Greenberry Lee (abt. 1750 - 1784)

Husband of Elizabeth (Few) Bush — married 1774 in Province of Georgia

Descendants

Died 1784 at about age 34 in Savannah, Richmond, Georgia, United States

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Greenberry Lee resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies

Biography

1750 Birth

Greenberry Lee was born about 1750.^[1] He is likely the son of John Lee Sr and Margaret Howard.^[2][3] The place of his birth is uncertain, but was presumably Harford County, Maryland, where his parents were married on 23 November 1746.

The circumstantial case that John Lee is his father is primarily based on the sale of 500 acres of land, soon after Greenberry's death, by John Lee to Greenberry's wife Elizabeth Lee for the nominal price of £5.0.0.^[4] Actually, it was John Lee Sen'r who sold the land to Greenberry's wife.

Land in Georgia

Three Lees on Bryer Creek, Richmond County, Georgia:

• On 15 October 1773, Greenbury Lee—SC, himself only. 100 acres at head of branch of Bryer creek called Beaver Dam, half a mile above the Upper Trading Path, at a tree marked I. I. [in Richmond County, Georgia].^[5]

• On 15 October 1773, John Lee—SC, a wife, 2 sons and 4 daus. from 12 to 1 year old. 200 acres on Bryer creek at a branch called Rockey Ford [in Richmond County, Georgia].^[5]

• On 9 November 1773. Francis Lee—NC, wife, 1 son and 4 daus. and an orphan boy from 8 years to 9 months old. 100 acres on Bryer creek [in Richmond County, Georgia]. Resigned 6 December 1773.^[6] He returned to his home on Beaver Dam, a branch of Rockey Creek, South Carolina.

He received 287-1/2 acres in Washington County, Georgia.^[7]

In Council, Savannah, Georgia, 13 February 1784, the Governor signed a land grant to Greenberry Lee for 400 acres in Wilkes County, Georgia,^[8] bounding south eastwardly by Ignatius Few's land and on all other sides by vacant land.^[9] The land was located on Little River.^[10]

On 15 Mar 1784 in Georgia Greenbury Lee received 250 acres Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grant. ^[11]

1774 Marriage to Elizabeth Few

Colonel Greenberry Lee and Elizabeth Few were married.^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

Before moving to Wrightsboro, Georgia, Elizabeth Few lived in Alamance, North Carolina.^[16]

Elizabeth Few had four distinguished brothers, one of whom, Colonel Wm. Few, Jr., was the first U.S. Senator from Georgia, a Signer of the Constitution from Georgia, and at one time Mayor of New York City.^[16]

Children

Listed in Old Bible

Unto Col. Greenberry Lee and Elizabeth (Few) Lee were born 2 sons and 1 daughter:^[12]

1. John Lee the eldest child born July 24, 1775 in Richmond County, Georgia. RW application.
2. Dr. William Lee (he was also a General in the U. S. Army) 2nd born 1777, died 1815 at Montecello, Jasper County, Georgia; married Maria Lucas, (cousin to his brother John Lee's wife); no issue.
3. Mary Lee, the only daughter, married Hugh Blair, January 14, 1805 in Warren County, Georgia. Their daughter, Ann Blair, married Rev. T. H. Dawson.

The brothers, John Lee and William Lee were said to have been the best drilled Military men in Georgia in their day.^[17]

American Revolution

Greenberry Lee was a colonel in South Carolina Militia 1782-1783.^[18][15]

He was a Revolutionary soldier, Colonel of 2nd Battalion, Richmond County, Georgia.^{[citation needed]}

Greenberry Lee was a Revolutionary soldier of Georgia and served as Colonel of the Richmond County Militia. Many certificates of Rev. soldiers applying for bounty lands in Georgia were signed by Col. Greenberry (sometimes spelled Greenbury) Lee in 1784 at "New Savannah".^[19][20]

1782 Public Office

Greenberry Lee was Justice for Richmond County, Georgia:

• 12 January 1782^[21]
• 4 February 1784^[21]

Greenberry Lee was a member of the House of Representatives of Georgia, representing Richmond County:

• 7 January 1783^[21]
• 26 February 1784^[21]; Benjamin Few and William Few were members in the same session.

