Henry Lee III (1756 - 1818)

Born 29 Jan 1756 in Westmoreland, Virginia Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Anne Hill (Carter) Lee — married 18 Jun 1793 in Stratford Hall, Westmoreland Co, Virginia, USA

Descendants

Died 25 Mar 1818 at age 62 in Cumberland Island, Camden, Georgia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Virginia Project WikiTree [send private message], Fontaine Wiatt [send private message], Stephanie Ross [send private message], and Adri Oldershaw [send private message]

Preceded by 8th Governor Beverley Randolph

Henry Lee III 9th Governor of Virginia 1791—1794

Succeeded by 10th Governor Robert Brooke

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Biography

Lieutenant Colonel Harry Lee III served with 1st Continental Light Dragoons (1776), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Harry Lee III is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-234926
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel

Harry Lee III is Notable.

"Light Horse Harry"

Henry Lee was born near Dumfries, Virginia on the 29th of Jan 1756. The home was a plantation with over 200 slaves later called Stratford Hall Plantation.[1] His parents were Maj. Gen. Henry Lee II (1730–1787) of "Leesylvania" and Lucy Grymes (1734–1792) the "Lowland Beauty". His father was first cousin once removed to Richard Henry Lee, sixth President of the Continental Congress. His mother was an aunt of the wife of Virginia Governor Thomas Nelson Jr. His great-grandmother Mary Bland was a great-aunt of President Thomas Jefferson and he descended once from King John of England, twice from King Edward I of England, once from King Jean de Brienne of Jerusalem, twice from King Edward III of England and once from King Pedro I of Castile. With a view to a legal career, he graduated (1773) from The College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), but, soon afterwards, on the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, he became a general in the revolutionary forces.. .

Military career

In 1776, he was promoted to captain of a Virginia dragoon detachment, which was attached to the 1st Continental Light Dragoons; and, in 1778, he was promoted to major and given the command of a small irregular corps, with which he won a great reputation as a leader of light troops..

In 1776, on the nomination of Patrick Henry, Lee was appointed captain of cavalry in his cousin Theodorick Brand's Virginia regiment. The following year that regiment joined the Continental Army. From the start Lee drew attention for his coolness and for a certain dash that set him apart as an officer. He took noticeable trouble to care for his men and horses, spending a good deal of his personal wealth outfitting his troops. Lee used his men as special forces, scouting, harassing the enemy, and conducting some critical foraging for the bleak winter encampments at Morristown and Valley Forge. The small hourse corps was so agile that Lee gained the nickname "Light-Horse Harry". Washington, commending Lee's "exemplary zeal, prudence and bravery", convinced the Congress to promote him to major, and to create a special "partisan" (or quasi-guerrilla) unit under his command. Called Lee's Legion, the 300 troops were equipped with green jackets, bearskin helmets, and long-bore pistols. they were granted an extraordinary amount of independence, essentially reporting only to the commander in chief.

Battle of Paulus Hook

His services on the outpost line of the army earned for him the sobriquet of "Light Horse Harry". His greatest exploit was the brilliant surprise at the Battle of Paulus Hook in New Jersey, on August 19, 1779; for this feat he received a gold medal, a reward given to no other officer below a general's rank in the entire war. (See also Discovery of medal that Congress granted to Lee). The medal is on view with other pieces from Princeton University’s Numismatic Collection, including two pewter continental "dollars", large cents from 1793 and 1794, a silver dollar of 1794, the Thomas Jefferson inaugural medal of 1801 and an Indian Peace Medal of James Madison (Princeton class of 1771). Also included are a signed letter of Lee to the New Jersey quartermaster from 1780 and a signed letter of the same year from George Washington to Lee approving Lee’s plan to capture Benedict Arnold..

Battle of Eutaw Springs

September 8, 1781
Lee writes that The battle lasted upwards of three hours, and was fiercely contested, every corps in both armies bravely supporting each other. The offensive stalled at the British camp as a detachment of British troops under Major John Marjorbanks fiercely defended an adjacent brick house which gave Stewart’s force an opportunity to regroup and counterattack again, driving the Americans from the camp. Once again Greene retreated in good order and the British were forced to consolidate their forces closer to Charleston.

