Solomon Gee (1698 - 1769)

Born 1698 in Buckland Monachorum, Devon, England

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Clark) Gee — married 1722 in New London, New London, Colony of Connecticut

Husband of Deborah (Huntley) Gee — married 27 Mar 1732 in Lyme, New London, Colony of Connecticut

Descendants

Died 13 Apr 1769 at about age 71 in Lyme, New London, Connecticut

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ellen Smith [send private message]

Biography

Solomon Gee resided in Lyme, Connecticut, in the 1700s. He is said to have been from Devonshire, England. According to tradition, he was impressed into the Royal Navy and ended up in Lyme, Connecticut after (in essence) jumping ship. He was a clothier by trade.

He died in Lyme on 13 April 1769 and is buried in the Old Stone Church Burial Ground in East Lyme, Connecticut. His gravestone states that he was in the 71st year of his age (i.e., 70 years old) at his death, suggesting a birth date around 1698. ^[1][2][3]

A Solomon Gee, son of Rich'd Gee and Mary, was baptized in Buckland Monachorum, Devon, on 28 December 1703.^[4]

Birth:

Date: 1698

Place: Buckland Monachorum, Devon, England^[5][1][2]

Event: Military Service: French and Indian War. ^[1] Will Proved. 4 MAY 1769.

Marriage Married Deborah Huntly in First Church, Lyme, Connecticut on 27 March 1732. ^[6]

Will

Solomon Gee made his will on 10 July 1766. It was proved on 4 May 1769. Text copied by Alven M.Smith Aug.18,1926, from a copy kept by George F.Gee, Marlow, N.H. OCR text not verified:^[7]

"In the name of God Amen this 10th day July A.D.1766, I Solomon Gee of Lyme in the County of New London in the Colony of Connecticut being in good health of Body and_of a Sound and Disposing minds and memory for which I desire to bless God,but calling to mind the Mortality of my Body and Knowing that it is Appointed for all men once to Die,do therefore make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. '

First and Principally I Recommend my Soul to God that Gave it and my Body to the Earth to be Buryed in a Desent Christial Buryall at the Discretion of my Executor\hereinafter Named,andas . Touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I Give and Dispose of the Samein the following Manner. It is my Will that my Just Debts and Funeral Expenses be first pay out of my movable Estate. ' '

Item to my beloved Wife Deborah Gee I Give and Devise for her own forever one third part of all my Moveable Estate that Shall remain after my just Debts and Funeral Expenses are payd excepting my tools and utentials used in the fuller's trade which is used in Fulling and Dressing of Cloath.

Item to my well beloved and Dutifull Daughter Deborah Smith wife of Silas Smith of Sd Lyme I give and devise to her Heirs and Assigns all the Remaining part of my movable estate that is left after my debts etc. and the legacy to my wife is payd. I say all that remains excepting the tools and utentials used in the Cloath trade.

Item to my well beloved and Dutyfull Daughter Ruth Mack wife of William Mack of Sd Lyme to her and her Heirs and Essigns forever I Give and Devise a Certain piece or parcell of Land lying in the East society of Sd Lyme it being the same piece of land on which Sd William Macks dwelling house stands and is bounded Northerly on the County Road Southerly and Southeasterly on the Beckwith Land & Land that belongs to the heirs of Mr Joshua Rogers Late of Sd Lyme Deceased and Contains about Six or Seven Acres be the Same more or Less.

Item to my three Sons (Viz) Stephen Gee, Solomon Gee and William Gee all of Lyme aforesaid I Give and Devise to them and their Heirs and Assigns in Fee Simple forever all my Lands that I shall Die Seized which is not before herein Devised in Manner following that is to Say it Shall be Equally Divided between them my sd three Sons both as to Quantity and Quality Said Stephen is to have his part at the Southerly Ende of my Land to Adjoyn to the County Road that Leads from Lyme to New London and said Solomon and William Shall Divide the Remaining part of my Land between them so that Each one of my Sd two Sons Solomon and William Shall have an Equal proportion of my Orchard and Meadow Land and I also give to my aforesaid three Sons Stephen Solomon and William and their Heirs &c my Fulling Mill together with All my Utensials belonging to or that is Used in the Cloathes Trade in Equal proportions, my aforesaid three Sons paying to my Daughter Sarah Duglas Wife of James Douglass of New London the sum of Three pounds Lawful money within Three months next after my Decease.

