His probable father, John Lee Sen'r, removed from Maryland to Rocky Creek, Camden District, South Carolina, in 1751 with his children and grandchildren and was one of the four founders of the Catholic Presbyterian Church in 1759. His son, John Lee (who died 1787) of this profile, is the soldier whose name is on a memorial stone of this church.[2][3]
John passed away before 20 April 1787 at Little River, Fairfield County, South Carolina.[4][5] All the land he bequeaths to his children is from right next to where he died in South Carolina and thus gives rise to the suspicion that he never went to Georgia.
Marriages
Some say John Lee had three wives. This has yet to be proven. It hasn't yet been determined exactly which children belong to which wife if he had more than one.
1) Spouse: uncertain and unknown. Unproved.
2) Spouse: Margaret Howard (b. abt. 1723) married 23 November 1746, at St. John's Parish for Joppa, Harford, Maryland[6][7] She may not be his wife. No proof that she married this John Lee.
3) Spouse: Mary Cassels 1737-1803. Sourced and proven by his will.
Will & Death
Last Will and Testament of John Lee, farmer[8][4][5]
Little River, Fairfield County, South Carolina.
16 November 1786.
20 April 1787 (proved).
In the Name of God Amen. I John Lee of Little River Fairfield County and State of South Carolina Farmer being through the abundant mercy and goodness of God tho weak in body yet of sound and perfect understanding and memory …
to be buried in a Christian decent Like manner …
I give and dispose of the Same in the Manner and form following that is to say in the first place all my Lawfull debts must be paid out of my Estate and the Remainder I dispose of as followeth:
I give and bequeath to Mary my dearly beloved Wife the plantation whereon I now dwell Containing two hundred [200] Acres, also the mill theron. That She may Enjoy the Same during her Life or widowhood and then to fall to my son Stephen allso an addition of Land to the Same Son Stephen one hundred [100] acres joining the same two hundred [200] acres on which I now dwell the Same hundred [100] acres allso joining Turners and Stedmans Lines allso Seventy five [75] acres to the same son Stephen allso joining the above said two hundred [200] acres on the other sides joining Jacob bowers and a tract formerly run by Jacob Coftells the whole Containing three hundred and Seventy five [375] acres with the mill thereon at his Mothers decease or the end of her widowhood with the negroes above mentioned to be freely possesed and enjoyed by him and his heirs forever
also I Leave and bequeath to my well loved Daughter Elizabeth that body of Land Lying on the North side of the Mill Creek Extending as high as the waggon road and as low down the said Mill Creek as said plot discovers also a negrow wench named Hannah freely to be possessed and Enjoyed by her and her heirs forever
also I bequeath and Leave to her husband Will'm Marchel one hundred [100] acres of land joining Lines with Robert Coulter on a branch of Rocky Creek freely to be possesed or disposed of by him as he may see Cause forever
also I leave and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Sarah Gordon my old place Layng on the great waggon road Containing two hundred [200] Acres[9] allso Fifty [50] acres[9] run by one pinson warrent joining said two hundred [200] acres at the upper end of the same thatis up the waggon Road also a negrow wench named Phillis freely to be possessed and Enjoyed by her and her heirs forever
also I Leave and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Agnis three hundred and fifty [350] acres run by one James Jurden the Same of which She and her husband now dwells a negro wench named gin freely to be posssed and Enjoyed by her and her heirs forever
also I Leave and bequeath to my well beloved Son John in the first place one hundred [100] acres run by John guinn also two hundred [200] acres run Clear round said one hundred [100] acres by John Calvin also one negrow boy named Sam freely to be possesed and Enjoyed by him and his heirs forever
also I Leave and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Rachel Cameron two hundred [200] acres of Land joining my Daugher Sarrahs tract on the one side northward also one negro wench named disa freely to be possesed and Enjoyed by her and her heirs forver
also I Leave and bequeath to my well beloved Son Francis that tract run by Jacob Castels also fifty [50] acres adjoining Said Land the other Side joining Mr Morrise Line and a negrow by Called prince also one hundred [100] acres of Land run by Cap't. Jn'o. Turner Laying in the forks of the Roads all to be freely posssed and Enjoyed by him and his heirs forever
I also Leave and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Rosana one hundred [100] acres run by Curtis Caldwell and another hundred [100] run by myself adjoining the other hundred [100] Laying on the Mill Creek and a negrow wench named Marea freely to be possosed and Enjoyed by her and her heirs forever
I also Leave and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Rebeccah part of a tract run by Jacob Bowers Laying where M'r willy Lived also a negrow wench named Ceily freely to be posesed by her and her heirs forever
also Leave and bequeath all my stock of every kind and house hold furniture to be disposed of by my well beloved Wife and Executors towards the Raising of my Children and the Schooling of them
I Likewise Constitute Make and ordain my son John Lee and my soninlaw Alexander Gordon the Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disallow Revoke and disannull all and Every other former Testaments Wills Legacies bequests and Exrs by me in any ways before named willed and bequeathed Ratifing this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Sixteenth Day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty six 86 [1786]
In 1751 he moved to Chester County, South Carolina.[2]
Dr. Meriwether told Emma Lee Bettis, "John Lee appeared before the Governor and Council of South Carolina and made the statement that he had come from Maryland to South Carolina in 1751 and settled on Wateree Creek, where he cleared nine acres of land, and on it build proper conveniences for his family."[10]
1752 Wateree Creek, South Carolina. In 1752 John Lee petitioned for and was granted 200 acres in the Province of South Carolina on Wateree Creek (note this is not ROCKY CREEK nor WATEREE RIVER). He has a wife and one child.