Greene considered it a victory, thinking he was …principally indebted for the victory we obtained to the free use of the bayonet made by the Virginians and Marylanders…, however Lee characterized the battle by saying the …loss was uncommonly great — more than one fifth of the British and one forth of the American army being killed or wounded, as stated in the official returns, which intelligent officers of both armies considered short of the real loss sustained…. Of six commandants of regiments bearing continental commissions, Williams and Lee were only unhurt. Greene wrote Congress …Lieutenant colonel Campbell fell as he was leading his troops to charge, and though he fell with distinguished manner [?] of honour, yet his loss is much to be regretted: he was the great soldier and the firm patriot.^[2]

He was promoted to lieutenant colonel with a picked corps of dragoons (Lee's Legion) to the southern theater of war. Here he rendered invaluable services in victory and defeat, notably at Guilford Court House, Camden and Eutaw Springs. He was present at Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown, and afterwards left the army owing to ill health..

During the infamous Whiskey Rebellion, Lee commanded the 13,000 militiamen sent to quash the rebels. However, this command existed more on paper than in actuality, as President George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, military men both, accompanied him..

Marriage

Between April 8–13, 1782, at "Stratford Hall", he married his second-cousin, Matilda Ludwell Lee (1766–1790), who was known as "The Divine Matilda". Matilda was the daughter of Hon. Philip Ludwell Lee, Sr., Esq. (1727–1775) and Elizabeth Steptoe (1743–1789). Matilda's mother later married Philip Richard Fendall I, Esq. (1734–1805). Philip would eventually marry three wives, all Lee women. Thus, he was a cousin, brother-in-law, and stepfather-in-law to Light Horse Harry Lee. Fendall was the builder of the "Lee-Fendall House" in Alexandria, Virginia, on land purchased from Lee. Matilda bore three children before she died in 1790..

On 13 June 1793, Henry Lee married the wealthy Anne Hill Carter (17 years his junior) at Shirley Plantation. They had six children, one of whom died in infancy in 1796. Their fifth child, Robert Edward Lee would later gain fame as a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Anne Hill Carter was the daughter of Charles Carter, Esq., of Shirley, and his wife Ann Butler Moore, and a descendant of Virginia Governor Alexander Spotswood and Robert Carter I, who was also a descendant of Thomas More and King Robert II of Scotland through the 2nd Earls of Crawford. [1]..

Later Life

Unfortunately for Lee and his family, he invested large sums in numerous, highly speculative schemes, including partnerships with Aaron Burr and merchant Robert Morris. Although financial speculation was not rare among the Founding Fathers, Lee's handling of his personal finances was notably incompetent, and subjected his family to financial hardship. In 1810, to meet the demands of his creditors and be released from debtor’s prison, Lee was forced to sell all of his possessions..

In 1785, he presented George Washington with twelve horse chestnut saplings as a token of friendship. Washington later gave two of these to his friend and aide, General Robert Brown. Washington planted his ten saplings on his estate at Mt. Vernon..

Brown planted his two at his home in Bath, Pennsylvania, near East Allen Township; the sole surviving tree managed to last 136 years until lightning damaged it beyond repair in 1921. In 1928, 876 of its seeds were distributed to all of the 48 state universities at the time and various nations around the world. This symbol of outward friendship led to the recognition of Brown's Horse-chestnut as America's Friendship Tree..

Continental Congress

From 1786 to 1788, Lee was a delegate to the Continental Congress, and in the last-named year in the Virginia convention, he favored the adoption of the United States Constitution. From 1789 to 1791, he served in the General Assembly and, from 1791 to 1794, was Governor of Virginia..

Whiskey Rebellion

In 1794, Lee accompanied Washington to help in the suppression of the "Whiskey Rebellion" in western Pennsylvania. A new county of Virginia was named after him during his governorship. Henry Lee was a major general in the U.S. Army in 1798–1800. From 1799 to 1801, he served in the United States House of Representatives of the Congress. He wrote the famous phrase used by John Marshall in the address to Congress on the death of Washington—"first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.".

Death

On 27 July 1812, in Baltimore, while helping to resist the attack of a Democratic-Republican mob on his friend, Alexander Contee Hanson, editor of the Baltimore Federal Republican, which had opposed the War of 1812, Lee received grave injuries from which he never recovered..