He was Road Commissioner July 29, 1783.^{[citation needed]}

1784 Death

Colonel Greenberry Lee died in 1784 in Georgia.^[22][23]

1784 Nov 1 - Indenture between John Lee Sen'r in Richmond County, Georgia, and Elizabeth Lee of Richmond County, Georgia, for £5.0.0 current money of Georgia, two certain tracts containing 500 acres, in Richmond County, Georgia, which said Land and premises was granted to the said John Lee 1 October 1771. Signed: John Lee Sen'r (his mark). Witnesses: Fitz M Hunt, Mary Few. I. Few J.P. Recorded 24 February 1791, Richmond County, Georgia.^[4]

Note that I. Few J.P. is Ignatius Few, Elizabeth (Few) Lee's brother, and Mary Few is possibly Ignatius Few's wife Mary Few. Alternatively, Mary Few is possibly Mary Few, Elizabeth and Ignatius' mother. However that Mary Few is listed d. 1778, Hillsborough, Orange, N.C. Spratlin-29 17:20, 9 November 2023 (UTC)

1785 Jun 10 - Indenture between Ignatius Few of Richmond County, Georgia, and James Gray of Wilkes County, Georgia, 100 acres, of the Ceded Lands. Witnesses: John Roussau, Eleazer Camens:

"Whereas Greenberry Lee obtained 100 acres of the Ceded Lands bounded on all sides vacant, granted by Sir James Wright, Bart. 21 Mar 1775. The said Greenberry Lee on his death appointed said Ignatius Few to act in settling his affairs as Execr."^[24]

The heirs of Col. Greenberry Lee received 1150 acres, a Colonel's Bounty warrant in Franklin County, Georgia on May 7, 1787. Witness: John Smithfield. Larkin Cleveland C.F.C.^[25]

On 26 April 1803, in the Superior Court of Warren County, Georgia, John Lee, William Lee, and Mary Lee, children of Elizabeth Bush and heirs of Greenberry Lee, deceased, all being of lawful age and serious of takeing of into our own Estate do hereby acknowledge that we have received of land and negroes the full amount of our patrimony together with five negroes … our portion of our Grand Fathers legacy to his Daughter Elizabeth our Mother.^[12]

Research Notes

Vital Statistics

Name
Greenberry is named Thomas Greenberry Lee Jr. in some family genealogies.^[26]

Birth
His birth date is estimated based on his 15 October 1773 land grant, (15 Oct 1773 - above 21 years old) = before 15 October 1752.

Secondary sources purport he was born in 1750 without providing primary sources or rationale for an estimated birth date.^[2][27][16]

Secondary sources and family trees purport he was born in several places without providing primary sources or rationale:

• Harford County, Maryland^[2]
• Virginia^[20]
• Fish Pond Creek, Buckingham, Virginia.^[28]
• South Carolina^[15][18]

Greenberry Lee's Parents

Family genealogies have proposed, with varying levels of veracity, that his parents are either:

• John Lee (abt.1725-1786) & Margaret Winford (Howard) Lee (abt.1723-)
• Thomas Lee (1729-1816) & Mary (Griffin) Lee (1732-abt.1758)

Theory 1: John Lee As Father

Family Genealogies:

• Emma Lee Bettis^[2]
• [unknown]^[27]
• Managers of "Thomas Lee, of Ditchley (1739–1816)," Geni.com^[29]

DAR descendant Mrs Ema Lee Bettis once stated that Greenberry Lee was born in Harford County, Maryland (marriage place of John Lee and Margaret Howard).^[2]

John Lee, Sr. deeds to Elizabeth Lee, widow of Greenberry Lee, 500 acres for £5 on 1 November 1784; this land had been granted to John Lee, Sr. on 1 October 1771.^[4] This land is on Upper Richland Creek in Richmond County, Georgia.^[30][2]

In family papers of the late Milo Howard, head of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, he says he was a descendant of Col. Greenberry Lee's Aunt Hannah Howard: From William Lee's profile (Greenberry's son). The Howard family members belong to John Lee.