Read the petition of John Lee humbly setting forth that the petitionor being a native of Maryland & thinking to better provide for his family in this Province about a year ago and finding a proper spot on the Wateree Creek where he set down with his family and cleared 9 acres to wise provision and built proper conveniences for his family, he has a wife, one child, a white servant and never had any land in this province and humbly prays his Excellency and their Honors order the Survr General to lay out to the petitioner 200 acres of land on the Wateree Creek and that he may have a grant for the same and as in duty bound shall ever pray. Charles town the 6th of November 1752.
Signed: John Lee
The Prayer Granted:
The said petition being considered and the petitioner appearing & swearing to the Truth of his petition found right, the prayer thereof was granted and the Deputy General ordered to prepare a warrant and the Lord General to lay out 200 acres of land prayed for, there to a grant may issue to him for the same.[1][2][11]
1752 A Branch of Rockey Creek, Wateree River, Craven County (later Chester County)
By 20 December 1752 John Lee already owns land next to Francis Penson who received 50 acres on this date described as being next to John Lee. Then Francis Penson sold it to John Lee & John Lee bequeathed this land containing fifty acres to Alexander Gordon & wife Sarah Gordon by his last will and testament. [12][13]
From her father's will: I leave and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Sarah Gordon my old place on the great wagon road containing 200 acres also 50 acres run by Francis Penson joining said 200 acres at the upper end of the same that is up the wagon Road.
1753 North branch of Wateree Creek.1753 Jan 19 Land Plot Craven County, South Carolina:
John Lee, pg 379) South Carolina - Pursuant to a precept directed by George Hunter Esqr. Sur. Genl. dated the 7th day of Novr 1752 I have surveyed and laid out unto John Lee a tract of land containing two hundred acres situate lying and being on the North branch of Wateree Creek butting & bounding on the Northeastward by Joseph Cates land and the other sides bounded by vacant lands and hath such shape, form and marks as the above platt represents. Certified by me this 19th day of January 1753 John Hamelton D.S.[14]
1754 Rocky Creek, Craven County, now Chester County. In 1754 John Lee bought 400 acres of land from George Taylor lying on a branch of Rocky Creek, Craven County, now Chester County bounded on all sides with vacant land. Of this plantation John Lee bequeathed 200 acres, plus 50 acres joining the 200 at the upper end to Alexander Gordon & his wife Sarah Gordon by his last will & testament. In his will he describes these 200 acres: my old place layng on the great wagon road Containing two hundred [200] Acres...[15]
1768 Little River, Craven County, South Carolina
June 7, 1768
Craven Co SC to John Lee
South Carolina - Pursuant to a precept directed by Eggerton LEIGH Esqr., Surveyor General dated June the 7th 1768 I have surveyed and layed off to John Lee a tract of land containing one hundred acres situated lying on a small branch of Little River butting and bounding to _ NE by bond surveyed for Carlis CALDWELL, to the SE by land surveyed by N. survey, and to the SW by land surveyed for Margaret McCLELAND, and the other side by vacant land and hath such shape, form and marks as the above plat represents. Certified 23rd day of June 1768. John WINN D.S.[16][17]
Feb 25, 1775 Rockey Creek Craven County (Chester County) South Carolina. John Lee sold his land to John McClurkin and it is signed with his mark by John Lee and wife Mary one hundred & fifty [150] acres situate lying & being on a creek of the Wateree River called Rockey Creek Craven County (Chester County) South Carolina [18]
John Lee signture 1775 South Carolina
1777-1778. Revolutionary service of the John Lee on the Memorial Stone at Catholic Church.
