USA > Virginia > Some prominent Virginia families, Volume II > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
IV. Robert W. Carter®, b. 1791; d. 1861. Married Elizabeth Tayloe.
V. Anne C. Carter®. Married William B. Tomlin. Issue by second marriage :
VI. John Armistead Carter®. Married Richardetta Debuttes.
VII. Fanny Carter". Married Rosier Dulany.
VIII. Mary Carter®. Married Captain Wm. Eliason, U. S. A. IX. Landon Carter".
240
SOME PROMINENT
V. Fanny Carter5 (Robert W.4, Landon3, Robert2, John1), daughter of Robert W. Carter and Winifred Beale, his wife. Mar- ried J. L. Lee. Issue :
I. Elizabeth Lee". Married St. Leger L. Carter, of "Cleve."
II. Winifred Lee". Married Wm. Brent, Jr.
III. Mary Lee6. Married T. Ringgold.
LANDON CARTER Of "Sabine Hall," Richmond County, Virginia
IV. Naney Lee6. Married, first, Charles Carter, of Shirley; second, Rev. Wmn. Maffett. He married, seeond, Julia Chouteau.
V. Elizabeth Lee6. Married, first, Presly Thornton ; second, Landon Carter, of "Cleve."
SIXTH GENERATION.
VI. Anne E. Carter" (Wormeley5, Landon+, Landon3, Robert?, Jolın1), daughter of Wormeley Carter and Sally Edwards, his wife. Married Robert Hamilton. Issue :
241
VIRGINIA FAMILIES
I. Susan B. Hamilton7.
II. Sallie C. Hamilton7.
III. Robert W. Hamilton7.
IV. Lucy L. Hamilton7.
V. Charles B. Hamilton7. .
VI. Richard Henry Hamilton7.
VII. Mary E. Hamilton7. Married W. A. Carter.
VIII. Edward Hamilton7.
VI. Landon Carter® (Wormeley5, Landon+, Landon8, Robert2, John1), son of Wormeley Carter and Sally Edwards, his wife. Married Emily H. Carter. Issue :
I. John Carter7.
II. Landon Carter7.
III. Sarah Janet Carter7.
IV. Wormeley Carter7.
V. Edwin L. Carter7.
VI. Ann B. Carter7.
VII. Landonia Carter7.
VIII. Thomas Carter7.
IX. Virginia M. Carter7. ·
VI. Wormeley Carter® (Wormeley5, Landon+, Landon3, Robert?, John1), son of Wormeley Carter" and Sally Edwards, his wife. Married Lucinda Alexander. Issue :
. I. Catherine Carter7.
II. William Alexander Carter7. Married Mary E. Hamilton.
III. Sallie M. Carter7. Married Townsend Stewart.
IV. John W. Carter7. Marricd -- Hayden. V. Richard Henry Carter7.
VI. Richard Henry Carter® (Wormeleys, Landon+, Landon3, Robert2, John1), son of Wormeley Carter" and Sally Edwards, his wife. Married Evelyn Price, of Chickahominy, and had issue :
I. James M. Carter7.
II. Richard Henry Carter7.
III. Wilson L. Carter7. Married, first, Julia A. Bennett; second, Harriet A. Ambler.
VI. Addison Bowles Carter® (Wormeley5, Landon4, Landon3, Robert2, John1), son of Landon Carter and Catherine Tayloe, his wife. Married Lucy Burwell. Issuc :
I. Mann Page Carter7.
242
SOME PROMINENT
II. Maria Carter™. Married Gen'l Anderson.
III. Shirley Carter™.
VI. Thomas Ottoway Carter" (Wormeley5, Landon4, Landon3, Robert2, John1), son of Wormeley Carter" and Sally Edwards, his wife. Married Judith Carter. Issue :
I. Addison Carter7. Married Ann Armistead.
II. Moore F. Carter™.
III. Rosalie Carter™.
IV. John Carter7.
V. Rowland Hill Carter7.
VI. Robert W. Carter® (Landon", Robert W.4, Landona, Robert2, John1), son of Landon Carter and Catherine Tayloe, his first wife, b. 1791; d. 1861. Married Elizabeth M. Tayloe. Issue :
