Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-06

tanning $50 acres. Inc i".'"'
he acquired under lease from nus oTo-
thar ,csIdept AZ the time In London.
In l-9a or 1724 ne found wife amidst
the rich plantations OF James river. In
the person OF Mary Bland. daughter oil
H,ohsya Hfsnd. OF Berkeley. one or we
justices of Prince George county. Shs
was n sister TO Richard Bland, the young
er. the scholarly historian ana a'Ilu"
rlan whom Thomas Jefferson prohouhceu
TO be "the wisest man solth W ''n','
river" Whether "A sloJp WIFE WHITE s1ls
and futtering pennon or a heavy, rum
Hing choise bore the young bride To tn's
home * not now known. IN ei'her "a
her arrival was an impor1ia' toS"''
event. which. we may be sure, was "IiF
discussed and as duly celeDra'eu'
SS.rI,. o,,srter OF century was passed
here bv Henry and Mary Bland Lee.
a,,tdst domestic ease and plenty, when
~ daatb I'm l747. brought sorrow to the
home and consigned the wife to seventeen
,.osrs az lonely wdowhoOd. Ere ms ue-
,,rt,re however. there had been gather
"a aruind the paternal hearthstohe seVe-
al cons and a daughter, the eldest OF
uboro hid reached his majority. lie
vs. named John. and was the INST son
IN claim this as his natal place. lie mar
ried in l7p a young lady OF NorthlmDei-
land parentage. the eldest daughter OF
/ philip Smith. Esq. She had previously
been married TO Jesse Ball, OF Laheas-
ter whose tomb at White Chapel VII
nesses that che was the Oldest son Oh
lanes Ran. gent" and that he died
i'm the sd year Of his age John Lee
vus the first of three of the name 10
serve I'm the cletkship of Essex county.
where. thanks 20 the indefatigable efforts
Of Judge r. h. 4. Wright. his handsome
picture has been rescued, and made 70
adorn the walls Of the courthouse. Colo
mel John Lee gave place I'm Essex To ms
NEPHEW OF the same name, and later
settled at Cabin Point. one of his father
plantations on the pOt0mac-an Isolated
and secluded retreat-where he died ana
was buried. Ills widow, who was Mary
Smith I'm her childhood. with respect 10
her name. may be said TO have returned
10 her first love. since she married
sutton named John Smith.
The birth here. I'm l72j Of Colonel John
Lee was followed year or two later
bv that Of his brother. Richard, who. in
after life. became widely known rs Squire
Lee. He was for eighteen years
prominent I'm the House Of Burgesses
served hOnoraby IN the conventions OF
lH5 and l116. and for many years sub
sequently as Delegate from WestmOre-
land i'm the State Legislature. He was
not precipitate I'm the matter Of matri-
mOny. but when well advanced Ia life
yielded TO the charms OF Sally Poythress,
daughter OF Peter Poythress, OF Bran
chester, Prince George county. whom he
met I'm Richmond during a session OF the
General Assembly. OF his married life
here IL will be convenient TO make men
ton later on.
The third son of Henry Lee born al
this home was named for his father and
much Of his life was spent in Prince VIII
liam county, which, for thirty years, he
represented in the Legislature, and there
he founded the home called "Leesyl-
vania." Before his removal from Lee
Hall he had married. having previously
become enamored by the charms of
noted belle Of Richmond county, Lucy
Grymes, daughter Of Or. Charles Grymes.
of "NOratticO Hall" on the Rappahau-
mock. Two VI the children of this young
couple were born here, the eldest of whom
was the dashing cavalryman OF the Revo-
luton. Light Horse Harry" Lee, the
father OF the famous Confederate com
mander. The other son was Charles Lee
the Attorney General OF The United
States under Washington. who was offer
ed also, but declined the seat ON the
Supreme bench so honorably filled by
Chlef-Justice Marshall Another son.
Richard Bland Lee. was born after the
removal 10 Prince william, and for fif-
teen years served Virginia with credit in
the National Congress.
But one daughter was given 10 Henry
and Mary Lee here 10 share the COM
partnership of her parents and the
brothers. whom 1 have named. She was
Letice, who. among a number OF con-
temporary girls Of the same name, has
and misled sundry genealogical
writers. She was married 20 William
Ban, of Lancaster who, having died
early, left her "A widow with three chill
dren. The fair author OF "A Journal OF
a Young Lady of Virginia. under date
OF October %. 1852. refers 70 her at "A |
later period OF her life as follows: u |
am at Lee Hall Mrs Lee is very polite. /
We found Mrs. Ball here. she has tho /
remains OF very petty woman. and |
appears To have hxt melancholy ON her /
Mrs. Mary Lee. relict OF the founder |
Of Lee Han, died IN the spring Of 1864. /
and named in her win. which was pro-
bated ON May 2sth of that year, the seye- |
raj children mentioned above. Her death |
drew from her son, Henry letter ire
Gently published for the first time in the
Virginia Historical Msgazne) repete
with hlisl tenderness OF grief and ex-
allied tribute 10 the piety aud excellence
Of his mother.
After Mrs. Lees death Squire Lee be-
,ame the proprietor here. and occupied
he place as his home until his decease,
near the close Of the century. During /
lostllities with England. when the enc
nys fleet appeared In the Potomac and /
'ayaged the neighboring shores. Lee Hall
was a sort OF military headquarters. and
here General Andrew Lewis and other
patriot leaders held councils of war.
The only son born here as the issue Of
squire Lees marriage with Sally Poyth-
-ess was named Richard, and died
N infancy. The three daughters who
followed grew each 10 w0manhood. The
eldest was Mary who married Or. Jo-
ieph Jones. of Prince George county.
Among her descendants of the first gene
alton We're the late Dr. Joseph Jones.
IF Westmoreland. and Judge Thomas
tones. OF Richmond county. She was
grandmother 10 the Hon. ". A. Jones
he present representative I'm Congress
If the First Virginia District.
Squire Lees second daughter reared
.t Lee Hall was Letice. who was mar
led to John Augustine Smith, son Of
Thomas Smith, the last rector of Cople
,arish, under the establishment She
vent with him 10 Williamsburg. where
"A ia f.r.aft1lrlftr