Lee and about two dozen Federalists had taken refuge in the three-story office building on Charles Street. With the help of Brigadier General John Stricker and other city officials, Lee and the rest surrendered the following day and were escorted to the county jail a mile away. Laborer George Woolslager led a mob that forced its way into the jail and removed and beat the jailed Federalists and Lee over the next three hours. One Federalist, James M. Lingan, died..

Lee suffered extensive internal injuries as well as head and face wounds, and even his speech was affected. Lee later sailed to the West Indies in an attempt to heal his wounds. He died at "Dungeness" on March 25, 1818 (Dungeness was built on Cumberland Island, Georgia by Nathanael Greene as a summer home). Greene's daughter Louisa was in possession of the house at the time of Lee's death..

Lee was buried with full military honors provided by an American fleet stationed near the St. Marys. For many years his body rested in the same little cemetery as Louisa's mother, Catherine, but in 1913 his remains were removed to the Lee family crypt at Lee Chapel, on the campus of Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.[2].

Lee wrote the valuable Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department (1812; 3rd ed., with memoir by his son Robert E. Lee, 1869) while in debtor's prison.

The fictional character of Colonel Harry Burwell in the film The Patriot is thought to have been inspired by the historical exploits of Lee.

In the musical 1776 Lee's nickname is mentioned (anachronistically) during the song "The Lees of Old Virginia".^[3]

Legacy

• Two U.S. states have named counties in his honor: Illinois^[4] and Virginia.^[5][6]

Henry Lee. ^{[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][7][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][12][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]}

Born 29 January 1756. Dumfries, Prince William County, Virginia, USA. ^{[7][11][12][41][42][7][43][44][45][46]}

Died 25 March 1818. Dungeness, Camden County, Georgia, USA.^{[7][8][47][7][48][49][50][51][52][53][54]}

Residence Harris, Georgia. ^[55] 1801 VA Millitary Dist, Army Lands, VA. ^[56] 1810 Westmoreland, Virginia, United States. ^[57][58] Virginia, United States. ^[59] Virginia^[60] 1907-1907 USA^[61] 1831-1848 North Carolina, USA. ^[9][62]

Military Service: USA^[63]

Buried Lexington, Lexington City, Virginia, USA.^[7]

Marriage 1805^[64]

Marriage Husband @P618@. Wife @P627@. Child: @P614@. Marriage 18 Jun 1793. Stratford Hall, Westmoreland, Virginia, USA. ^{[65][66][67][68][69]} Marriage 16 Sep 1805. Nelson, Kentucky, USA. ^[70]

Marriage 24 Mar 1817. Westmoreland, Virginia, USA. ^{[71][72][16][73]}

Marriage 15 Dec 1781. Upper Marlborough, Prince George's, Maryland. ^[74][75] Marriage 15 Dec 1781. Prince George, Maryland, USA. ^[10] Marriage 1817 Stratford Hall Plantation, Westmoreland, Virginia.

Marriage 1782 Stratford Hall, Westmoreland, Virginia. ^[12] Marriage 18 June 1793. Shirley Plantation, VA.

Marriage 1753 VA^[76][77][78]

Research Notes

Virginia Project maintenance categories Cleanup and Research added because the profile appears to have biographical information copied in from somewhere else which needs to be distilled and appropriately attributed. The genealogical information needs to be reviewed, cleaned up, and presented better/with better sources.

Potential land record for Henry and wife, Ann:

• Land Record: "Virginia, U.S., Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850"
  Book: P
  Ancestry Record 7832 #71703 (accessed 15 February 2023)
  Henry, Esq Lee land record. Date: 31 Aug 1797, Remarks: Augt. 31, 1797. Henry Lee, Esq., and Ann, his wife, of Westmoreland Co. to Hezekiah Ellis of Spots. Co. 15 15s. curr. 35 a., part of a tract purchased of Gen. Alexander Spotswood in Spots. Co., etc., etc. Jno. Minor, jr.; Wm. Payne, Geo. French, Edwd.