I. Elizabeth L. Carter™. Married Dr. A. N. Wellford.
II. Anne C. Carter™.
VI. Anne C. Carter® (Landon5, Robert W.4, Landon3, Robert2, John1), daughter of Landon Carter, of "Sabine Hall," and Catherine Tayloe, his first wife. Married W. B. Tomlin. Issue :
I. Maria Tomlin7. Married Judge Conway.
II. Fanny D. Tomlin7. Married Hon. John C. Moncure, of Shreveport, La. (Issue Moncure Family, Chapter XIII.)
III. Lucy Carter7. Married Ball.
IV. Mary Carter™. Married W. Eustace.
VI. John Armistead Carter® (Landon5, Robert W.4, Landona, Robert2, John1), son of Landon Carter of Sabine Hall and Mary Burwell Armistead, his second wife. Married Richardette Debuttes. Had issue :
I. Richard Wilby Carter7. Married Sophia B. Carter. Issue :
I. Mary M. Carter8.
II. Fanny S. Carter8.
III. Sophia Carter8.
IV. John A. Carter8.
V. Richard W. Carter8.
VI. Henry Carter8.
VI. Fanny Carter® (Landon5, Robert W.4, Landon3, Robert2. John1), daughter of Landon Carter, of "Sabine Hall," and Mary
243
VIRGINIA FAMILIES
Burwell Armistead, his second wife. Married Rosier Dulany. Issue :
I. Rebecca Dulany7. Married Richard H. Dulany.
II. Henry Dulany7. Married Ida Powell, of Shirley.
VI. Mary Carter® (Landon5, Robert W.4, Landon", Robert2, John1), daughter of Landon Carter, of Sabine Hall, and Mary
MRS. LANDON CARTER, OF "SABINE HALL" Nee Mary Burwell Armistead
Burwell Armistead, his second wife. Married Captain W. Eliason, of U. S. Army. Issue :
I. Dr. Talcott Eliason7. Married Sally
II. Landon C. Eliason7. Married Mary White. Issue :
I. Mary L. Eliason8.
II. Rebecca Eliason8.
244
SOME PROMINENT
III. Armistead Eliason™.
IV. William Eliason7.
V. Mary Eliason™. Married Dr. Augustine Smith Mason, of Hagerstown. (Issue Volume III, and Mason Family, Chapter XVII, this volume.)
VI. Rutledge Eliason7. Married -. Issue :
I. Maria8.
II. Lillie8.
SEVENTH GENERATION.
VII. Wilson L. Carter7 (Richard Henry", Wormeley5, Landon4, Landon3, Robert2, John1), son of Richard Henry Carter" and Evelyn Price, of Chickahominy, his wife. Married, first, Julia H. Bennett; second, Harriet A. Ambler.
Issue by first marriage :
I. Elijah Lewis Carter8.
II. Indiana B. Carter8.
III. Eleanora A. Carter8.
IV. James M. Carter8.
V. Julia R. Carter8.
VI. Poindexter Page Carter8.
VII. Andromeda Carter8.
VIII. Wilson L. Carter8.
EIGHTH GENERATION.
VIII. Dr. Elijah Lewis Carter8 (Wilson L.7, Richard Henry", Wormeley5, Landon4, Landon3, Robert2, John1), son of Wilson L. Carter and Julia H. Bennett, his first wife. Married Elizabetlı R. Withers. Issue :
I. Robert Carter".
II. Alice Carter9.
III. Sydnor Carter".
IV. Janet Carter ?.
V. Edwin Carterº.
NINTH GENERATION.
IX. Janet Carter9 (Dr. Elijah Lewis8, Wilson L.7, Richard Henry", Wormeley5, Landon4, Landon3, Robert2, John1), daughter of Dr. Elijah Lewis Carter and Elizabeth R. Withers, daughter
245
VIRGINIA FAMILIES
of Col. Withers, of Wytheville, Va. Janet Carter married John Jaquelin Ambler7, of Glen-Ambler, Amherst Co., Va. (Deseend- ants Volume I, Chapters VI and VII.)
