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John LEE Senior (#1) Notes

John LEE Senior Will 1804/1805 -
Charlotte Co., VA WB 2:298
Trascribed by JoLee Spears - February 1998

           In the name of God Amen I John Lee Senior of Charlotte County do make my last Will and Testament in manner and form as followeth First its my Will that all my estate both real and personal may be kept together under the direction and management of my Son Thomas Lee except such articles thereof as he may think proper to spare which its my Will my be sold until all my just debts be paid.

          Secondly after all my debts are paid its my Will that the whole of my estate both real & personal may be sold, and I give to my son Thomas Lee for services he has rendered me a Separate Legacy of One hundred pounds to him and his heirs forever.

          Thirdly I give to Jane Pearson, Polly Almond, John Lee jr., Edward Lee, Thomas Lee, Joseph Lee and Henderson Lee one ninth part of the ballance of the money arising from the sale of my Estate including the value of two horses which William Lee has had out of my Estate in advance towit, a black Stud horse rated at sixty? Seven pound, ten shillings also another horse rated at fifteen pounds (Consequently its my Will that the said William Lee my Son may have out of the general division of my estate the sum of eighty two pounds, ten shillings less than the other Legatees) to them and their heirs forever

          Fourthly I give to the children of Sally Crenshaw one ninth part of my Estate Yet so that the said Sally Crenshaw my daughter may have possession and the use of it during her life She giving Security to the same forthcoming when legally demanded

          Fifthly as I am now sick at Mr. Joseph Pearsons and more especially if I should die here, its my desire that my executor make said Pearson and his family ample Satisfaction for the same.

          Sixthly I appoint my son Thomas Lee executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disannulling all others by me heretofore made - In Witness to which I do hereunto set my hand and Seal the twenty Seventh day of November 18 hundred and four.
John Lee
Done in presence of Henry Haley, John Knight, John Stembridge. At a Court held for Charlotte County the 4th day of February 1805. The Last Will and Testament of John lee Senr decd was presented in Court by Thomas Lee the executor herein named and the same was proved by the oath of Henry Haley, John Knight and John Stembridge the Witnesses hereto subscribed to be acknowledged by the said John Lee in his last Will and Testament in their presence & ordered to be recorded - On the motion of the said executors who made oath according to Law Certificate s granted him for obtaining a probate of the said Will in due form he giving Security whereupon he with Thomas Pettus his Security entered into and Acknowledged their bond according to Law for that purpose
Teste Thomas Read Truly Recorded Thomas Read

Comments on John Lee Senior's Will

The will of John Lee Senr.was recorded in Charlotte Co., VA, 4 Feb 1805, WB 2:298

Comments on the will:
  • Some wills list children by order of birth. The John Lee Senr will seems to follow an order of business.
  • It is clear there are nine (9) heirs/divisions.
  • Identified in the will as a "son" or a "daughter":
    • Thomas Lee
    • William Lee
    • Sally Crenshaw
  • Named in the will, but not identified in the will as a" son" or a "daughter":
    • Jane Pearson—marriage bond identifies her father, John Lee
    • Polly Almond—marriage bond identifies her father, John Lee
    • John Lee jr—the "jr" is indicative of a son
    • Edward Lee—land records verify relationship
    • Joseph Lee—
    • Henderson Lee—this devisee has frequently been incorrectly identified as a son, because of the wording (or lack of wording). Indications are that Henderson Lee was not a son, but the only child of deceased son Ambrose Lee - thus, allotment to [grandson] Henderson Lee was one full child's (1/9th) portion of the estate.

John Lee Senior — Land Description

John Lee was already styled "of county of Charlotte" when he purchased in 1773, 634 acres in Charlotte County. Possibly he was already living on the land, as the previous owner, Charles Sallard, was a resident of Amelia County.Charlotte DB 3:3671

The Middle Fork of Meherrin heads in Charlotte County near the Lunenburg County line and flows through Lunenburg, emptying into the South Fork of Meherrin at the Lunenburg/Mecklenburg line. (drawing)

Of the 634 acres on the Middle Fork of Meherrin purchased by John Lee in 1773, 400 acres were granted by patent to Joseph Breedlove, 23 Mar 1752, about 20 years earlier. The land was then described as lying at the head of the Middle Fork of Meherrin.Pat. Bk 31:85-862 In June of the same year, Breedlove and wife Mary sold the tract to Francis Smithson. In July 1761, Smithson gave the 400-acre tract to his son, Micajar.Lunenburg DB 6:364 3 Micajar Smithson had in the previous year purchased an adjoining 234-acre tract from Joseph Williams, executor of Thomas Williamson.Lunenburg DB 6:156 4 Micajar was then, in 1760, living in Cornwall Parish, which was the part of Lunenburg that became Charlotte County in 1765. In Apr 1762, Smithson sold the 634 acres to William Hightower of Amelia County.Lunenburg DB 7:2045 After Hightower's death in 1764, his executors sold the land to the above mentioned Sallard, also of Amelia County. See an image of the land patents in the immediate area.