Another potential land record for Henry (no mention of Ann this time, but same date as above record):

• Land Record: "Virginia, U.S., Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850"
  Book: P
  Ancestry Record 7832 #71704 (accessed 15 February 2023)
  Henry, Esq Lee Land record. Date: 31 Aug 1797, Remarks: Augt. 31, 1797. Henry Lee of Westmoreland Co., Esq., to Richard Maury of Spots. Co. Lease. 323 a. in Spots. Co., etc. "Sd. Richd. Maury and Diana, his wife, and their son Jno. Minor," etc., etc. 1000 lbs. tob. yearly, etc., etc. Same witnesses as to

Another land record for Henry and wife Ann:

• Land Record: "Virginia, U.S., Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850"
  Book: P
  Ancestry Record 7832 #71705 (accessed 15 February 2023)
  Henry, Esq Lee Land Record. Date: 5 May 1799. Remarks: May 5, 1799. Henry Lee, Esq. and Ann, his wife, and Alexander Spotswood, Esq., and Elizabeth, his wife, to Henry Robinson. 82 10s. 150 a. in Spots. Co. (on which sd. Spotswood holds a mortgage and hereby releases same), etc., etc. Jos. Brock, jr.; Step

Sources

1. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, “Ancestor Database.” database, Genealogical Research System (http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/ : accessed [10 Nov 2021]), [Henry Lee Jr, A068555].
2. ↑ Battle of Eutaw Springs
3. ↑ Entered by Lynda Hull.
4. ↑ Wikipedia: |Lee County, Illinois (accessed 13 March 2024).
5. ↑ See Category: Lee County, Virginia (accessed 13 March 2024).
6. ↑ Kentucky's Lee County was named for Robert E. Lee. ~ Wikipedia
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6} Source: #S1650208337
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Source: #S1659599209
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Source: #S1659360218 The National Archives; Washington, D.C.; Ledgers of Payments, 1818-1872, to U.S. Pensioners Under Acts of 1818 Through 1858 From Records of the Office of the Third Auditor of the Treasury; Record Group Title: Records of the Accounting Officers of the Depar
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Source: #S1659599245
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Source: #S1659243186
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3} Source: #S1659242171. Electronic Database. Submitter Codes RBA (Source number 985.000); BSF (Source number 201.000); RBA (Source number 986.000); SLR (Source number 612.000); GKH (Source number 931.000)
13. ↑ Source: #S1659242177 Birth year: 1756; Birth city: Prince William Co; Birth state: VA
14. ↑ Source: #S1659344174
15. ↑ Source: #S1658877936
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} Source: #S1659232870
17. ↑ Source: #S1659599342
18. ↑ Source: #S1659244352
19. ↑ Source: #S1659597250
20. ↑ Source: #S1659453484
21. ↑ Source: #S1659360193
22. ↑ Source: #S1659360211 Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots; Volume: 3; Serial: 9787; Volume: 5
23. ↑ Source: #S1659463350
24. ↑ Source: #S1659360197 Year: 1810; Census Place: Westmoreland, Virginia; Roll: 71; Page: 247; Image: 00489; Family History Library Film: 0181431
25. ↑ Source: #S1659242267
26. ↑ Source: #S1659463350
27. ↑ Source: #S1659446865
28. ↑ Source: #S1659463350
29. ↑ Source: #S1659599525
30. ↑ Source: #S1659599530
31. ↑ Source: #S1659360102 Volume: 197
32. ↑ Source: #S1659462889
33. ↑ Source: #S1659598983
34. ↑ Source: #S1659232717
35. ↑ Source: #S1659360159 Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 160 : 1920
36. ↑ Source: #S1659599587
37. ↑ Source: #S1659599594
38. ↑ Source: #S1659599599
39. ↑ Source: #S1659360202
40. ↑ Source: #S1659599612
41. ↑ Source: #S1659242177 Birth year: 1756; Birth city: Prince William Co; Birth state: VA
42. ↑ Source: #S1659244352
43. ↑ Source: #S1659360102 Volume: 197
44. ↑ Source: #S1659462889
45. ↑ Source: #S1659598983
46. ↑ Source: #S1659360159 Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 160 : 1920
47. ↑ Source: #S1659242177 Birth year: 1756; Birth city: Prince William Co; Birth state: VA
48. ↑ Source: #S1659453484
49. ↑ Source: #S1659599525
50. ↑ Source: #S1659599530
51. ↑ Source: #S1659360102 Volume: 197
52. ↑ Source: #S1659462889
53. ↑ Source: #S1659598983
54. ↑ Source: #S1659360159 Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 160 : 1920
55. ↑ Source: #S1659599612
56. ↑ Source: #S1659242267
57. ↑ Source: #S1659463350
58. ↑ Source: #S1659360197 Year: 1810; Census Place: Westmoreland, Virginia; Roll: 71; Page: 247; Image: 00489; Family History Library Film: 0181431
59. ↑ Source: #S1659597250
60. ↑ Source: #S1659597250
61. ↑ Source: #S1659599342
62. ↑ Source: #S1659463350
63. ↑ Source: #S1659360202
64. ↑ Source: #S1659242177 Birth year: 1756; Birth city: Prince William Co; Birth state: VA
65. ↑ Source: #S1659360159 Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 160 : 1920
66. ↑ Source: #S1659462889
67. ↑ Source: #S1659446865
68. ↑ Source: #S1659360159 Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 160 : 1920
69. ↑ Source: #S1659242177 Birth year: 1773; Birth city: Shirley Plant; Birth state: VA
70. ↑ Source: #S1659599587
71. ↑ Source: #S1659344174
72. ↑ Source: #S1658877936
73. ↑ Source: #S1659463350
74. ↑ Source: #S1659599594
75. ↑ Source: #S1659599599
76. ↑ Source: #S1659244352
77. ↑ Source: #S1659242177 Birth year: 1729; Birth city: Lee Hall; Birth state: VA
78. ↑ Source: #S1659242177 Birth year: 1729; Birth city: Leesylvannia; Birth state: VA