Theory 2: Thomas Lee As Father

Family Genealogies:

• Mimms W. Lee^[16]

Unsourced parents Thomas Lee (1729-1816) & Mary (Griffin) Lee (1732-abt.1758) were previously attached.

It is difficult to make even a circumstantial case for this relationship:

• Thomas Lee is first named in a 7 January 1755 land record in Johnston County, North Carolina.
• Thomas appears to remain there through at least 1780.
• Thomas is named in several land records between 1787 and 1813 in Greene County, North Carolina, which became Hawkins County, Tennessee.
• Thomas made his nuncupative Will in Hawkins County, Tennessee, on 29 June 1816, and died there a few days later.

Meanwhile, Greenberry Lee of South Carolina obtains land on 15 October 1773 in Richmond County, Georgia. John Lee, also of South Carolina, obtains land on the same date on the same creek in Richmond County. John is presumably a brother of Greenberry.

Thomas Lee's profile has a son named John attached who was born 1776 in what became Tennessee, and died in 1842 in Tennessee.

Spratlin-29 22:35, 15 November 2023 (UTC)

Thomas Lee of Ditchley and his wife Mary Griffin^[31][20] are often given as his parents but there is absolutely no solid source linking Greenberry Lee as their son. Furthermore, no primary sources have been found so far regarding the existence of Thomas Lee of Ditchley or Mary Griffin.

Greenberry Lee and the Revolution

By Mimms W. Lee:^[16]

I knew that Greenberry Lee was a Colonel of Richmond County (Georgia) Militia during the Revolution, was a member of the Georgia Legislature, a Justice, a Road Commissioner, and died before he was thirty-six years of age. He was born in 1750, and married Elizabeth Few (Deed book "B" p. 458, Warren Co., GA.) who before moving to Wrightsboro, Georgia, lived in Alamance, NC. Her family was prominent. She had four distinguished brothers, one of whom, Colonel Wm. Few, Jr., was the first U. S. Senator from Georgia, a Signer of the Constitution from Georgia, and at one time Mayor of New York City. I have the old gun used by Colonel Greenberry Lee in the American Revolution, and have heard my father say that as a boy, Greenberry (not Granbery) Lee lived near Danville, Virginia; and that while not of the Robert E. Lee line, he did belong to a branch of the Virginia Lee family.

The Chestnut Bible

In the Genealogy room of the Library in Rogersville, Hawkins County, Tennessee, there is a note that, according to the DAR, a bible belonging to Capt. Thomas Lee said that he was born on 12/3/1729 at Ditchley, Northumberland, the "next to youngest" child of Richard Lee and Judith Steptoe. This Bible entry is apparently a 20th-century forgery, from correspondence described at that library.

See "Thomas Lee, of Ditchley (1739–1816)," Geni.com (profile) for a more complete discussion of what is referred to there as "the adulterated bible":

[5] Despite Will Franke's well known competence in genealogical work, he was a poor choice for Mimms Lee as HIS "authority" for the 1938 article, as by or before 1950, Mr. Will Franke had denounced part of the bible entries, known to some of us as "The Chestnut Bible" (from it's last owner family), which has a statement of Thomas Lee (of Hawkins Co., TN) birth at Ditchley. Without any doubt whatever, Mr. Franke eventually realized that Capt. Thomas Lee was NOT a descendant of the Ditchley Lee group, as he reported the adulterated bible to Cazenove Gardner Lee, who agreed. It may well be that the old Mimms Lee article of 1938 came into the hands of the Chestnut Bible owner and inspired the added-on note about Thomas Lee's parentage, at the outset. That's why I call this mess "a self-fulfilling prophesy." ONE WRONG IDENTIFICATION INSPIRES ANOTHER, AND THE LATTER IS USED TO CONFIRM THE FORMER. By the way, Mimms Lee never tells us what Will Franke actually SAID in or prior to 1938, nor does he either tell us what Mrs. Godby actually SAID. It's all inferences, and 2nd hand information at best.

