This page will contain files and links pertaining to LEE genealogy, primarily focusing on descendants of John LEE, Esquire of Johnston County, North Carolina including my ancestors who settled in Franklin County, Arkansas and later near Arkadelphia, Arkansas. For those unfamiliar with it, the John LEE, Esquire line is enormous and probably includes tens of thousands of living descendants.
John Lee, Esquire (abbreviated JLX) was probably born in VA or NC
around 1695 and is thought to have been among the Roanoke River
Settlers in 1720. JLX's wife was Mary, who may have been the daughter
of William and Alice (McLand) Bryan. JLX and Mary started their
family on lands between the Roanoke and Tar rivers along Coneto and
Conoho Creeks. Today, these lands would be along the borders of the
NC counties of Halifax, Martin, Edgecome, and Pit. Several or all of
John and Mary's children were born in the Roanoke region and records
through 1744 most frequently list JLX as being of Edgecomb Co., NC.
By the 1740s, settlers were moving into lands in Johnston County-
then known as Craven County. These immigrants included JLX who on 26
July 1743 received grants for 400 and 100 acres
of land along the south bank of the Neuse River. Many of JLX's
Conoho Creek neighbors such as Needham, John, and William
Bryan also moved south to Johnston County prior to 1750. Court
records detail JLX's various land holdings (over 1700
acres) in Johnston County and refer to his serving on juries, laying
off roads, etc. John and Mary lived the remainder of their lives in
Johnston County and raised at least nine children.
John died between
December 4, 1766 when his will was written in Johnston Co., NC, and
February of 1768 when the will was probated. John's will names wife
Mary, sons Robert, Edward, John, Thomas, Frederick; daughters Mary
Ballanger and Sabray Green, grandson Shadrack Ingram. John's wife
Mary probably died before 1780.
Source: W. Johnston, et al., compilers, John Lee Esquire and Some of
his Descendants. (1975) (available at Johnston Co., NC library in
Smithfield, NC).
rodpenn@sage.net
Temple, TX 76502
United States