Col. Robert Enoch Withers, of Wytheville, Va., is the eldest son of Dr. Robert Walter Withers and Susan D. Alexander, of Campbell Co., Va. He was born September 18, 1821; at "Roek Castle," Campbell Co., and educated in county schools, Woodburn Classical School and the University of Virginia, from which institution he was graduated with the title of Doctor of Medieine in July 1841, before he was twenty years of age. He afterwards had an appointment as one of the resident physicians at the Balti- more Alms House Hospital, which he filled for nearly a year. Then practiced medicine in his native county, Campbell, until 1858, when he removed to Danville, Va., and continued the praetiee until the commencement of the war.
On February 3, 1846, he married Mary Virginia Royall, the oldest daughter of Joseph E. Royall and Elizabeth Gwatkin, of Lynehburg Va., who was born January 13, 1827. They had twelve children, whose names will appear hereafter. (See John- ston, Callaway, Royal Families, Chapter XX.)
On April 23, 1861, Robert E. Withers left an infant eight hours old and went to Richmond, Virginia, in command of two volunteer companies, and was mustered into the military service of the State as Major of a Battalion. IIe served through the war, having been appointed Colonel of the 18th Regiment of Virginia Volunteers, which he commanded at the first Battle of Manassas, and all the subsequent actions, until June 27, at Gaines' Mill, he received several severe wounds, which disabled him from aetive service. He was put on the Invalid Corps, and assigned to the command of the Prison Post at Danville, Va., where six to eight thousand prisoners were confined. This post he surrendered to Gen'l Wright, of the 6th Army Corps, about two weeks after Gen'l Lee's surrender at Appomattox.
In January 1866, he was appointed first editor of the Lynch- burg Daily News, which soon became the leading paper of that section of the State.
He was nominated for Governor by the Conservative Convention in Richmond in May 1868, and canvassed the State of Virginia in the effort to secure the defeat of the "- - Constitution," just
246
SOME PROMINENT
promulgated by the "Black and Tan Convention," as it was called, and so successful was this canvass that the military authorities refused to appoint a day for the election to be held.
The next year he withdrew in favor of Gilbert C. Walker, who, as a "Liberal Republican," had been nominated, and who was elected by a large majority. In 1870, he accepted the place of General Agent of the University Publishing Co., and canvassed the State in the effort to secure the adoption of the school books published by that company for use in the public free schools of the State. A large majority of the counties in the State selected them for use.
In 1872 he was unanimously nominated as Lieutenant Governor of the State, after having closely contested, with Gen'l James L. Kemper, the nomination for Governor.
He accepted the second place and canvassed the State, and the ticket was elected by an overwhelming majority. In 1883-4 he was elected, by the Legislature of Virginia, Senator of the United States and served six years in that body.
He was defeated for re-election by Gen'l William Mahone, the leader of the Readjuster Party in Virginia, who on entering the Senate affiliated with the Republicans.
In 1885 Col. Withers was appointed Consul to Hong Kong, during Mr. Cleveland's first administration, and served in that posi- tion until the inauguration of Gen'l Harrison, when he resigned and returned to Virginia. He served as States Elector in the presidential canvass of 1868, when Gen'l Grant was elected. He retired to private life in 1889, after his service in Hong Kong. He had held all the offices in the various Masonic orders of the State of Virginia, and was clected Grand Master of Knights Templars of the United States, in San Francisco, in 1883, serving until 1886, when he came from Hong Kong to attend the St. Louis Conclave. He was for some years one of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution and has since 1871 bcen one of the Lay Deputies to the General Conventions of the Protestant Episcopal Church at all the triennial sessions of that body, except those held while he was absent from the United States.
Col. Robert Enoch Withers and Mary Virginia Royall, his wife, had issue :
