Col. John C. Lee of Essex County

John Lee was born c.1724 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Most likely, he was born at Lee Hall. He was the son of Henry Lee and wife Mary Bland. He married the widow Mary (Smith) Ball. They had no children. John died in 1767 at his home at Cabin Point, along the Potomac River in Surry County, Virginia.

As the eldest son of Henry and Mary, John ordinarily would have inherited the home plantation, but John had established himself in Essex County before his father's death. Lee Hall, instead, went to brother Richard, while John inherited other property.

John served in his local militia, rising to the rank of colonel. Which outfit he actually commanded is no long known, but the rank and title of colonel was not used freely in this era of Virginia history. If he was known as "Col. John Lee," he earned the title. John became Clerk of the Courts for Essex County in 1745 and held that position until 1762, when he was elected Burgess for Essex County. His cousin John, son of Phillip Lee of Maryland, became the next Clerk of the Courts.

Mary Smith is believed to be the daughter of Rev. Thomas Smith of Cople Parish. Her first husband's name may have been Jesse Ball, but this is not proven. After John's death she married a third time, to John Smith, described as "old John Smith, the Innoculator" in family correspondence. Mary died in 1802.

John left a will, dated September 23, 1765, which was probated in February 2, 1767 in Westmoreland County, Virginia.After Mary's death, the bulk of John's property went to the male heirs his brothers Richard and Henry. As Richard had no male heirs, the estate went to the sons of Henry Lee.

Origins

From The Bland Papers: Being a Selection from the Manuscripts of Colonel ...By Theodorick Bland. Page 13 link

”Mary Bland, eldest daughter of Richard Bland, of Jordans, Gent., was born 21st August, 1704, and married Colonel Henry Lee of Westmoreland, and by him has four children, viz.: John, Richard, Lettice and Henry

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• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Sep 10 2023, 19:32:17 UTC