John Lee Corp. 4 June 1777, discharged 15th of March, 1778, List of 3rd South Carolina Regiment, commanded by Colonel Thompson, William Henderson’s company.[19][2]
1784 - His possible son, Col. Greenberry Lee, died in 1784,[20] and so Greenberry was not mentioned in his will.
On 10 July 1785, John Lee was issued Letters of Administration in the estate of his father-in-law, Henry Cassels Sr, Craven County, South Carolina.[21]
16 November 1786 Last Will and Testament of John Lee, farmer at Little River, Fairfield County, South Carolina. Proved 20 April 1787.
"negro wench named Hannah", willed to daughter Elizabeth
"negro wench named Phillis" willed to daughter Sarah Gordon
"negro wench named gin" willed to daughter Agnis
"negro boy named Sam" willed to son John and listed in John Lee Inventory [22]
"negro wench named disa" willed to daughter Rachel Cameron
"negro wench named Marea" willed to daughter Rosana
"negro wench named Ceily" willed to daughter Rebeccah
Research Notes
Vital Statistics
Birth
This birth before 1720 in [uncertain] Northumberland County, Colony of Virginia, is unsourced.
An alternate, unsourced birth about 1725 or earlier in (some say) Lancaster County, Colony of Virginia was previously listed in the Biography. This biography was created originally for one John Lee (1725-1758) Lancaster, Virginia and then evolved into a completely different John Lee (1720 Maryland-1787 South Carolina).
See under "Timeline" heading above on this profile: 1751 and 1752 petition for 200 acres of land where he states he is a native of Maryland.
Note that two of his sons-in-law's relatives, the Halsells and Delashmets, are first found in Prince George County, Maryland in the early 1700's.
All the different John Lee signatures with relative "marks" on the numerous handwritten documents should be studied to determine which John Lee is which in this group of John Lee relatives. See signatures at:
Alternative parents: Wrong parents are listed. This John Lee’s parents do not yet seem to be identified. Elizabeth Ann Keene (1701 - 1759) was not his mother.-Erica Howton in Comments
Theory for John Lee's parents: His father was John Lee:
Nov 6, 1752 - Francis Lea presents petition of his father, John Lea, for land on Rocky Creek & Wateree River. Francis requests to appear & present the petition as his father is very old. (SC Council Journal #20, pg 564) Note: comment on web site: Francis is John Lee's (b. 1720) brother, not John Lee's (b. 1720) son.[11][23]
Wife
Note from Margaret Winford Howards profile: There may be two Margaret Howards married to two John Lees. One Margaret is about 12 years, more or less, older than the other. One Margaret is from Maryland.
Migration Theory
This is a theory for a possible migration route from Prince George's County in Maryland to Fairfield County in South Carolina. They probably took the Great Wagon Road which passes through John Lee's property):
↑ 1.01.1
"The Petition of John Lee for Land by Family Right.," Journal of the Proceedings Of His Majesty Honorable Council of South Carolina; digital image, RootsWeb (p565), 7 Nov 1752; also in office of the Historical Commission, Columbia, South Carolina).
↑ 2.02.12.22.32.4
Mary Wylie Strange, "John Lee," The Revolutionary Soldiers of Catholic Presbyterian Church, Chester County, South Carolina, pp79-82; digital images, RootsWeb (pp79-82).
↑ 4.004.014.024.034.044.054.064.074.084.094.10
Kershaw County, "Lee, John Of Fairfield County, Will Typescript, Kershaw County (Estate Packet: Apt. 39, Pkg. 1436) (3 Frames). Date: 4/20/1787,"; database with images, SC Department of Archives and History (Search: Lee, John; 1787).
↑ 5.05.1
South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980. Author: Brimelow, Judith M.; Probate Place: Kershaw, South Carolina.
↑
St. John's Parish, Joppa, Maryland : Protestant Episcopal, Register of births, marriages and deaths, St. John's Parish, Joppa [Maryland];database with images, FamilySearch (image 449).
↑
Robert L. Meriwether, The Expansion of South Carolina, 1729–1765 (Kingsport, Tennessee: Southern Publishers, Inc., 1940), p153; digital images, Archive.org (title page).
DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships.
