Thomas Lee
Governor Burgess Governor's Councillor
House of Burgesses
In office
1723 – 1733
Born	1690 Mount Pleasant at Machodoc River, in Westmoreland County, Virginia
Died	November 14, 1750 Stratford Hall in Westmoreland County, Virginia
Residence	Machodoc River, later Stratford Hall Plantation
Council of State of Virginia
In office
1733 – 1750
Council of State of Virginia
In office
1749 – 1750
Preceded by	William Gooch
Succeeded by	Robert Dinwiddie
Spouse	Hannah Harrison Ludwell
Children	Philip Ludwell Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Ludwell Lee, Francis Lightfoot Lee, William and Arthur Lee

Thomas Lee (c. 1690 – November 14, 1750) was a British subject and colonist of Virginia, member of the House of Burgesses, and cofounder of the Ohio Company. For a period of less than a year he was also Governor of Virginia in place of the absent William Gooch. He was a member of the Lee family which included many political figures from the pre-Revolutionary War era until the late 20th century. Image File history File links Portrait of Thomas Lee File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Westmoreland County is a county located in the Northern Neck of the state of Virginia. ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining until the end of the year. ... Events March 2 - Small earthquake in London, England April 4 - Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 - Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 - Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 – Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway is the first Englishman to use an umbrella James Gray reveals her sex... Westmoreland County is a county located in the Northern Neck of the state of Virginia. ... Stanford Hall Plantation Stratford Hall Plantation is the birthplace of Robert E. Lee, General-in-Chief of the Confederate armies. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... William Gooch (21 October 1681-17 December 1751) born in Yarmouth, England; died in London; served as Governor of Virginia from 1727 through 1749. ... Robert Dinwiddie (1693–July 27, 1770) was a British colonial administrator who served as Lieutenant Governor of colonial Virginia from 1751 to 1758, first under governor Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, and then, from July 1756 to January 1758, as deputy for John Campbell, 4th Earl of... Thomas Lee (c. ... Richard Henry Lee (January 20, 1732–June 19, 1794) was an American who served as the sixth President of the United States in Congress assembled under the Articles of Confederation, holding office from November 30, 1784 to November 22, 1785. ... Thomas Ludwell Lee (December 13, 1730 - April 13, 1778) was an editor of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. ... Francis Lightfoot Lee (October 14, 1734–January 11, 1797), was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Virginia. ... William Lee (1756-1795) was an American diplomat during the Revolutionary War. ... Arthur Lee (1740-1792), was an American diplomat during the American Revolutionary War. ... Look up Circa on Wiktionary, the free dictionary The Latin word circa, literally meaning about, is often used to describe various dates (often birth and death dates) that are uncertain. ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining until the end of the year. ... Events March 2 - Small earthquake in London, England April 4 - Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 - Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 - Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 – Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway is the first Englishman to use an umbrella James Gray reveals her sex... In British nationality law, the term British subject has at different times had different meanings. ... British colonization of the Americas began under the Kingdom of England in the late 16th century, before reaching its peak after the Acts of Union 1707, which established the Kingdom of Great Britain. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The Ohio Country, showing present-day U.S. state boundaries The Ohio Company, more formally known as the Ohio Company of Virginia, was a land speculation company organized for the colonization of the Ohio Country. ... Tim Kaine, the current Governor The Governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. ... William Gooch (21 October 1681-17 December 1751) born in Yarmouth, England; died in London; served as Governor of Virginia from 1727 through 1749. ... Thomas Lee (1690–1750), Virigina colonist and cofounder of the Ohio Company. ... The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen of her North American colonies. ...