247
VIRGINIA FAMILIES
I. Elizabeth Royall Withers. Married Dr. E. L. Carlet.
II. Susan Dabney Withers. Married Henry S. Williams.
III. Aliee Chim Withers. Married Edmund Pendleton Goggin.
IV. Janet Ann Withers. Married, first, Henry Cook; seeond, W. M. Boyd.
V. Mary Virginia Withers, d. two and a half years old.
VI. Josephine Withers. Married John T. Read.
VII. Kate Massie Withers. Married G. Woodville Smith.
VIII. Betty Ellison Withers. Married Stephen Putney.
IX. Willie Clare Withers, not married.
X. Virginia Seeessia Withers. Married John Y. Terry.
XI. Robert Edwin Withers. Married Mary C. Kent.
XII. Mary Thornhill Withers, d. aged seven years.
II. Elizabeth Royal Withers2 and Dr. E. L. Carter had issue :
I. Virginia Royall Carter3, d. aged three years.
II. Aliee Clare Carter3, unmarried.
III. Robert Withers Carter3. Married Mary Allen.
IV. Sydnor Royall Carter3.
V. Janet Ann Carter3. Married John Jaquelin Ambler.
VI. Rev. Edwin Royall Carter3. Married Hally Williams.
II. Susan Dabney Withers2 and Henry S. Williams had issue :
I. Bessie Hamilton Williams3. Married Walter Paxton.
II. Virginia Royall Williams3. Married Walter S. Brown.
III. Henry Sinelair Williams3. Married Hattie -
IV. Robert Withers Williams3, unmarried.
V. Aliee Kennon Williams3. Married Albert S. Gravely.
VI. Mary Thornhill Williams3. Married Edwin Anderson Williams.
VII. Edwin Anderson Williams3, unmarried.
II. Aliee Chinn Withers2 and Edmund Pendleton Goggin had issue :
I. Mary Virginia Goggin3, d. aged three months.
II. John Otey Leftwieh Goggin3. Married Annie Holt.
II. Josephine Ann Withers2 and John T. Read had issue:
I. Robert Enoeh Read3. Married Susan J. Reetor. Issue :
I. Robert Reetor Read4.
II. John Royall Read3. Married Katharine Taylor.
III. Willie Clare Read3, d. aged eight months.
17
248
SOME PROMINENT
II. Kate Massie Withers2 and G. Woodville Smith had issue :
I. Ethel Thornhill Smith3. Married G. Townes Gaines. Issue :
I. Ethel Smith Gaines+.
II. George Woodville Smith?, d. aged two years.
III. Kate Withers Smith3, unmarried.
IV. Robert Withers Smith3, d. aged fifteen years.
II. Betty Ellison Withers2 and Stephen Putney had issue :
I. Josephine Putney3. Married W. Page Dame. Issue :
I. Elsie Withers Dame4, d. aged ten months.
II. Elsie Putney3, d. aged five years.
III. Stephen Putney3, unmarried.
II. Virginia Seeessia Withers2 and John Y. Terry had issue ;
I. John Young Terry3, d. aged nine months.
II. Virginia Seeessia Terry3, d. aged two years.
III. Robert Withers Terry3.
IV. William Robertson Terry3.
II. Robert E. Withiers2 and Mary C. Kent had issue :
I. Robert Edwin Withers3.
III. Sydnor Royall Carter3 and - Byrd, his wife, had issue :
I. Elizabeth Royall Carter+.
II. Sydnor Royall Carter+.
III. Edwin Royall Carter3 and Hallie, his wife, had issue :
I. Edwin Royall Carter4.
II. Nelson Williams Carter4.
III. Bessie Hamilton Williams3 and Walter Paxton had issue :
I. Walter P. Paxton4, d. aged eleven months.
II. Sue Dabney Paxton4.
III. William Coulter Paxton4.
III. Henry S. Williams3 and Hattie, his wife, had issue :
I. Henry Sinelair Williams+.
III. Mary Thornhill Williams3 and Edwin Anderson Williams had issue :
T. Edwin Anderson Williams4.
III. Jolin Otey Leftwieh Goggin3 and Annie Holt, his wife, had issue :
I. Edmund Pendleton Goggin4.
249
VIRGINIA FAMILIES
CHAPTER VIII
THE LEE FAMILY.
In my second circular, I promised to give the ancestry of the Lees. In making this promise I relied on the correctness of the deductions published by the late Gen'l Fitzhugh Lce in his book, "Life of Gen'l Robert E. Lee."
Gen'l Fitzhugh Lee sent me a copy of his book. I consider it a great privilege to be able to reproduce the following ancestry with his consent :
Westmoreland is one of a group of counties in Virginia lying between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers. It was originally a portion of Northumberland County, and, though small in geographical extent, its historical record is great. Within a space of thirty miles in length and an average width of fifteen miles were born statesmen, soldiers, and patriots whose lives and char- acters adorn the pages of American history, and whose courage, genius and learning are the proud inheritance of those who dwell to-day in the powerful republic of America. Here, from Eng- land, in 1665, settled the great-grandfather of the "Father of his Country." Americanized, he became an extensive planter, soldier, magistrate, member of the House of Burgesses, and a gentleman whose virtue and piety were undoubted. In his will he expressed his "sorrow for his sins," and begged forgiveness from "Almighty God, Saviour and Redeemer." Here, his son, Lawrence, and his grandson, Augustine, were born. The second wife of Augustine was Mary Ball and their first child, b. February 22, 1732, was named George Washington.
