Capt. Thomas Lee, of Lee Valley

A Patriot of the American Revolution for NORTH CAROLINA with the rank of CAPTAIN. DAR Ancestor # A068774

Not the same as Thomas Greenberry Lee, of Hawkins County

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Some researchers have incorrect data concerning parentage of Thomas Lee. This Thomas is not a descendant of Richard Lee and Judith Steptoe. He is also not a descendant of Sir Thomas Leigh of South Carolina. Please be careful with incorrect data and check your sources before inputting bad material. For more information, read this discussion posted by Carol Hooper Childs. http://www.geni.com/discussions/94779?msg=702591. See also Appendix D, Lee Chronicle by Casenove Lee, published 1957 by New York University Press. When in doubt, ask a Curator.

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Thomas Lee was born December 3, 1729, in the border counties between Virginia and North Carolina, most likely in Nansemond Co., Virginia. He was the son of John Lee of Johnston Co., North Carolina and wife Mary.

Thomas married Mary, the widow of John Raines. He appeared in court to take guardianship of her son Henry Rains. Some sources claim he married more than once, another Mary, surname not known. Some sources say Griffin, some say Ingram or Smith or Bryan. The two Marys are possibly the same woman.

Thomas Lee served in the Revolutionary War in the North Carolina militia, rising to the rank of Captain. There are numerous documents attesting to his military service.

He died July 2, 1816 in Lee Valley, Hawkins County, Tennessee. In a will July 4, 1816, in Hawkins County, Tennessee records Book 1, page 311, it states Thomas died July 2 1816 and verbally stated his will on June 29, 1816 to Needham and William Lee. He left wife Mary three negroes and son James one negro named Sam. The Will was witnessed by Needham and William Lee.

Capt. Thomas Lee December 3, 1729-July 2, 1816

Parents: John Lee, Esq. d. December 4, 1768 and Mary Bryan

Wives:

1. Mary (Smith?)
2. Mary (Bryan) Raines, widow of John Raines

Children with Mary (Smith):

• Edith m. William Gregory
• Eleanor m. Joseph Long
• Thomas J. Lee, Jr. m1 ?; m2 Mary Bacon
• Micajah m1 Sarah Osborne; m2 Sarah Smith; m3 ?
• Nicholas (died young)

Children with Mary (Ingram) Raines:

• Needham m. Susan Bailey
• Zilpha m1 John Bailey; m2 Thomas Bailey
• John m. Frances Lane
• Winifred m. William Bailey, Sr.
• Mary m. Jones C. Griffin
• William m. Susannah Pangle
• Edward m. Sarah Tinsley
• James

From "Some of the descendants of Capt. Thomas Lee of Hawkins Co., TN" (1972), the children (numbering 14 in total) of Capt. Thomas Lee are: Nicholas, Elizabeth, Thomas, Jr., Eleanor, Edith and Micajah (prior to his marriage to Mary (Ingram) Rains). His children by Mary Rains: Needham, John, Winifred, Zilpha, William, Edward, James and Mary.

He is seen as the husband of Mary Lee, {possibly fictional}, but this may be a mixup with his mother’s name.

Timeline:

1759-1780 Thomas appears in Johnston Co NC court minutes.

1771 Apr 19 Earliest military record where he signed his name as Lt under Col Needham Bryan in the Gaston Co NC militia.

1774 Nov Johnston Co NC Thomas Lee made guardian for Henry Rains, orphan of John Rains, dec'd. Securites for his bond made by Needham Bryan and Henry Rains, Esq.

1777 Aug 15 Thomas Lee appears as Capt at a Court Martial held at Smithfield.

1778 May Johnston Co NC minutes states militia was in expedition against the tories at Moore's Creek in Feb 1776.

Will dated 4 Jul 1816 Hawkins County, TN states Thomas died 2 Jul 1816 and verbally stated will 29 Jun 1816 to Needham and William Lee. Left wife Mary three negroes and son James one negro named Sam. Will witnessed by Needham and William Lee. Book 1 page 311.

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. (Shadrach was the son of William Ingram and Elizabeth Lee.) *Cader was the son of John Lee and Elizabeth Hocutt.

Rec’d August 31st 1797 of Shadrach 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 Keder [X] Lee for Thomas Lee