Biography

Early life

Thomas Lee was born around 1690 at Mount Pleasant, on the Machodoc River in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His parents were Richard Lee and Laetitia Corbin. His ancestors had immigrated from Coton, Shropshire, England to Virginia in 1642.^[1][2] Lee was the fourth son of the couple and would not receive as large an inheritance as his older brothers. This however did not prevent him from becoming successful in politics. Lee attended college at The College of William and Mary around 1700.^[3] Lee's education here was referred to as a "common Virgina education".^[4] He soon became interested in the working of the tobacco industry. He left home to work with his uncle Thomas Corbin in the tobacco business. In 1714, his father Richard died and his brother Richard took over the plantation at Machodoc. Lee thought that marriage was not only important between two individuals but by the families that they were from. A nephew of his later said, "Our Late Hon[ora]ble & worthy Unkle Presid[ent] Lee said that the first fall & ruin of familys and estates was mostly Occasioned by Imprudent Matchs to Imbeggar familys and estates & to beget a race of beggars."^[5] He was engaged to Jenny Wilson in 1716 and went to England to formalize the lease to the plantation before he was married. Lee and his brother Henry had managed to receive a lease for 99 years on the plantation. During his stay in England, Lee had decided to buy some property on the Potomac River called "Clifts". Another reason he bought it was because he predicted that when Virginia gained its independence that the capital would be located on the Potomac River.^[6] He would later rename it Stratford. Jenny Wilson had found another husband, James Roscoe, and Lee learned this from William Byrd. Mount Pleasant Henge is a Neolithic henge enclosure in the English county of Dorset. ... Westmoreland County is a county located in the Northern Neck of the state of Virginia. ... Coton is a hamlet in the English county of Shropshire near Alveley. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... The College of William and Mary in Virginia is a public, liberal-arts university located in Williamsburg, Virginia. ... Henry Lee was a prominent Virginian colonist, brother of Governor Thomas Lee, and grandfather of Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee. ... The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States (USA). ... Stanford Hall Plantation Stratford Hall Plantation is the birthplace of Robert E. Lee, General-in-Chief of the Confederate armies. ... William Byrd IIII (1674-1744) was born at Westover Plantation in Charles City County, Virginia, and educated in England for the law. ...

Marriage and family

Portrait of Lee's wife Hannah

Thomas Lee married a member of the Harrison family, Hannah Harrison Ludwell. The marriage lasted his entire lifetime and brought wealth and status to Lee. In 1723, the same year they were married, the couple had their first child, Richard Lee who died at an early age.^[7] In 1727, Lee had his first child who would survive into adulthood, Philip Ludwell Lee. Lee would have another child before 1729. Image File history File linksMetadata Hannahlee. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Hannahlee. ... The Harrison family is a prominent political family in U.S. history. ... Thomas Lee (c. ...

1729 was a tragic year for Lee and his family. In January Lee's plantation at Machodoc was burnt down. The fire destroyed the entire plantation, including the barns and outhouses. Almost all of the Lees' possessions were destroyed and up to 10,000 pounds in cash.^[8] The Lee family had to escape by jumping out of second story windows. The only person who was injured was a servant girl. Virginia Governor William Gooch blamed transported convicts for the crime. English Commissioners later gave Lee 300 pounds as compensation and Queen Caroline also gave him money from her private purse to help with rebuilding.^[9][10] The convicts and an accomplice were later found guilty. Their punishment is unknown because the trial records were destroyed. Two months later Hannah Lee gave birth to a son John. He died the same day due the injuries that Hannah Lee received during her escape from the burning plantation. When construction began on their new home, the Lee family stayed with Thomas's brother Henry at Lee Hall. William Gooch (21 October 1681-17 December 1751) born in Yarmouth, England; died in London; served as Governor of Virginia from 1727 through 1749. ... Margravine Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach (or Anspach) (Wilhelmina Charlotte Caroline) (1 March 1683 – 20 November 1737) as Queen Caroline was the queen consort of King George II of Great Britain 1727-1737. ... Lee Hall is a former unincorporated town (or village) which is now a community in the extreme western portion of the independent city of Newport News in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ...

Lee's political career required him to make trips to Williamsburg, which meant that Lee had to be away from his family for a good amount of time. Despite the trips, Lee managed to make the eight mile journey to his family and to be with his wife at the birth of all their children:^[11] Thomas Ludwell, Francis Lightfoot, Alice, William, and Arthur. Nickname: The Burg Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ... Thomas Ludwell Lee (December 13, 1730 - April 13, 1778) was an editor of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. ... Francis Lightfoot Lee (October 14, 1734–January 11, 1797), was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Virginia. ... William Lee (1756-1795) was an American diplomat during the Revolutionary War. ... Arthur Lee (1740-1792), was an American diplomat during the American Revolutionary War. ...

