possible illegal (or will be in the near future when laws about DNA are updated) regardless of what is being said.

 

My research concludes, as I will demonstrate, that the whole John Leys (AKA Lee, Lies, etc.) and Jane Hancock as Col Richard Lee's parents is incorrect and possibly made up from a personal GEDCOM or research as there are no legitimate parish sources or records, other than Thorndale's publishing in 1988.

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jacqueli Charlene Finley
• Release date: Mar 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215816820

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

IN 1988, A STUDY BY William Thorndale was published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, he stated that his research proved that Col Richard Lee was the son of a John Leyes, a clothier, and his wife Jane Hancock and that Richard had been born not at of Coton Hall in Shropshire England, but in Worcester England. In this publishing, Thorndale presented what appeared to be legitimate sources and arguments which carefully and systematically dispelled the accepted ancestral lineage of Col Richard Lee from the prominent English Lee’s from Shropshire.  Since that publishing, it appears that most of the research today has adopted this parentage of Richard Lee from this John Lyes and Jane Hancock assertion, even though this 1988 publishing had overridden the legal and historic documented facts that stated otherwise.  I have discovered that there is no evidence of historical documentation that can back up Thorndale's claim.

This probably does not surprise many of you who research the Lee family that deal with more than often heated arguments, hidden records that were available no longer visible, mis-information, lines that seem to go nowhere and let us not forget the documented lines that constantly get thrown out of the Lee family because of purportedly wrong DNA matches from DNA projects that promote DNA from individuals whose lines cannot be properly verified, which by the way is an inappropriate misuse of DNA material and possible illegal (or will be in the near future when laws about DNA are updated) regardless of what is being said.

My research concludes, as I will demonstrate, that the whole John Leys (AKA Lee, Lies, etc.) and Jane Hancock as Col Richard Lee's parents is incorrect and possibly made up from a personal GEDCOM or research as there are no legitimate parish sources or records, other than Thorndale's publishing in 1988.

At this time, I wish to mention that I did this investigative research on Thorndale’s article and into Col. Richard lee’s parents myself, with NO assistance, as there are a ‘group’ of individuals who are now stating that they ‘helped’ me. This is not true as there is evidence online that shows my inquiries over the past decades looking for the correct parentage.

I will be presenting the LEGAL and HISTORIC primary documentation, as well as listed historic reference publications which do include documentation source record references, proving that Col Richard Lee did indeed descend from the Lee’s of Coton Hall, Shropshire England, and his parents were Richardus Lee and Elizabeth Bendy to set the record straight on his parentage and ancestry once and for all.

Part 1: The Parents of Col Richard Lee of Virginia Mess Explained

IN 1988, A STUDY BY William Thorndale was published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, he stated that his research proved that Col Richard Lee was actually the son of a John Leyes, a clothier, and his wife Jane Hancock and that Richard had been born not at of Coton Hall in Shropshire England, but in Worcester England. In this publishing, Thorndale presented what appeared to be legitimate sources and arguments which carefully and systematically dispelled the accepted ancestral lineage of Col Richard Lee from the prominent English Lee’s from Shropshire.  Since that publishing, it appears that the majority of research today has adopted this parentage of Richard Lee from this John Lyes and Jane Hancock assertion, even though this 1988 publishing had overridden the legal and historic documented facts that stated otherwise.  I have discovered that there is no evidence of historical documentation that can back up Thorndale's claim.

As of my recent research and review of Thorndale's article, I have been able to disprove Thorndale's attachment of John Leyes and Jane Hancock, as well as Thorndale's listed 'siblings' for Col Richard Lee of Virginia.  I have found and have proven that the 'sources' of documentation that Thorndale used as his supporting evidence of the parental and family