This son was destined to establish, with stainless sword, a free republic, and by great skill, unfaltering faith, and sublime patriotism, transfer power from king to people. A grateful country acknowledged his illustrious services and he was chosen the first President of the United States. This little county was not satisfied with the high honor. On April 28, 1758, James Monroe was born within its limits. He became a distinguished citizen,
250
SOME PROMINENT
served as an officer in the Revolutionary War, was a member of the General Assembly of Virginia, of the Congress of Confederation, and the Virginia Convention, called in June 1778, to consider the Federal Constitution ; a United States Senator, envoy to France, England and Spain; twice Governor of his native State; Seeretary of State in Mr. Madison's administration, and President of the republie for two terms, from 1817-1825, thus adding, by a long and meritorious public career, additional renown to the county of his birth, his State, and his country. James Madison, fourth President of the United States, was born in the adjoining county of King George, seven years before Monroc, and but a few miles distant. To this seetion, from England, eame, too, the Lees, who belonged to one of the oldest families in the mother country, its members from a very carly date being distinguished for eminent services to sovereign and country. By the side of William, the Conqueror, at the battle of Hastings, in 1066, Laneelot Lee fought, and a later deseendant, Lionel Lee, followed Richard Cœur de Lion, taking part in the third crusade of Palestine, in 1192, at the head of a company of "gentleman cavaliers," displaying great bravery at the siege of Acre.
The Lees of Virginia, "a family which has, perhaps, given more statesmen and warriors to their new home than any other of our old colonial progenitors," eame of an ancient and distinguished stock in England, and neither country can boast a nobler scion than the subject of these memoirs. Gen'l Lcc had never the time or inelination to study genealogy, and always said he knew nothing beyond his first American ancestor, Colonel Richard Lee, who emigrated to Virginia in the reign of Charles I. He believed, however, from his inherited traditions and the eoat-of-arms borne by his progenitors in this country, that his family came originally from Shropshire, England, and when the world rang with his name and fame, and he paid the usual penalty of greatness by being besieged with reiterated queries respecting his pedigree, this was all he would say. Others, however, took more interest in the subject; he was claimed by the Lecs of Cheshire, Oxfordshire, Bueks, and Essex, as well as Shropshire, and much was said and written pro and con both before and after his death.
In recent years his genealogy has been very persistently and thoroughly investigated by those learned in antiquarian research,
.
251
VIRGINIA FAMILIES
and their conclusion is in favor of Shropshire, though in 1663, the first emigrant, Colonel Richard Lee, made a will in which he states that he was "lately of Stafford Langton in the County of Essex." Now, as we have every reason to believe that he was a younger son, the parental nest was probably full; neither was it such a "far ery" from Shropshire to the near vicinity of London, a remove preparatory, possibly, to the still greater one across the Atlantie. He certainly used the arms of the Shropshire Lces.
Colonel Lee's devotion to the House of Stuart was notorious, and had been often proved even by the manner of dating his will, viz .: "The sixth of February, in the sixteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, Charles II, King of Great Britain, etc., etc., etc., and in the year of our Lord 1663." Being Seeretary of State and member of the Privy Council in Virginia, he had assisted that staunch royalist, Governor Berkeley, in holding the colony to its allegiance, so that after the death of Charles I, Crom- well was forced to send troops and armed vessels of war to reduce it to subjection. Unable to resist, they made a treaty with the "Com- monwealth of England," wherein Virginia was described as an "Independent Dominion," this treaty being ratified in the same manner as with a foreign power.
Berkeley was then removed and another governor appointed ; but the undaunted Col. Richard Lee hired a Duteh vessel, freighted it himself, went to Brussels or Breda, surrendered up Sir William Berkeley's old commission-for the government of that province- and received a new one from his present Majesty, Charles II, "a loyal action and deserving my commendation." It is also said that he offered the exiled monarch an asylum in the New World. It is eertain that on the death of Cromwell, he aided Governor Berkeley in proelaiming Charles II in Virginia, two years before his "restoration" in England. In consequence, the motto to the Virginia coat-of-arms was, "En dat Virginia quintam," until after the union of England and Scotland, when it was, "En dat Virginia quartam."