See also:

• September 8, 1781: Battle of Eutaw Springs
• Battle of Paulus Hook
• Henry Lee III wikipedia article
• Find A Grave Memorial# 2452
• Source: S-2125746064 Title: Robert Wylie Family History Author: Robert Wylie Publication: http://www.geocities.com/xleukemia4me/keeplookingup.html Note: This tree has many branches and very deep roots. If you would like to have individuals added, contact me with their names and dates of birth and death. The 1920 & 1930 census reports have now been released to the public. If you find an individual who is listed by name and would like to have that name replaced by "Living" please let me know. Copyright ♭ 2001-2007-REWylie
• Source: S-2125746067 Title: Roots Web Publication: www.rootsweb.com Note: "Million and millions of trees to climb".
• Source: S1650208337 U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com
• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/4151977/family
• Source: S1658877936 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659232717 Web: RootsWeb Marriage Records Index Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659232870 Virginia, Compiled Marriages, 1740-1850 Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659242171 U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Yates Publishing Publication: Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659242177 Family Data Collection - Individual Records Edmund West, comp. Publication: Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659242267 Virginia, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1607-1890 Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659243186 American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) Godfrey Memorial Library, comp. Publication: Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659244352 Millennium File Heritage Consulting Publication: Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659344174 Virginia Marriages before 1824 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659360102 U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S1659360159 North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S1659360193 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Source: S1659360197 1810 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S1659360202 U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S1659360211 ] Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots Hatcher, Patricia Law Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Source: S1659360218 U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S1659446865 Family Data Collection - Marriages Edmund West, comp. Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Source: S1659453484 Family Data Collection - Deaths Edmund West, comp. Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Source: S1659462889 Colonial Families of the USA, 1607-1775 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S1659463350 Virginia, Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Source: S1659597250 U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659598983 Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-2015 Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659599209 Rhode Island, Vital Extracts, 1636-1899 Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659599245 The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-2011 Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659599342 Handy Book of American Authors, 1907 Barghouti, Kim, comp. Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659599525 New York, Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection) Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659599530 Connecticut, Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934 Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659599587 Kentucky, Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850 Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659599594 Maryland Records Colonial, Revolutionary, County, and Church from Original Sources Vol. I Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659599599 Maryland, Compiled Marriages, 1655-1850 Ancestry.com
• Source: S1659599612 Georgia Cherokee Land Lottery, 1832 Ancestry.com