The Washington herald., 1921-08-26
The Lee Family.
Editor. The Washington Herald:


There appeared in the Open Court
column OF Tho Herald on Tuesday,
August 16. an article relating to the
Lee family and Arlington.
The following sketch. which has
been written from official data and
statistics obtained at the Congress
sional Library, will in all probable
ity be of interest to the readers of
the Open Court column OF The
Herald:
In England, prior to the middle
of the eleventh century, names
were entirely unknown, and about
the year 1850 began the custom of
using surnames, but it made way
SO slowly that even at the close of
the twelfth century 1t had not diff
fused itself beyond the ranks of the
higher nobility.
The name Of Lee Is of common
origin with Leigh, Lea, Leigh, Lye,
Lega, Lege, Lehe, Leyra, Leighe.
Lighe.s Lyghe, all derived from the
Saxon Lay" or leah" meaning the
pasture place"
In names of British origin it is
spelled Lee. and the earliest Of the
name were called de lee" or AT
leer
In giving references to the Lees
emigrating to America, il would
seem useless to make mention of
the many who came between 1900
and 1900.
The family of Lee is one OF the
most ancient "a. D. 1866 to 1902 in
the records of the English peerage
&c a frarnh
back to the earliest history OF our
own and mother country. In the
eleventh century we fnd the name
Of Launcclot Lee. Loudon. France,
an honored associate or William the
Conqueror. going over to England
with the chieftain and distingu ish-
ing himself at the Battle of Hast
ings.
The Lee family of Virginia is the
youngest branch OF the oldest fami-
lies Of England. Launcelot Lee. the
founder. came originally from Lou
don, France.
"a. D. 17l4 to 1850. The Hon.
Thomas Lee. fourth son of Richard
Lee, is given US in history as one
of the most prominent men OF the
early times of Virginia. OF the exact
date OF his birth and early life there
is no record. He was the first ma
tive governor of Virginia under the
British government. and so popular
was he in England that having suf-
fered a severe. loss by fire Queen
Caroline sent him a large sum of
money from her private purse. with
an autographed letter. Thomas
Lee married Hannah Ludwell.
daughter Of Col. Phillip Ludwell. OF
Green Springs. Va. president of the
council. She was granddaughter of
old Phillip Ludwell. the first of that
family in Virginia.
Richard Henry Lee. the great po-
litical leader. was born at Stratford.
on the banks of the Potomac. on
January 10. 1882. the year OF the
birth of George Washington, and
scarce a month before that event
He completed his academic educa-
ton in England. and at an early
age returned to Virginia, where he
pursued his studies until the year
1855. when he raised a company OF
volunteers in aid of Gen. Braddock
At the early age of 25 ne was ap-
pointed a justice for his county. a
position which then was rarely
given to one of his years. Richard
Henry Lee was twice married. His
| first wife was Miss Aylett: his sec
ond. Miss; Pinkard.
"a. d. 1855 to 1879. Gen. Henry
Lee. the first son Of Henry Lee. OF
Stafford was born at Leesylvania,
Prince William County. Va, jan
uary %. 1856. Gen. Lee was edu-
! Gated in this country. At an early
age he was intrustcd with the man.
agement of the family estate. In
1776 he was appointed captain of q
cavalry company. with which. under
the command of Col. Beard. he
Joined the provincial army under
Washington In the fall Of 1886 he
was sent as a delegate to Congress
from Virginia.
Robert Edward Lee was born at
Stratford. westmoreland County,
Va. on the 18th of January. 1907. in
the same room in which two of the
signers Of the Declaration Of INDIE
pendence were born. namely. Rich
ard Henry Lee and Francis Light
foot Lee. He was the ffth child of
Henry Lee. the celebrated Light
horse Harry" Robert E. Lee was
ADM tied to the West Point Military
Acad envy 1895, at the age of Is. and
graduated with first honors in 1923.
receiving an appointment of SECOND
lieutenant of engineers. On the
30th of June, 1881. Lieut.. Lee mar
ried Mary Custis. daughter of
George Washington Parke Custis
adopted son and step-grandson OF
George Washington.
In 1896 he was appointed assist
ant astronomer of the commission
to determine the boundary lines be-
tween Ohio and Michigan. He was
promoted TO first lieutenant in 1896
and captaia IN 1888. In 1886 Capt
Lee was appointed chief engineer