These children were high ranking political figures who were active in Revolutionary war and post-Revolution politics. His second son Thomas Ludwell Lee was a member of the Virginia Delegates and editor of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Thomas Lee's other sons Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee were signers of the United States Declaration of Independence. Richard Henry was a sentator from Virginia to the United States Senate and Francis Lightfoot was in the Virginia Senate. Lee's youngest sons William Lee and Arthur Lee were diplomats who demanded the recall of Silas Deane. William along with Jan de Neufville drafted an unofficial treaty between the United States and the Netherlands which Great Britain used as an reason for the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, The Netherlands, Spain, American Indians Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, American Indians Canadian Indians Commanders George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene, Bernardo de Gálvez Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also... Thomas Ludwell Lee (December 13, 1730 - April 13, 1778) was an editor of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. ... The Virginia Declaration of Rights is a declaration by the Virginia Convention of Delegates of rights of individuals and a call for independence from Britain. ... Richard Henry Lee (January 20, 1732–June 19, 1794) was an American who served as the sixth President of the United States in Congress assembled under the Articles of Confederation, holding office from November 30, 1784 to November 22, 1785. ... Francis Lightfoot Lee (October 14, 1734–January 11, 1797), was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Virginia. ... United States Declaration of Independence In the Declaration of Independence the 13 states (formerly the Thirteen Colonies) declared themselves a new country, the United States of America and announced that were now totally independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain and explained their justifications for doing so. ... Seal of the U.S. Senate The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the House of Representatives. ... William Lee (1756-1795) was an American diplomat during the Revolutionary War. ... Arthur Lee (1740-1792), was an American diplomat during the American Revolutionary War. ... Silas Deane (December 24, 1737 - September 23, 1789), was a delegate to the American Continental Congress and later a diplomat. ... At the end of the 18th century, unrest was growing in the Netherlands. ...

On January 25, 1750, Lee's wife, Hannah, died and was later buried at Mount Pleasant in the field which was burned from the aforementioned fire, Burnt House Field. According to his will, he wished to be buried in between his wife and his mother. The plantation at Machodoc would go to his nephew, George Lee. Later in November of 1750, Lee died and left his estate to his eldest son, Philip Ludwell. January 25 is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 2 - Small earthquake in London, England April 4 - Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 - Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 - Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 – Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway is the first Englishman to use an umbrella James Gray reveals her sex...

Political career

Lee's politcal career began in 1710. His first office was Naval Officer of the Potomac River. The position was previously held by his father and upon his resignation, Lee became the new Naval Officer. In 1711, Lee's uncles, Thomas Corbin, helped him gain the position of Virginia agent for the Northern Neck Proprietary. The head of this agency was another one of Lee's uncles, Edmund Jenings. While Jenings was in England, the offices of the agency were located at the plantation at Machodoc and under Lee's supervision.^[12] Edmund Jenings was a Virginian politician. ...

The agency was later taken from Jenings and given to Robert "King" Carter in 1720. This was due to poor management after Jenings assumed power of the agency in 1715.^[13] This event led to animosity between the Lee and Carter families.^[14] The members of the families refused to marry eachother until Light Horse Harry Lee married Anne Hill Carter. Their most notable child was Robert E. Lee. Robert Carter aka King Carter (August 4, 1663 - August 4, 1732) was a colonist, founding father and owner of Carters Grove in Virginia. ... Henry Lee III (January 29, 1756 - March 25, 1818), 18th century American general, called Light Horse Harry, was born near Dumfries, Virginia. ... Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a career U.S. Army officer and the most celebrated general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. ...

Lee later became a vestryman for Copole Parish and Justice of the Peace in Westmoreland County.^[15] In 1723, Lee became a member of the House of Burgesses. He held this office until he was appointed to the Governor's Council in the Virginia General Assembly in 1733. This position was a lifetime appointment. The Council was made up of twelve appointees who were selected by the Governor of Virginia and was the upper half of the Virginia General Assembly. The lower half was made up of the House of Burgesses. This position also gave Lee the rank of Colonel, which a rank that was second only to the governor. Members of the Council were advisors to the governor and judges in the General Court of the colony. Their work led them to spend about a third of the year in the capital Williamsburg, Virginia. A Justice of the Peace (JP) is a puisne judicial officer appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. ... Westmoreland County is the name of several counties in the United States: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Westmoreland County, Virginia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The Virginia General Assembly is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Nickname: The Burg Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ...

When Governor William Gooch was recalled to England in 1749, Lee was named President of the Council of Virginia and Commander-in-Chief of the colony. He was going to be appointed Governor of Virginia by King George II but died before the appointment could happen.^[16][17] George II (George Augustus) (10 November 1683 – 25 October 1760) was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Hanover) and Archtreasurer and Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death. ...