It is likely that these
autosomal DNA
test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with John:
Is there a profile for the John Lee with land records (deleted 6 April 2024) in Georgia? Would be helpful to list that person in the Often Conflated research note if not already listed there.
He is John Lee-48597 - the land records (deleted 6 April) were moved to him because he has a different mark and calls himself or signs as John Lee Sen'r. This John Lee Sen'r has now been added to Often Conflated research note.
Mary (Cassells) Lee (abt.1735-aft.1803) was detached as his spouse, but his Will names "Mary my dearly beloved Wife" and the name "Mary" is then linked to Cassells-13.
As others have noted, it is possible that information for more than one person has been conflated on this profile, and further confusion could be avoided by identifying one "anchor" fact which this profile would retain regardless of other research discoveries. I would recommend that the "anchor" fact for this profile be the 1786 will --since the will contains the most detail as well as the names of the children who are connected to the John of this profile.
Meriweather's book (current footnote 8) is then crucial for establishing that the John Lee who died in South Carolina came from Maryland in 1751. That does not exclude the possibility that Lee spent some time in Virginia, which is between Maryland and the Carolinas, but it means that any Virginia data must fit the Maryland to Virginia narrative.
With very common names like John and Lee, it's best to assume that every single fact one encounters is about a DIFFERENT John Lee until it is possible to prove, or at least confirm, that they infact refer to the same one!
I added a section highlighting the names of the enslaved persons named in the will. They should be given profiles of their own; all that we know of them at the moment is that they were "owned" by John Lee and beqeathed to his children in 1786.
Please detach Mary Cassels, she married a John Lee born prob South Carolina - he is not that born Maryland. They had children born South Carolina. His will 16 Nov 1786 is that posted on this profile...
If she married the John Lee whose Will is posted on this profile, then this is her husband (see identity statement at the top of the profile). The issue might then be the birth place listed is incorrect.
Greenberry Lee Lee-9072 is most likely John Lee's son. John Lee has a grandson named Green Berry: Maj Green Berry Marshall Marshall-29870, a grandson named Greenberry Gordon Gordon-20902 and a great grandson named Greenberry McKeown McKeown-1408
Stephen Lee-46855 seems to be listed in the wrong position of children (as son of John Lee-4577) since he is the child of Mary Cassells-13 (his 3rd Wife).
According to the Lee's of VA, Family Tree attachment, Francis Lee & John Lee, Jr were from an (unknown) 1st Wife . . . NOT Margaret Winford Howard.
Regarding Margaret Winford Howard-1596, I'm thinking that she was married to someone else (Winford ?), before John Lee. I read she came into the marriage with 2 boys.
Thanks, Bob Cole
The list of children got placed according to the order found in the will. About the name "Winford", I would like to see a document with that being really part of her name. I detached Francis and John Jr from Margaret Winford Howard.
And poor Greenberry still left out as a son of John Lee, Sr. There are several Greenberrys in the descendant line.
To Bob Cole: The order of the children listed in John Lee's will might very well reflect their birth order. If Greenberry Lee was a son, he might have been the first born around 1750-1751 but he died before the will was made.
John Lee came from Maryland to South Carolina in 1751 and settled on the waters of Wateree Creek, Rocky Creek, Chester County, South Carolina with 1 wife and 1 child. He may have had only one wife - period!
The Francis Lee of 1752 petition in "Timeline" on John's profile might be a brother:
Nov 6, 1752 - Francis Lee presents petition of his father, John Lee, for land on Rocky Creek & Wateree River. Francis requests to appear & present the petition as his father is very old. (SC Council Journal #20, pg 564) Note: comment on web site: Francis is John Lee's (b. 1720) brother, not John Lee's (b. 1720) son. This would make John Lee's father also a John Lee. https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~circuitcourtrecords/genealogy/council/sc.html
Note on unsourced image "Incorrect Lee's of VA, Family Tree" attachment - it's lacking sources and contains errors especially about Thomas Lee-325 who has a different son John Lee-47249, not this one.
Greenberry Lee (1799 - 1869) and his bother Eli (also spelled Ely or Eley) were on a wagon train to Mississippi around 1819 with family members from Georgia and South Carolina - where the Lees of this profile lived.
The 2 oldest sons of Alexander & Sarah Lee Gordon, John & Green Berry, migrated to the Mississippi territory similar to Greenberry Lee (1799 - 1869) and at the same time. Could they be relatives? (Sarah is the daughter of John Lee.)