Item to my Daughter Sarah Douglas aforesaid I Give and Devise to her for her own forever Three pounds Lawfull money to be payd to her by my Sd Jthree Sons: Alis My Executors within three Months next after my Decease. - ,

Lastly I do hereby Appoint my aforesaid three Sons Stephen Gee Solomon Gee and Wm. Gee to be my Exeoutors of this my Last will and Testament hereby Revoking and Disanulling all and Every former or other will or Wills Testament and Testaments by me heretofore made Ratifying and Confirming this and this only to be my Last Will and Testament.

his Solomon [mark] Gee (Seal)

Signed seald and publishd pronouncd and Declared by him Sd Solomon Gee to be his Last will and Testament in Presence of us John Lay 2, Mary Miller, Hannah Hudson.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Old Stone Church Burialground, Copied by G. C. Johnson & L. Hayden Pratt, 10/29-31/1934. East Lyme Historical Society website, https://eastlymehistoricalsociety.org/cemeteries/index_files/osc-denison.htm
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Gravestone photographed by Ellen Smith, 6 May 2019.
3. ↑ Gee, Solomon French-Indian War 4/13/1769 age 70
4. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N59W-423 : 11 February 2018, Solomon Gee, 28 Dec 1703); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 916,766.
5. ↑ New England Historic & Genealogical Reigster
6. ↑ Marriages - 1st CHURCH, Lyme, New London Co., CT. Soloman GEE & Deborah HUNTLEY, March 29, 1732.
7. ↑ Smith, pages 83-84.

• The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-2011. Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.
• Hartford (County) Probate Packets, Ancestry.com, - page 49 of 361. Inventory of the Estate of Solomon Gee of Lyme, deceased. Taken May 24 1769 -- Ellen Smith's note: Day could also be May 29.

Acknowledgments

• Gee-1083 was created by Steve Worden through the import of Wordens For Sure.ged on Nov 10, 2014.

Research Notes

From Gee Roots - The Gee Family DNA Study, Solomon Gee, Gee of Lyme:

History beginning with Solomon Gee's birth in Devonshire in 1698, his ancestry and the location of his grave at the Old Stone Church Cemetery in East Lyme, CT. This line is well-documented. A descendant married a cousin of Joseph Smith, several family members became leaders in the Mormon Church. This branch pronounces Gee with a hard "g", as do the Gee of Devon. The most recent common ancestor with Gee of Billinge line was perhaps around 1600, and with Gee of Devon perhaps much earlier. The information below comes from Martell Gee, a descendant: Solomon Gee, came from Devonshire, England in about 1718, and settled in Lyme, New London, Connecticut. With regard to Solomon's heritage, we have a statement in Lyme Genealogies (Reference #_____) that he was born in Devonshire in 1698, and came to America after having been "prest into service" and put aboard a British "Man o' War." The only Solomon Gee recorded in Devonshire within 7 years of 1698 was a baby that was christened December 28, 1703 in the Buckland Monachorum Parish. His parents were Richard Gee and Mary. (see FHL Batch # C050061, Source Call # 0916766, (Film) Printout Call # 0933170) It was not entirely uncommon that children were not christened until 5 years after their birth, although this was not the usual practice. This is the only record that we have regarding this individual. There is no reference in Devonshire to a Solomon Gee until much later than one would expect our Solomon to be married, or even die. We have no death record, no will, no probate record, no marriage record - no sign of our Solomon Gee in Devon after 1703. We also have found no record of Solomon Gee on any British warship during this time period.

For these reasons, we make the following claims:

• Solomon's Parents were Richard Gee and Mary.
• Richard's parents (as determined by the Parish Records) were Ezechiell Gee and Elizabeth Crossman.
• Ezechiell Gee's birth was recorded as Ezechiell Guye, born to Phillippi Guye and Agnes Bowden.