Ohio Company

Lee was appointed commissioner to negotiate with the Six Nations of the Iroquois at the Lancaster, Pennsylvania Conference along with William Beverley in 1744.^[18] A treaty was made with the Iroquois body for 400 pounds in return for the right for Virginians to settle in Ohio.^[19] In 1747, Lee co-founded the Ohio Company of Virginia along with Lawrence Washington, Augustine Washington, Jr., the Duke of Bedford, and John Hanbury. The Ohio Company was a land speculation venture which helped colonize the Ohio Country. Lee's influence as a member of the Governor's Council helped lead to the success of the Ohio Company and within seven years the company had 100 families living in Ohio. He was also the first president of the Company and after Lee died, was succeeded by Lawrence Washington. The Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee, also known as the League of Peace and Power, Five Nations, or Six Nations) is a group of First Nations/Native Americans. ... Nickname: The Red Rose City Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Lancaster Founded 1730 Incorporated March 10, 1818 Mayor Rick Gray (D) Area    - City 19. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... The Ohio Country, showing present-day U.S. state boundaries The Ohio Company, more formally known as the Ohio Company of Virginia, was a land speculation company organized for the colonization of the Ohio Country. ... Lawrence Washington (1718-1752) was George Washingtons brother and mentor. ... Colonel Augustine Washington, Jr. ... John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford (1710-1771), second son of Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford, by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of John Howland of Streatham, Surrey, was born on 30 September 1710. ... John Hanbury was one of a dynasty of ironmasters responsible for the industrialisation and urbanisation of the Afon Llwyd (in English eastern valley) in Monmouthshire, south Wales, around Pontypool. ... The Ohio Country, showing the present-day U.S. state boundaries The Ohio Country (sometimes called the Ohio Territory) was the name used in the 18th century for the regions of North America west of the Appalachian Mountains and in the region of the upper Ohio River south of Lake...

Stratford Hall

Main article: Stratford Hall Plantation

Statford Hall Plantation, built by Thomas Lee.

With Lee's higher rank in society and wealth he decided he needed to build a mansion to secure his position as one of the gentry in Virginia. The location that Lee had chosen for his new home was the "Clifts" which he had owned since the mid 1710's. Lee decided on this land because it was located in Westmoreland County, the county in which he was born, and also because it was located on the Potomac River. The land was sufficient for having many construction laborers live there. Hannah had an influential say in the design and planning of the interior of the house. Philip, the couple's eldest son, had said, "See what it is to be ruled by a woman. I should have been now living in a house like this ... had not my father been persuaded by his wife to put up this very inferior dwelling, now over my head"^[20] The actual building date of the house is unknown but it is estimated that construction began around 1725-30, as all of Lee's sons were born at Stratford. Workers on the plantation were free people, indentured servants and slaves.^[21] Stanford Hall Plantation Stratford Hall Plantation is the birthplace of Robert E. Lee, General-in-Chief of the Confederate armies. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (943x662, 121 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Stratford Hall Plantation Thomas Lee (Virginia colonist) Portal:Virginia Portal:Virginia/Attractions ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (943x662, 121 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Stratford Hall Plantation Thomas Lee (Virginia colonist) Portal:Virginia Portal:Virginia/Attractions ... An Indentured servant is an unfree labourer under contract to work (for a specified amount of time) for another person, often without any pay, but in exchange for accommodation, food, other essentials and/or free passage to a new country. ...

Notes

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ...

References

External links

• Stratford Hall - Home of Thomas Lee

Colonial Governors of Virginia

Wingfield • Ratcliffe • Scrivener • Smith • Percy • Gates • De La Warr • Percy • Dale • Gates • Dale • Yeardley • Argall • Yeardley • Wyatt • Yeardley • West • Pott • Harvey • West • Harvey • Wyatt • Berkeley • Bennett • Digges • Mathews • Berkeley • Colepeper • Howard of Effingham • Andros • Nicholson • Nott • Jenings • Hunter • Orkney (absentee) • Spotswood • "King" Carter • Gooch • Albemarle (absentee) • Gooch • Lee • Dinwiddie • Loudoun • Fauquier • Amherst (absentee) • Fauquier • Botetourt • Nelson • Dunmore