See also references to the Griffin Bible and the Needham Lee, Jr. Bible.

This issue would greatly benefit from obtaining original images of the bible(s) and correspondence or records referred to in the discussion. For example, what does the phrase "adulterated" mean? Does it mean someone merely wrote on the page, or that someone attempted to modify the bible in a manner intended to mislead readers? Spratlin-29 21:10, 1 November 2023 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ See Vital Statistics.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Emma Lee Bettis (compiler), Lee Familly Of Shropshire, England, 1100 A.D. to 1961 in America, called the Lee Family of Virginia (Montgomery, Alabama: unknown, 1961 [?]) p15, pp17-22, ; digital images, FamilySearch (title page).
3. ↑ What are the primary sources proving his parents?
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} County Court, Richmond County, Georgia, Richmond County Deed Book A-2, 1787–1791; database with images, Georgia Archives (image 174, image 175).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Grace Gillam Davidson, Early Records of Georgia Vol. 1 (Macon, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company: 1932, 1997, 2011), p11.
6. ↑ Grace Gillam Davidson, Early Records of Georgia Vol. 1 (Macon, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company: 1932, 1997, 2011), p14.
7. ↑ Vol. 3 - Revolutionary Records of Georgia, by Candler: P-191.
8. ↑ Allen D. Candler The Revolutionary Records of the State of Georgia Vol. 2 (Atlanta, Georgia: The Franklin-Turner Company, 1908), p591, p846; digital images, FamilySearch (title page).
9. ↑ Governor, Georgia, Georgia, headright and bounty land records, Register of grants, vol DDD, 1783-1784; database with images, FamilySearch (image 146).
10. ↑ Lee Greenberry, 400 acres, Wilkes County, 1783, Georgia Colonial and Headright Plat Index, 1735-1866; database, Georgia Archives (https://vault.georgiaarchives.org/digital/collection/platindex/id/20632/rec/2).
11. ↑ Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck, Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants Awarded by State Governments, Genealogical Publishing C0., Inc. Baltimore, Md, 1998 p. 308
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Superior Court, Warren County, Georgia, Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1900, Deeds and mortgages, v. A-B 1796-1808; database with images, FamilySearch (image 612).
13. ↑ Deed book "F", p. 21-22 February 25, 1787, Richmond County, Georgia.
14. ↑ Mrs. Howard H. McCall (compiler), Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia Vol. 1 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1968, 1996, 2004), pp76-77; digital images, Ancestry.com (image 69).
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2} "Greenberry Lee," Alabama, U.S., Surname Files Expanded, 1702–1981 for Greenberry Lee; database with images, Ancestry.com (image 158).
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5} Mimms W. Lee, "Genealogical Notes and Contributions: Lee," The William and Mary Quarterly Vol. 18, No. 4 (Oct., 1938), pp513-514; digital images, JSTOR (pp513-514); digital images, Ancestry.com (images 369-370).
17. ↑ Ref. Old Bible. [which old bible?]
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} Flora Myers Gillentine (Historian General), Lineage Book - National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Vol. 111-112 (1914) (Washington, D.C.: Judd & Detweiler, Inc., 1929) pp213-214; digital images, Hathitrust.org (pp213-214).
19. ↑ Knight's Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers of Georgia
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1 20.2} Mrs. Howard H. McCall (compiler), Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia and Other States Vol. 2 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1968, 1996, 2004), pp76-77; digital images, Ancestry.com (image 88).
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3} Allen D. Candler The Revolutionary Records of the State of Georgia Vol. 3 (Atlanta, Georgia: The Franklin-Turner Company, 1908), p76, p191, p254, p572, p610; digital images, FamilySearch (title page).
22. ↑ "Greenberry Lee," Alabama, U.S., Surname Files Expanded, 1702–1981 for Greenberry Lee; database with images, Ancestry.com (image 311).
23. ↑ Frank Moseley, "Heros of the Cross," Alabama, U.S., Surname Files Expanded, 1702–1981 for Greenberry Lee; database with images, Ancestry.com (image 40).
24. ↑ Grace Gillam Davidson, Early Records of Georgia Vol. 1 (Macon, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company: 1932, 1997, 2011), p235.
25. ↑ Vol. 3, Wilkes County, Georgia Records: P 235.
26. ↑ "Genealogy Report: Ancestors of Charles Calhoun Lee," Genealogy.com (https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/a/y/Audrey-S-Hayden/GENE2-0006.html).
27. ↑ ^{27.0 27.1} "Lees of Virginia," Alabama, U.S., Surname Files Expanded, 1702–1981 for John Lee; database with images, Ancestry.com (images 78-79).
28. ↑ FamilySearch Person: GJSD-7YK for Col. Thomas Greenberry Lee (unk–unk). [1 DAR source]
29. ↑ "Thomas Lee, of Ditchley (1739–1816)," Geni.com (profile).
30. ↑ Richmond County, Georgia, Deed Book A.2:page 321
31. ↑ Griffin Bible Transcripts: From:Hugh Husma. Subject: [LEE-L] GRIFFIN Bible, Transcript of Entries. Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 17:10:18 EDT. Bible owned by Samuel Griffin, the 6th, of Heathville, Virginia. Quote: Thomas Lee and Mary Griffin married April 9, 1747. Mary Griffin, born March 30, 1732. Mary Lee, wife of Thomas Lee, of Ditchley, our beloved daughter died Dec 8, 1758. End quote. This transcript made by me (Hugh Husma) from 1938 transcript sent to Mr. Mimms W. Lee, Esq. from DAR. The DAR record was from Reverend George W. Beale, D. D. who made the original transcription and sent it to the DAR in 1911/1912. The entries were reviewed by Casanova G. Lee of Washington, D. C. and held as authentic by him. Hugh Husma (HH)

