Descendants of John Lee of England

Generation #2

Research Note: A preponderance of information for the first two generations of this Lee family was gleaned from "Descendants of John Lee in Bertie and Edgecombe County, North Carolina" by Henry Lee King dtd 1995.

Joshua (1John) Lee of Edgecombe Co NC (Conjecture)

Research Notes:

a. This branch of the Braswell family (who married into the Farmer family in Virginia and then the Overstreet family in Georgia) is important for later research. From the many records, we find that the Braswell Family was from the part of Virginia which would become Bertie Co NC after the boundary shift in 1728.
b. Then we find that the Farmer family (who married into the Braswell and the Lee families in Virginia) was from the part of Virginia which would also become Bertie Co but then split and become Edgecombe Co NC in 1741.
c. Then we find that the Lee family (who married into the Farmer family in Virginia and the Overstreet family in Mississippi) was from the part of Virginia which would become Bertie Co but then split and become Edgecombe Co NC in 1741.
d. Then we find that the Overstreet family (who married into the Braswell family back in Georgia and then the Lee family in Mississippi) was from the part of Virginia which would become Bertie Co NC after the boundary shift in 1728.
e. From these adjacent locales, we come to understand that the Braswell/Overstreet family of Georgia (who would marry into the Lee family of Mississippi in the 1820s and 1830s) was originally connected through intermarriage with the Farmer family way back in 1740 Virginia.

In two generations, we find three families:
a. Elizabeth Braswell b. c. 1714 Isle of Wight Co VA married c. 1740 in Virginia to Isaac Farmer b. 1711 Surry Co NC. . .
b. Then Isaac's son, Thomas Farmer b. c. 1741 Edgecombe Co NC married 1760 in North Carolina to Elizabeth Lee (sister of Zachariah Lee), b. 1746 Bertie Co NC. . .
c. Then, Isaac's daughter, Lucy Farmer b. c. 1745 in Halifax Co NC married 1763 in Edgecombe Co NC to Zachariah Lee b. c. 1745 in Edgecombe Co NC.

Joshua Lee was born in 1706 in Nansemond Co VA. And after the 1728 Virginia/North Carolina boundary survey, the family property on Somerton Creek wound up in what was then Chowan (now Gates) Co NC.

Reportedly in 1730, Joshua married Mary Woodard c. 1710 Isle of Wight Co VA. The citation for that marriage comes from the 2/1765 will for John Woodard who names "daughter Mary Lee." Interestingly, Joshua and Mary would have grown up within about 4 miles from each other. 

In 1739 Joshua and his wife Mary are recorded in a land sale in Bertie Co NC.

There are multiple records for the many Joshua Lees of North Carolina which create confusion. Examination of these records indicate that Joshua migrated south to what would become Duplin Co NC by 1760, and his sons migrated even further south to what would become Edgecombe and Robeson Co NC. Evidence connecting this Joshua Lee of Edgecombe County to the Joshua Lee who patented land in 1760 in Duplin County comes from the 1762 Edgecombe Co NC Deed where Joshua gave 100 acres on Contentnea Creek to his son Jesse Lee of Edgecombe Co NC.

This Joshua is believed to have died c. 1782 in Duplin Co NC. And, Mary Lee is found in the 1783 Tax List of Duplin Co NC where she paid taxes on 244 acres.