The Parish Records were written in Latin at the time of Ezechiell's birth, and had changed to English by the time his son Richard was born. The family appears not to have had much prominence, because this writer could find no reference to these individuals other than the Parish Records. But at least one other individual involved in public affairs at that time with the same last name was variously referred to as John Guy, John Gee, John Guye, and John Gye (See FHL book #_______). Please note that the Latin pronunciation of Guy is Gee (with the hard G). It is from this that the family has insisted on the hard G sound.

Solomon and his wife are buried in the Old Stone Church Cemetery in East Lyme, CT. The grave is well-marked, with both a head stone and a footstone. There is also a white marble stone that is easier to read. This was put up because of his service in the French and Indian War. Laurence Gee took pictures of the grave and the cemetery in October, 1995. To visit the cemetery, go east on Route 1 until it crosses Route 161 (Chesterfield). Follow this to Society. This curves and goes past a school on the right. You will come to a stop sign, the cemetery is to the left on a slight hill. Solomon's grave is on the right as you look at the cemetery from the gate. In 1995 there was a green, yucca-like plant close to the gravestone.

From Alven Martyn Smith. Descendants of John Smith of Lancaster, Massachusetts. page 78:

1-1 SOLOMON GEE,Sr.,(b. T698, Devonshire County, England) d. Apr. 13, 1769. Lyme,Conn. He lived in Lyme,Conn.,and is buried in the "Old Stone church Burial ground", East Lyme, Conn., near the corner nearest the site of the "Old Stone Church." At its immediate left is a broken part of a grave-stone protruding four inches above the ground, probably that of his wife Deborah. The grave is among many of the Gee, Beckwith and Smith families which are closely related, and not far from the graves of Sergt. Samuel Smith and Silas Smith. List not an order Of births (Deborah was b.in Lyme,Conn.): (2-15)Stephen Gee,b._1730(?); m.Eunice Moor. t‘ I (2-16) Deborah Gee,b._1731; m. silas Smith,5-205 (2-17) Solomon Gee Jr. b. 1736?, m. Martha 2-18 William Gee, is named in his father's will only 2-19 Ruth Gee, b. ___ m. William Mack; see her father's will 2-20 Sarah Gee, b.: m.James Douglas; see her father's will.

From Joseph Smith Sr. Genealogical Website, GEE, Soloman.

Christened 25 Dec 1703, Buckland, Buckinghamshire, England Born 1710 Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States Gender Male Died 13 Apr 1769 Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States Buried Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States Family 1 HUNTLEY, Deborah , b. 20 Aug 1714, Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States d. 26 Mar 1807, Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States (Age 92 years) Married 29 May 1731 Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States [2] Children 1. GEE, Stephen , b. 1731, Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States d. 15 Oct 1808, Marlow, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States (Age 77 years) 2. GEE, Deborah , b. Abt 1735, Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States d. Sep 1820, Marlow, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States (Age ~ 85 years) 3. GEE, Solomon Jr. , b. 1736, Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States d. 12 Aug 1804, Marlow, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States (Age 68 years) + 4. GEE, William , b. 5 Apr 1739, Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States d. 16 Sep 1817, Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States (Age 78 years) 5. GEE, Ruth , b. Abt 1741, Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States d. 7 Apr 1826, Lyme, New London, Connecticut, United States (Age ~ 85 years) NOTES Solomon Gee was an immigrant to America probably before 1720. "Lyme genealogies manuscript history" by D.W. Patterson The Gee family Although there are references to one Peter Gee and wife who were in Boston in 1667, Joshua Gee and wife Elizabeth, daughter of reverend Thomas Thornton and Joshua Gee and wife who died in 1730, little is know of the Gee family until the birth of Solomon Gee. He was born in 1698 in Debonshire (?) [Devonshire] County England. He was prêt (pressed) when yong (young) and put on board a man-o-war. Owing to the cruelty of the captain, he fled from this vessel to another, finally coming to this country. He was a clothier by trade and made his home in Lyme, now called East Lyme, county of New London, Connecticut. In the papers of Lysander Gee the following was found which differs in some minor detail from the above. "Solomon Gee of Lyme Connecticut Reference - Lyme Genealogies MSS by Dr. D.W. Patterson in the library of the Conn. - Historical Society, Athensum Bldg, Hartford Conn. Solomon Gee was born 1698 on Devonshire County, England. When a young man he was impressed into the Royal Navy and put in board a Man of War. He was granted a few days leave of abscence and on returning to the ship found the Captain whipped the men as fast as they came on board. With a comrade he fell back and after the ship had sailed he got aboard another vessell. Shifting from one vessell to another, he came to this place. Being a clothier by trade, married, settled in the town of Lyme, now called East Lyme County of New London, State of Conn. He was married March 27th 1732 by the pastor of the First Church of Lyme. Deborah Huntley of Lyme. He and his wife were buried in Lyme in the old stone Church burying ground,In the thirteenth row starting at the North Wall in the North East Section, Lyme.