See also - review for reliable sources:

• Briar Creek, Georgia. [is this Bryer Creek? apparently so from map on revolutionarywar.us page]
• The Battle of Briar Creek. [map shows Brier Creek and Beaverdam Creek]

6 sources from Familysearch Profile; see also 6 memories

• https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CYVW-9GW2
• https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~rgibson/genealogy/Lee/Documents/Emma_Lee_Bettis_Manuscript.html [reviewed]
• "Vol. 2 - Revolutionary Records of Georgia, by Candler. P-591. Col. Greenberry Lee 5 received a land grant of 400 acres in Wilkes County, Georgia on February 13, 1784."
• "Vol. 3, Wilkes County, Georgia Records: P-11. On October 15, 1773 Greenberry Lee 5, a single man from South Carolina was granted 100 acres at the head of a branch or Bryer Creek, called Beaver Dam, half mile above Upper Trading Path at a tree marked J. L. in Richmond County, Georgia."
• "Historical Collections, Georgia Chapters D.A.R. Vol.2. p.229 (p.321). John Lee, Sr. 4 deeds to Elizabeth Lee, widow of Greenberry Lee 5, 500 acres for $5 on November 1, 1784; this land had been granted to John Lee, Sr. 4 on October 1, 1771.
• "Georgia Roster of the Revolution, by Knight: P-420 Greenberry Lee, Colonel."

See also - other family trees:

• FamilySearch Person: G6QQ-BR8 for Col. Greenberry Lee (1751–1784). [6 sources, 6 memories]
• FamilySearch Person: GJSD-7YK for Col. Thomas Greenberry Lee (unk–unk). [1 DAR source]
• "Thomas Lee, of Ditchley (1739–1816)," Geni.com (profile).
• Flora Myers Gillentine (Historian General), Lineage Book - National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Vol. 111-112 (1914) (Washington, D.C.: Judd & Detweiler, Inc., 1929) pp213-214; digital images, Hathitrust.org (pp213-214).
• Flora Myers Gillentine (Historian General), Lineage Book - National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Vol. 111-112 (1914) (Washington, D.C.: Judd & Detweiler, Inc., 1929) p266; digital images, Hathitrust.org (p266).
• "Genealogy Report: Ancestors of Charles Calhoun Lee," Genealogy.com (https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/a/y/Audrey-S-Hayden/GENE2-0006.html).