There were various alterations to the land. In 1778, John Lee of Charlotte sold 250 acres on the head of Robertson Fork of Middle Meherrin River to John Hanes of Lunenburg.Charlotte Co. DB 4:876 In Oct 1790, John Lee purchased from John Haynes, 50 acres on Middle Fork of Meherrin River, bounded by lines of John Lee, Ambrose Haley, George Walton & Levy Blankenship.Charlotte Co. DB 6:108 7 Recorded 1 Feb 1796, dated 31 Aug 1793, John Lee purchased 72 acres from Levy Blankenship on branches of Grassy Fork on both sides King's Road adjoining Hendrick, Dupree, and Haley.Charlotte Co. DB 6:2638 [Note: "King's Road" reportedly was present-day US Hwy 360.]

In 1813, the John Lee Senr home tract went out of the family. By deed dated 6 Jan 1813, acknowledged 3 May 1813, Thomas Lee, executor of John Lee dec'd & Edward Lee conveyed to [The Reverend] Edward Almond, 596 acres

"Whereas the said John Lee dec'd by his will duly proved & recorded in the county court of Charlotte did devise and bequeath that the lands whereof he died seized should be sold by his executor aforesaid and whereas the said Thomas Lee executor of John Lee did agreeable to the said will sell a certain tract of land lying and being in the county of Charlotte on the head waters of Middle Meherrin containing 596 acres to the sd Edward Lee, and whereas the said Edward Lee by and with the consent of the said Thomas hath sold the said land to the said Edward Almond for the sum of $1000.00 and also a track of land by deed of this date conveyed by the said Edward Almond to the said Edward Lee. Now this indenture? therefore further witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar by the said Edward Almond to the said Thos Lee executor of John Lee dec'd in hand paid they the said Thomas Lee executor of John Lee dec'd and Edwd Lee have bargained and sold and by these presents do bargain and sell...all that tract of land the said Edward Lee now resides on, it being the same tract of land whereon the said John Lee dec'd before & at the time of his death containing 500 & 96 acres. The instrument was witnessed by Thomas Wood Senr, John Edmondson, and James B. Beach."Charlotte Co., DB 12:1849

The deed of same date, referred to in the above, 6 Jan 1813, from Edward Almond of Lunenburg to Edward Lee of Charlotte, was for 362 acres, "land situate lying and being in the county of Charlotte & Lunenburg...land the said Almond purchased of Levi Blankenship & joining Wm Thompson, John Pettus, Clement R. Jameson and others."Charlotte Co. DB 12:18210

Almond is said to have given the property the name, Haleysburg. In 1837, after Almond's death in 1825, Thomas Lee (son of John Lee Senr) purchased the 596 Haleysburg tract from Almond's executors. Thomas Lee added on to the tract with a purchase of 202 acres from Dr. Giles Harris. In 1848, Thomas Lee and wife Elizabeth divided the tract, reserving 14 acres for themselves, 400 acres on Charlotte-Lunenburg line to son David Lee, 383 3/4 acres at the head of the Middle Meherrin River to son John H. Lee. The next year David Lee sold part of his property to Doctor Giles Harris and purchased the John H. Lee property which joined the tract he retained. The tract then contained 645 acres. The year is uncertain when David Lee built the now-standing Woodland. By architectural evidence, close to 1858-60. Michael Anderson purchased the Woodland tract in 1876, giving it the name The Oaks. It remained a home for the Anderson family for ninety-four years. In 1975 Ralph and Shay Gibbs purchased the house, 48 acres, with a right-of-way to US 360/15.Gerald Tate Gilliam "Woodland: Standing at the Head of the Middle Meherrin" 11

The site of Woodland can be spotted on a 36°58'28"N,-78°29'00"W Topo map at the road or exit marked 564, east of US 360 between Wallace's Store and Ontario. The visible stream is the head of Middle Meherrin River (Middle Fork or Robertson Fork), very near the Lunenburg line.The site of Woodland on the TopoZone map was spotted for me by Jerry Wallace12

For one researching land on the forks of the Meherrin in Lunenburg County and Charlotte County, the various names given to the forks, especially Middle Fork of Meherrin, can make things confusing. See (drawing) for clarification.

Haleysburg as a place or a post office is a bit vague. In February 1807, Thomas Lee, son of John Lee Senr, wrote a letter to his brother-in-law Hezekiah Almond in Williamson Co., TN re the John Lee Senr estate. The postmaster hand postmarked the wax-sealed letter, "Haleysbg Va Feby 16th" The inside of the letter is headed "Charlotte County Virginia." (See copy of the letter submitted by John Patrick Curley.) It is possible the post office was on the Lunenburg side of the county line. Lunenburg County, Virginia Post Office records show Haleysburg/Haleysburgh registered June 1801 with Henry Haley the first postmaster.Gerald Tate Gilliam, "Lunenburg County, VA Post Offices 1798 - 13

An 1829 letter to John Gregory of Lunenburg shows the Haleysburg post office in Charlotte County.

The W. H. Eubank place in Lunenburg near the Charlotte line is said to have been named "Haileysburg." There was a blacksmith and wheel wright shop and a store there.Elizabeth Bruce Bass, "Memories at Random"; (1973)14 This elegant home may have been built in the 1850's. Possibly it was the "W. Eubank" place shown near the Charlotte line on the 1864 Lunenburg map, section 11.
— Jo Lee Gregory Spears

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