1. SOURCE: NEW ENG. REG. V 79 p.69 & V 3 p 132 E. LYME CONV. CEMETERY EARLY CONN. MARRIAGES PRIOR TO 1800 V. 3 p.132 ARCHIVE GROUP SHEET SUBMITTED BY: ALDA M. PAUL 221 SO. MONTEBELLO BLVD.,MONTEBELLO, CALIF. (She is deceased) 2. Possible parentage of Solomon Gee: This material received from: Martell J. Gee 3090 South Oakwood Bountiful, UT 84010 Extracts from Buckland, Monachorum Parish Record 1637 to 1708 Baptisms Gye, Joh:es fils Johes Nov 26, 1636 Gye, Jerimus fils Phillipi Jul 2, 1637 Crossman, Johes fils Richi Oct 7, 1637 Guye, Johes fils Johes Jan 1, 1638/39 Guye, Joohes fils Phillipi Apr 7, 1639 Crossman, Margarita filia Richi Jan 12, 1639/40 Guye, Ezekiel fils Phillipi Oct 2, 1641 Crossman, Guallirus fils Richi Feb 27, 1641/42 Crossman, Elizabetha filia Joh:es Sep 11, 1642 Guye, _______ fils Phillipi Aug 3, 1645 Crossman, Elizabetha filia Richi Aug 16, 1647 Crossman, Richarda filia Richi Feb 8, 1650 Crossman, Richus fils Richi Mar 27, 1653 ++ On 16 Nov 1653, John Lawrye became Parish Clerk and the record was kept in English ++ Crossman, William S of Richard May 27, 1655 Gee, Phillip S of John & Anne Nov 19, 1670 Gee, Joanna D of Ezechiell & Elizabeth Nov 23, 1672 Gee, Mary D of John & Anna Aug 2, 1673 Gee, Richard S of Ezechiell & Elizabeth Oct 25, 1673 Gee, Frances D of Thomas & Frances Jan 1, 1674/75 Gee, John S of Ezechiell & Elizabeth Oct 17, 1675 Gee, Samuell S of John & Anna Mar 1, 1675/76 Gee, Eunice D of Ezechiell & Elizabeth Jun 30, 1678 Gee, William S of John & Anna Jan 11, 1678/79 Gee, Solomon S of Ezechiell & Elizabeth Oct 23, 1680 Gee, Anna D of John and Anna Oct 22, 1681 Gee, Elizabeth D of Ezechiell & Elizabeth Jan 19, 1683/84 Gee, Judith D of John & Anna Jan 20, 1684/85 Gee, Mary D of John & Anna Sep 4, 1687 Gee, Mary D of Ezechiell & Elizabeth Feb 9, 1688/89 Gee, John S of Richard Feb 12, 1698/99 Gee, Elizabeth D of Richard & Sarah Jul 19, 1701 Gee, Solomon S of Richard & Mary Dec 28, 1703 Gee, William S of Richard May 13, 1706 Gee, Thomas S of Richard Nov 14, 1708 Prepared by Jeanie and Ross S. Wolfley 739 East Coventry Lane Alpine, Utah 84004 801-756-3337 Year 2009 ----------- Marlow, New Grantham and Protectworth, Cheshire County, New Hampshire Sources [S4486] Descendants of Solomon Gee of Lyme, Connecticut, Charles E. Benjamin, (1981 Privately Published Printed by Light and Life Press, Winona Lake, Indiana), Library of Congress # 81-81764., Page 76. [S4361] International Genealogical Index(R), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, citing microfilm 1553252 for batch 5004135, sheet 01, downloaded 1 Dec 2009.