James Lee (abt. 1710)

Born about 1710 in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, New England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Bethiah (Whittaker) Lee — married 25 Apr 1734 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts

Descendants

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Biography

James was born perhaps around 1710 at Rehoboth in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, the son of Richard and Abigail (Thurber) Lee. This birth year estimate is a little complicated and is explained on his father's page. His parents are recorded as having daughters in May of 1705 and October of 1706. This leaves room for children either around 1703 or else more likely 1708. The younger Richard Lee of Rehoboth was seemingly James's brother, and because Richard married in 1705, placing his birthdate in 1708 or later seems unlikely. Thus, we assign Richard a birth year of about 1703, and giving James the most likely birth year in light of these assignments, we come up with about 1708. James was the child chosen to administer his father's estate, but Richard had died the previous year, making James the likely eldest living son at the time.

James married Bethiah Whittaker in 1734 at Rehoboth.^[1] James was still alive in June of 1749 when he and his wife Bethiah acknowledged a deed.^[2] Children, recorded at Rehoboth:^[3][4]

• Mary b. 9 June 1735, bap. 4 July 1736
• Comfort b. 5 July 1738, bap. 6 Aug. 1738
• James b. 9 May 1743
• Anice b. 10 December 1744
• Bethiah b. 27 April 1747

On 15 June 1742, Experience Lee, widow of Richard Lee was granted administration on her husband's estate.^[5] On 20 September 1743, James Lee was granted administration on the estate of his father Richard Lee, late of Rehoboth, husbandman.^[6] The following month James obtained authority to sell the entirety of Richard's estate to settle his debts.^[7] It would seem that Experience became unable to administer her husband's estate, though that was through death or some other incapacitation remains unknown.

Sources

1. ↑ Arnold: Page 225
2. ↑ Bristol Co., Mass. deeds book 43 pages 173–174
3. ↑ Arnold: Page 665
4. ↑ Baptisms at the Congregational Church of Rehoboth, from Trim, pages 8, 9
5. ↑ Bristol Col, Mass. probate records vol. 10 pages 165-166
6. ↑ Bristol Co., Mass. probate records vol. 10 pages 334–335.
7. ↑ Bristol Co., Mass. deeds vol. 34 pages 151–152.

• Arnold, James. Vital Record of Rehoboth, 1642-1896 (Narragansett Historical Pub. Co., 1897)

• Robert Sheldon Trim, Congregational Church Records, Rehoboth, Massachusetts, accessible at Family Search