Edgecombe County North Carolina, Deed Book I, p. 131:
17 Aug 1734. Joshua Lee of Edgecombe County, North Carolina to Samuel Lee, son of his brother Godfrey, of Northampton County North Carolina. Consideration 30 barrels of good lawful tarr, 100 acres in Chowan County, beginning upon the land that was Godfrey Lee's."
Bertie County NC Deed Book E, p. 522:
8/22/1739 Joshua Lee and his wife Mary sell to William Battle of Chowan for 40 Ea. 150 acres on NS of Indian Creek Swamp "to the former Virginia Line'... part of a patent granted John Lee decd. and given by Gray, Elisha Williams, jurat & James Gray. Prvd. Nov ct. 1739
Edgecombe Co Deed Book 3, p. 399:
28 Jan 1775, recorded Feb Ct 1779, Thomas Pope, planter, Edge. Co to Benjamin Vickers, planter, county aforesaid, for 40 pds proc money, a tract of land on the south side of Town Creek containing 100 acres. . .being part of a tract granted to Joshua Lee by Lord Granville in 1741, signed Thomas Pope, Mary Pope (X), wit (William Eights) (X), Richard Welch.
Chowan County Deeds Book G, p. 341:
1754. 3 Oct. Joshua Lee of Edgecombe Co to Samuel Lee of the county of Northampton - 30 pounds - 100 acres in Chowan Co beginning upon the land that was Godfrey Lee's corner - then to Cypress Swamp then down the swamp to the beginning, being part of a patent formerly granted to John Lee bearing date April 7, 1694.
Signed: Joshua (X) Lee; Wit: Simon Pope, Arthur Lee, Joshua Lee.
Edgecombe Co NC Deed Book 1, p. 235:
1/23/1762. JOSHUA (X) LEE of Duplin Co., N.C. and MARY (M) LEE to JACOB BARNS of Edgecombe Co., Jan. 23, 1762, for £40 a tract of 400 acres on the north bank of Contentnea Creek, it being part of a tract of 600 acres granted to said Lee by deed bearing date Sept. 30, 1760. Wit: Jessie Lee, William Barnes.
Edgecombe Co NC Deed Book 1:
3/19/1762 Joshua Lee of Duplin County sold 100 acres of land on Contentnea Creek (now Wilson Co NC), Part of a 600 acre grant to Joshua Lee in 1760 adj, Jacob Barnes. Wit: Jacob and WM Barnes.
Edgecombe Co NC Deed Book 1, p. 224:
3/19/1762. JOSHUA LEE (mark) of Duplin Co., N.C. to his son, JESSE LEE, of Edgecombe Co., March 19, 1762, for love and affection a tract of 100 acres on the north bank of Contentnea Creek adjoining Jacob Barnes, it being part of a deed granted to said Joshua Lee for 600 acres bearing date1760. Wit: Jacob Barnes, William Barnes.
Duplin Co NC Deed Book 4, p. 3:
10 Aug 1762. Zebulon Hollinsworth to Joshua Lee a certain plantation 150a where Joshua Lee now living on a branch of Gaylord’s Creek near a little branch, one half of said land purchased by Zebulon Holllingsworth of Henry McCullough. Sales price: Twenty pounds Proclamation Money.
Witn: Wm. Dodson, Henry Hollingsworth.
Sold: This property was sold in 1774 " where Cadar Vann now living.”
Edgecombe Co NC Deed Book C, p. 381:
10/5/1765. Joshua (X) Lee to his son-in-law Thomas Farmer, for love and affection - 220 acres on Little Swamp on Gay's Branch.
Wit: Demsey Watson, John Brand, Mary Lee.
Duplin Co NC Deed Book 4, p. 320:
28 March 1770. Daniel Nance to Joshua Lee…150 acres beginning at a sweet gum on edge of run at Gaylord’s Branch. . .100 pounds Proclamation Money 
Witness:  Henry Hollingsworth, James Hollingsworth.
Duplin Co NC Deed Book 4, p. 398:
22 March 1771. Joshua Lee to Richard Clinton 150 a on the edge of Gaylord’s Branch. . .this being part of a tract of land of 300 acres conveyed by Zebulon Holllingworth to Daniel Nance to Joshua lee the 28th day of March 1770.
Recorded 29 Nov 1771  Witness: Daniel Nance. Sales Price:  80 pounds Proclamation money.
Duplin Co NC Deed Book 5, p. 20:
1 Jun 1774. Joshua Lee, Senr to Abraham Lee, for love and affection to his son, stock of cattle, hogs, real and personal property, negro girl, “Peck,” Mefouage (home and dwellings).
Witness: Daniel Nance, Thomas Hicks, Daniel Hicks.
Duplin Co NC Deed Book 4, p. 461:
4 Feb 1774. Joshua Lee to Cadar Vann…where Cadar Vann now living…. 150 a beginning on a branch of Gaylord’s Branch on Six runs… it being more or less one half of a certain tract of land bought by Zebulon Hollinsworth of Henry McCulloch and the conveyance by deed from said Holllinsworth to Joshua Lee containing 300 acres  of a deed 25 March 1762. Witness:  Alachab Kenan, James Love.
Duplin Co NC Deed Book 5, p. 20:
1 Jun 1774. Joshua Lee, Senr to Abraham Lee, for love and affection to his son, stock of cattle, hogs, real and personal property, negro girl, “Peck,” Mefouage (home and dwellings).
Witness:  Daniel Nance, Thomas Hicks, Daniel Hicks.
Duplin Co NC Deed Book:
1778. 21 Jan. Joshua Lee 300 acres on head of Hoes Swamp; borders his own land.
Duplin Co NC Grant Book 32, p. 121:
STEPHEN BROWN 1 July 1779 100 acres on the E side of the Six Runs (and) on the head of the Marsh Branch, joining Browns own Line and JOSHUA LEE.

