Person:William Lee (153)

William Henry Lee

• In a book titled "The Revolutionary Records of Maryland", under Montgomery County, it shows among the men signing the Patriots' oath of fidelity and support, returned on 16th of March, 1778 the names of William Lee Sr., Joseph Lee, Joseph Lee, Jr.,Samuel Lee, Aaron Atherton, Benjamin Atherton, John Atherton, Aaron Atherton Jr., and Daniel Cresop.
• In "A Maryland Revolutionary War Militia List", compiled by the Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America from the Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore located in the Filson Club in Louisville,KY, on page 225 under Captain Daniel Cresap; Col. Barret Bn; Washingaton, Company are listed John Eatherington, Cpl; Joshua Eatherington, Private 1st class; William Lee, Pvt 1st class; Samuel Lee, Pvt 2nd class; Benjamin Eatherington, Pvt 3rd class; Aaron Aetherington, Pvt 6th class & Josiah Lee, Pvt 7th class. On page 267 - list of discharged soldiers of 2 Bns of militia raised to serve in Continental Army - pd 1781 to Wm Lee no., 479, nine pounds and one shilling. Since the first names are the same, Eatherington is a phonetic varient spelling of Atherton and Daniel Cresap is a phonetic varient for Daniel Cresop, and visa versa.
• Those same named Lees and Athertons show up on tithable and tax records in Nelson Co., Ky (which was then still Virginia) and two of Aaron Atherton's daughters married two of William Lee's sons, according to Kentucky marriage records. I descend from Jessee Lee who was the son of this William Lee through his marriage to his second wife, Sarah Jane Morgan.
• In a book entitled The Lives, Families, and Descendants of Arnold, Philip and Benjamin Taylor: From Pennsylvania and New Jersey to Kentucky by Walter Kingsley Taylor, PH.D., page 109, paragraph 4 states - "Manuel Taylor married (1 Mar, 1808, Nelson Co., Ky.) Rebecca Lee, daughter of William Henry Lee (b. ca. 1740's, Hunterdon Co., NJ) and Sarah Jane (?Reaves) Morgan, widow of CPT John Morgan. Surety for Manuel and Rebecca was given by William Lee.
• William's mother is believed to be Margaret Atherton; Margaret Atherton married around 1760 in Virginia to Maj. William Lea, several children were born. After Margaret died, William Jr. and children came to Nelson County, Kentucky where he married (ca 1782-3) a Sarah Morgan nee Reeves. To this union was born Jessee and Rebecca. Sarah's first husband, CPT John Morgan, was killed by indians around 1780-82, along the Ohio River. Sarah and her two daughters escaped to a near by fort. William and Sarah lived on Pottinger's Creek, Nelson County, Kentucky." Page 131, paragraph 2 states - "Jessee Lee was a son of William Henry Lee (b. ca. 1740's, Hunterdon County, NJ; d. ca. 1828, Nelson County, Ky.) and his second wife, Sarah Jane (?Reaves) Morgan, widow of CPT John Morgan who was killed by indians. The other known child of William and Sarah was Rebecca (b. ca. 1791-93) Ky.)
• In June 1999, A Lee folder was discovered in the genealogical section of the Bardstown, Kentucky library. In the folder was a work sheet bearing the following information: "William Henry Lee was born in Maryland (possibly Baltimore Co.) about 17--, and he joined the Maryland Militia taking the Oath of Fidelity & support in Jan 27, 1778. While in service or before, he met and served with Aaron Atherton Sr. and his three brothers, John, Joshua and Benjamin. William and the Athertons served in the Washington County, MD area in Capt. Daniel Cresap's Co. of Col. Lemuel (Samuel) Barrett's Battalion. He was already married to Marg. Atherton. He served with his son Abraham Lee. He is believed to have lived in Talbot County, MD. His issue from marriage are

1. Josiah M. Mary Van Winkle Apr 1,1797, Nelson Co, Ky. Her parents, Michael/Phoebe

2. Abraham, B. 1778 MD M. Eunice Atherton 1799-1800 Nelson Co. Ky. She was born 1782

3. Samuel, M. Phoebe Atherton Mar. 23,1797 Hardin Co. Ky. She was born 1782 (twins w. Eunice?)

4. William M. Abagail Black Aug 5, 1786 Nelson Co, Ky.

5. Charles M. Margaret Mariman Jun 4, 1799 Nelson Co.

6. Frederick M. Catherine Raimer Nov 8, 1792 Nelson Co.

7. John M. Mary Lefollit July 27, 1790 Nelson Co.

8. Rebecca M.

9. John M. Elizabeth Hill Mar 30, 1803 Nelson Co.

• Another folder in the Bardstown library under Atherton indicates that in 1779, Aaron Atherton, Sr. went with his brothers to Virginia to pick up Aaron's wife, Nancy and their children and along with William Henry Lee and his young family, made their way through the Wilderness Road to Kentucky. It is recorded that they first settled at Goodwin's Fort (sometimes written as Goodin's Fort) in 1780. Goodwin's Fort was located near old Boston, Ky on the road from the Falls of the Ohio (later site of Louisville) to Pottinger's Station near Rolling Fork between Beech Fork River and Pottinger's Creek. Around 1802, Aaron took his family north across the Ohio River and settled in Ohio.