The inscription on the tombstone of the second Richard Lee, at Brent House Fields, Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., Va., de- seribes him as belonging to an ancient and noble family of Morton Regis in Shropshire. It is clearly established that the three earliest representatives of the family in America, Col.
252
SOME PROMINENT
Richard Lee and his two eldest sons, elaimed their Shropshire Co. descent.
It is our purpose to trace the Lees in America, not in England. The first emigrant, Colonel Richard Lee, is deseribed as a man of good stature, of eomely visage, generous nature; and when lie reached Virginia, at that time not mueh cultivated, he was so pleased with the country that he made large settlements with the servants who aecompanied him. To his eredit, it may be added that when he returned to England, some years after, he "gave away all the lands he had taken up and settled at his own expense, to the servants, he had fixed on them," some of whose descendants are now possessed of very considerable estates in that eolony.
After remaining some time in England le again visited Virginia with a fresh band of followers, whom he also established there. He first settled in York County in 1641, where he was burgess and justice in 1647, and when later he removed to the "Northern Neek," between the Potomae and Rappahannock Rivers, he filled the offices of Seeretary of State and member of the Privy Couneil. Of his loyalty to the House of Stuart we have already spoken, and of liis various voyages, indieating in themselves his "enterprising genius." When he made his will in London, in 1663, he was returning on what proved to be his last voyage. He had with him his large, young family, his eldest son John not yet being of age; but he was so determined to establish them in Virginia, that he ordered an English estate-"Stratford"-worth eight or nine hundred pounds per annum, to be sold and the money divided between his heirs. He died soon after his return, and as Jolm, the B. A. of Oxford, never married, Riehard, the second son, succeeded to the homestead in Westmoreland. He also graduated at Oxford in law, and was distinguished for his learning, spend- ing almost his whole life in study. On October 15, 1667, as "Major Richard Lee, a loyal, disereet person and worthy of the place," he was appointed member of the eouneil. He was born in 1647. Married Letitia Corbin, and died in 1714, leaving five sons and one daughter. His eldest son, Richard, the third of the name, married and settled in London, though his children eventually returned to Virginia. Philip removed to Maryland in 1700, and was the progenitor of the Lee family in that State; Franeis, the third son, died a bachelor, but Thomas, the fourth, with only a common.
253
VIRGINIA FAMILIES
Virginia education (it could not have been much in those days), had sneh strong natural talents, that long after he was a man he became a good Latin and Greek seholar, without any assistance but his own genius. Though a younger son, with only a limited patrimony, by his industry and talents, he acquired a considerable ·fortune, was a member of the Council, and so well known and respected that when his house in Westmoreland burned down, Queen Caroline sent him a large sum of money out of her privy purse, with an autograph letter. Stratford was rebuilt on an im- posing seale, and becoming the property of "Light Horse Harry," on liis marriage to Matilda, daughter of Philip Ludwell Lee and granddaughter of Thomas, was eventually the birthplace of Gen'l Robert E. Lee.
On the recall of Sir William Gooeh, Thomas became president and commander-in-chief over the colony; in which station he eon- tinned some time, until the king thought proper to appoint him governor, and he is always spoken of as the first native governor, though he died in 1750, before his commission could reach him. He married Hannah Ludwell, of an old and honorable Somerset- shire family, originally of German extraction, and left six sons and two daughters.
Stratford is still standing in Westmoreland Co., Va., an objeet of mueh veneration and respeet. Within its walls, in the same chamber, two signers of the Declaration of Independence were born, while the fact that Robert Edward Lee first saw the light there makes it yet more interesting. It is a large, stately mansion, built in the shape of the letter "H," and not far from the banks of the Potomae. Upon the roof were summer houses, with chimneys for columns, where the band played in the evenings and the ladies and gentlemen gathered. Thomas Lee was buried at Pope's Creek Church, five miles from Stratford. George Washington was baptized at this church, and in the early days, his family, the Lees, Paynes, and other prominent families of the neighborhood, worshipcd there.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.