Lee-39119 and Lee-4577 appear to represent the same person because: Same death info and sources. There is a problem with Lee-4577's parents. See comment on John Lee's parents. These two John Lees are the father of Elizabeth (Lee) Marshall.
Lee-4577 and Lee-4783 appear to represent the same person because: Same Man. Apparently had 3 wives. married abt 1750 to Mary Cassels b. abt. 1732 Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina
d on or after 4 AUG 1803 Little River, Fairfield, South Carolina
C John Lee b. Seneca Creek, Pr Georges, S Carolina d aft Nov 16, 1786 Little River, Fairfield Co SC.
Connections to Super Bowl halftime show performers:
John is
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edited by Karen Brubaker
Should she be reattached as spouse?
edited by Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024)
Meriweather's book (current footnote 8) is then crucial for establishing that the John Lee who died in South Carolina came from Maryland in 1751. That does not exclude the possibility that Lee spent some time in Virginia, which is between Maryland and the Carolinas, but it means that any Virginia data must fit the Maryland to Virginia narrative.
With very common names like John and Lee, it's best to assume that every single fact one encounters is about a DIFFERENT John Lee until it is possible to prove, or at least confirm, that they infact refer to the same one!
I added a section highlighting the names of the enslaved persons named in the will. They should be given profiles of their own; all that we know of them at the moment is that they were "owned" by John Lee and beqeathed to his children in 1786.
edited by Beryl Meehan
The Will names his wife Mary.
edited by Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024)
He is not their son. The son of Thomas Lee-325 and Elizabeth Keene-431 is John Lee-47249. Thank you.
edited by Karen Brubaker
edited by Karen Brubaker
According to the Lee's of VA, Family Tree attachment, Francis Lee & John Lee, Jr were from an (unknown) 1st Wife . . . NOT Margaret Winford Howard. Regarding Margaret Winford Howard-1596, I'm thinking that she was married to someone else (Winford ?), before John Lee. I read she came into the marriage with 2 boys. Thanks, Bob Cole
And poor Greenberry still left out as a son of John Lee, Sr. There are several Greenberrys in the descendant line.
edited by Karen Brubaker
John Lee came from Maryland to South Carolina in 1751 and settled on the waters of Wateree Creek, Rocky Creek, Chester County, South Carolina with 1 wife and 1 child. He may have had only one wife - period!
The Francis Lee of 1752 petition in "Timeline" on John's profile might be a brother: Nov 6, 1752 - Francis Lee presents petition of his father, John Lee, for land on Rocky Creek & Wateree River. Francis requests to appear & present the petition as his father is very old. (SC Council Journal #20, pg 564) Note: comment on web site: Francis is John Lee's (b. 1720) brother, not John Lee's (b. 1720) son. This would make John Lee's father also a John Lee. https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~circuitcourtrecords/genealogy/council/sc.html Note on unsourced image "Incorrect Lee's of VA, Family Tree" attachment - it's lacking sources and contains errors especially about Thomas Lee-325 who has a different son John Lee-47249, not this one.
edited by Karen Brubaker
Greenberry Lee (1799 - 1869) and his bother Eli (also spelled Ely or Eley) were on a wagon train to Mississippi around 1819 with family members from Georgia and South Carolina - where the Lees of this profile lived.
The 2 oldest sons of Alexander & Sarah Lee Gordon, John & Green Berry, migrated to the Mississippi territory similar to Greenberry Lee (1799 - 1869) and at the same time. Could they be relatives? (Sarah is the daughter of John Lee.)
And Greenberry Lee (1750-1784) is not (he's finally been detached) the son of Thomas Lee, (the son of John Lee, Esq.) who are of a different DNA family group: John Lee, Esq Ancestor DNA Project.
edited by Karen Brubaker
Please continue to manage normally, and review US Southern Colonies Project Editing Guidance before editing.
edited by Karen Brubaker
edited by Karen Brubaker
deleted by Karen Brubaker
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Keene-431 was not his mother. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Lee-17502 was not his father, and also, not Elizabeth Keene’s husband.
For this John Lee’s family, http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~circuitcourtrecords/genealogy/fgr3/catholicpresbyterianchurch.html?_ga=2.112477197.86217770.1566804513-1951029789.1549294118 Is a good resource, but the parents listed there do not seem likely.
d on or after 4 AUG 1803 Little River, Fairfield, South Carolina C John Lee b. Seneca Creek, Pr Georges, S Carolina d aft Nov 16, 1786 Little River, Fairfield Co SC.