Duplin County Grant Book 32 p. 56:
BENJAMIN REGISTER 1 July 1779 300 acres on the W side of the Six runs and on both sides of Parkers Branch ---including Walis (?) Wiggins Improvements, joining JONATHAN PARKER, SAMUEL ELKIN, and Registers own line.
This connects the Lees to the Register and Elkin families of Duplin Co NC.

    Children

The following list is not complete nor proven. Some, not necessarily all children listed are proven to be descendants of Joshua Lee and Mary Woodard.

    1. Joshua Lee II

Edgecombe Will Book 6, p. 75:
3/29/1767 Will of Joshua Lee (II). Probated 4/1774.
Children: John Lee, five shillings; Joshua Lee (III), five shillings; Sarah, five shillings; Elizabeth, five shillings; Ann, five shillings; Nancy, five shillings; Mary Pope. Grandchildren: Ann Watson; a cow, calf, and a yearling heifer. Wife Eleanor. Wits: Benjamin Brand, Charles Lee, and David Lee.
Note: The Joshua Lee (III) listed here as heir of Joshua Lee is probably the person who sold land on 2/1798 in Bladen Co NC.
Edgecombe Co Deed Book 3, p. 399:
28 Jan 1775, recorded Feb Ct 1779, Thomas Pope, planter, Edge. Co to Benjamin Vickers, planter, county aforesaid, for 40 pds proc money, a tract of land on the south side of Town Creek containing 100 acres. . .being part of a tract granted to Joshua Lee by Lord Granville in 1741, signed Thomas Pope, Mary Pope (X), wit (William Eights) (X), Richard Welch.

    2. John Lee

Males Born
After		 # Lee Females # Lee
18+   1 John

All

 3 Rebecca
Unknown
Unknown
17- 1778 0  
Robeson Co NC Probate:
1792. Will of John Lee. Names wife Rebecca and children:
Shadrack, Mary Rozier, Jemima Jackson, Rebecca Kinlaw, and Elizabeth Bullard
Wit: Ralph Regan, Olive Regan, Margaret Sims.

    3. Jessie Lee b. 1735 Bertie Co NC

    4. Abraham Lee 

Duplin Co NC Deed Book 5, p. 20:
1 Jun 1774. Joshua Lee, Senr to Abraham Lee, for love and affection to his son, stock of cattle, hogs, real and personal property, negro girl, “Peck,” Mefouage (home and dwellings).
Witness: Daniel Nance, Thomas Hicks, Daniel Hicks.
Edgecombe Co NC Probate:
12/6/1873. Feb'y Term 1784. Hardy, William. Youngest son Benjamin, daughter Elizabeth, my mother, wife, all my children, brothers Edward and Jesse Hardy and son Lamb Hardy Exrs.
Test: Thos. Johnson, Abraham Lee, Stephen Lee.

    5. Margaret Lee

Edgecombe Co NC Will Book A, p. 146:
Will of JOHN WOODARD: Written Feb. 11, 1765; Proven July of 1765, Parish of St. Mary, Edgecombe Co., North Carolina.
Wife Margreat Woodard . . .daughter Mary Lee; Margret Brown (daughter of said Mary Lee); ( July 1765 Court).

    6. Zachariah Lee b. c. 1745 Bertie Co NC

    7. Elizabeth Lee

Edgecombe Co NC Deed Book C, p. 381:
10/5/1765. Joshua (X) Lee to his son-in-law Thomas Farmer, for love and affection - 220 acres on Little Swamp on Gay's Branch. Wit: Demsey Watson, John Brand, Mary Lee.

Generation #3

Caveat
This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
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