I offer the following as part of the proof that Capt. Thomas Lee of Hawkins
Co. b.c 1735 d. 2 July 1816 Hawkins Co. TN is son of John Lee (Esq.) of
Johnston Co. NC.
>From John Lee, Esq. of Johnston Co, NC and Some of His Descendants by Weldon
Johnston, Orlene Lang, Robert T. Lee, Jr. and Lazelle Long, p. 59-60:
The following deeds are for the land Thomas inherited from his father. These
four pieces, 724 acres in all, are contiguous, and their descriptions fit
lands belonging to John Lee, Esq.
16 Nov 1792: Thomas Lee IN Johnston Co. sold to Wm. Ingram OF Johnston Co.,
L25, 300 a. s-Neuse, beg at Mistake--patent to John Wood--Wm. Ballenger's
line--river bank Wit: James Tiner, James Lee (Johnston Co. Deeds, T-1, 19)
16 Nov. 1792: Thomas Lee IN Johnston Co. sold to Shadrack Ingram OF Johnston
Co., L25, 100a. s-Neuse--Mistake--Wm Ingrams' former---cowbones--Jeremiah
Lee's land. Wit: Jno. Bryan, Nathan Allen (Johnston Co. Deeds S-1, 345)
16 Nov. 1792: Thomas Lee IN Johnston Co. sold to Wm. Ballenger OF Johnston
Co., L25, 100a. s-Neuse where John Lee, Sr., dec'd, divided the Trapnal land
between Thomas Lee and Edward Ballenger--corner patented by John
Wood---Mistake plantation. Wit: Nathan Allen, Jno. Bryan (Johnston Co. Deeds
S-1, 328)
16 Nov. 1792: Thomas IN sold to Nathan Allen OF...., L25, 224 a.
s-Neuse--Shadrack Ingram's corner--Thomas Ingram--William Ingram's corner.
Wit: Wm. Ballenger, Jno. Bryan (Johnston Co. deeds S-1, 340)
Further, a copy of one of Capt. Thomas Lee's letters has been preserved in
Johnston Co. records, NC Archives OR.056.514.3, p. 225-6. It follows:
"Dear Cousin, after by best and loving compliments to you and your family
these comes to let you know that my famly is all in good health at present
thanks be to God for his mercies. But I have what is called the intermiting
fever this five or six months and I am not able to come and see you nor to do
anything else and God only knows whether I ever shall be able to come over to
see you about my business. And dear Cousin I have got Cader Lee to come to
you to settle my business. And I depend upon you to settle the business and
I shall be fully satisfied. And dear Cousin if you are not satisfied I wish
you to satisfy yourself for I have always greate confidence in you and have
ever been well satisfied but dear Cousin you know there is very few men now a
days that can be fully depended upon. Dear Sir, please send me by Cader Lee
what money you have collected and what ever you can collect from the
creditors and you will much oblige your friend. Dear Sir, pleae to write to
me in full concerning affairs and what money you send me by Cader Lee and to
take a receipt for the same. Dear Sir if you can collect the whole please to
write what the balance is and when you collect is please to send it to me by
who ever you shall think a safe hand. I have nothing strange or uncommon to
write but I remain your loving friend. THOMAS LEE. Please to remember my
love to sister Mary Baling'r and all enquiring friends.
August 19, 1797
To Shadrach Engram Endorsed
To Shadrach Engram living in Johnston Co. on the water of Mill Creek there.
Received August 31, 1797 of Shadrack Ingram agent for Thomas Lee four hundred
and twenty silver dollars it being money collected by the said Shadrach
Ingram in part of sundry debts said Ingram was impowered to collect for the
said Thomas Lee in the state of No. Carolina in the county of Johnston.
Test: Wm. Sasser Signed Kader his mark Lee for Thomas Lee
Proved by Kedar Lee
Received of Shadrack Ingram in full of all accounts debts dues or demands
from the begining [sic] of the world till this day. I say received by me
this 11th day of January 1798. THOMAS LEE
{wit}Hopkins Lee
{wit}Robert Lee
Capt. Thomas Lee died in Hawkins Co. TN, his noncupative will dated 19 June
1816 recorded there on 2 July 1816, in Bk. 1, p. 311 with Needham Lee and
William Lee as witnesses. In it, he willed to his wife, Mary, 3 negroes, and
to his son James, a negro. The remainder of his estate was to be sold.
There are three deeds in Hawkins Co. referring to Thomas Lee and/or his
estate following his death which I won't type here at this time.
Wife Mary Lee's will was written 19 Aug 1818, extrs: William Lee, Edward Lee
Wit: Jones Griffin, James Lee, David B. Cummings
To daus Winifred Bailey, Zilpha Bailey, Mary Griffin---her clothing.
Remainder of estate was to be sold and divided among all her heirs. (I have
a copy of this will LG)
In a suit filed in Chancery Court, Hawkins Co. TN, 23 May 1823, the nine
heirs of Mary Lee were named: Henry Rains and the last eight children of
Thomas Lee were named: Needham, John, Winifred, Zilpha, William, Edward,
James and Mary.
In light of the fact that Thomas Lee inherited and subsequently sold land
matching the description of land belonging to John Lee (Esq.) of Johnston Co.
and with proof from the letter that Shadrack Ingram is cousin to the author
Thomas Lee and this Thomas refers to his sister Mary Ballenger (dau. of John
Lee, Esq.,) it all supports the conclusion that Capt. Thomas Lee of Hawkins
Co. TN is son of John Lee (Esq.) of Johnston Co. NC.
I hope this helps those of you seeking proof on this line. There is a lot of
misinformation out there (erroneous bible records in particular) which
continue to muddy the waters years after adequate proof to the contrary has
been uncovered.
And then there are those out there (who will remain nameless) who falsely
claim that these conclusions about Capt. Thomas Lee are erroneous but who,
curiously, can offer NO PROOF OF THEIR OWN CLAIMS. Beware of these folks
and demand proof before believing!
Lorien Lee Gunsallus
==== LEE Mailing List ====
Need an old message? Get a free password, and use the threaded archives.
Lee postings since May 1999 are available by month in a thread.
Indexed by subject line & sender. http://archiver.rootsweb.com/LEE-L/
