Richard Lee II
Encyclopedia
Richard Henry II, was termed "Richard the Scholar". Richard was the son of Col. Richard Lee I
Richard Lee I
Col. Richard Lee I, “the Immigrant” arrived in Jamestown in 1639 at the age of 22 with very little to his name other than the patronage of an influential man, Sir Francis Wyatt, the 1st Governor of Virginia. Once there he became Attorney General of the Colony of Virginia, Colonial Secretary of...
, Esq., "the Immigrant" (1618-1664) and Anne Constable (ca. 1621-1666)
Richard was born at "Paradise", in Northumberland County, Virginia
Northumberland County, Virginia
Northumberland County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state in the United States. In 2010, its population was 12,330. Its county seat is Heathsville...
, the estate he inherited from his father when he died in 1664. This estate consisted of 1350 acres (5.5 km²), and was later part of Gloucester County. He was educated at Oxford in England and may have studied law at the London “Inns”. He seemed destined for a career in the church, but he elected rather to return to the life of a Virginia gentleman, residing at “Paradise”. In 1673, when his older brother John died unmarried, Richard inherited the estate, “Machodoc”. Richard left “Paradise” to overseers and removed to his new estate.
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Soon after his marriage, Richard was elected to the House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
. In 1676 Richard became a member of the King’s Council and he served in this capacity off and on until 1698. On one such absence in 1690 he had lost his seat because of his refusal to take the oath of allegiance to William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, King of England (“William of Orange”) (1650-1702). However, he was reinstated within a year. Richard was forced to retire from this position because of ill health. The Council was a body that served as the Governor’s privy council, the Upper House of the Colonial Legislature, and the Colonial Supreme Court. As early as 1680 he was Colonel of Horse in the counties of Westmoreland, Northumberland and Stafford. He was appointed by Sir Gov. Edmund Andros
Edmund Andros
Sir Edmund Andros was an English colonial administrator in North America. Andros was known most notably for his governorship of the Dominion of New England during most of its three-year existence. He also governed at various times the provinces of New York, East and West Jersey, Virginia, and...
(1637-1714) to be “Naval Officer and Receiver of Virginia Dutys for the River Potomac”. Richard II, had one of the largest libraries in the Colony. He spent almost his whole life in study, and usually wrote his notes in Greek, Hebrew, or Latin. It was because of this that he was termed “the scholar”. Richard was a supporter of the Established Church.
Richard died March 12, 1714 at “Machodoc”, Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,718 people, 6,846 households, and 4,689 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,286 housing units at an average density of...
. His will was probated on April 27, 1715. He was buried at the old “Burnt House Fields”, located near “Mount Pleasant”. Laetitia died on October 6, 1706 at “Machodoc”, and her tombstone can still be seen at “Mount Pleasant”.
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
, near the town of Hague, in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,718 people, 6,846 households, and 4,689 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,286 housing units at an average density of...
. This was a large brick house, largely inclosed by a brick wall. The estate was inherited by his son Hon. Richard Lee III (1679-1718) who was at the time residing in London as a tobacco merchant with his family. Richard III leased his estate in Virginia to his brothers, Col. Thomas Lee
Thomas Lee (Virginia colonist)
Thomas Lee was a leading political figure of colonial Virginia. He was a member of the Lee family, a political dynasty which included many figures from the pre-American Revolutionary War era until the late 20th century. Lee became involved in politics in 1710 and he became the resident manager of...
, Hon. (1690-1750) and Capt. Henry Lee I
Henry Lee I
Capt. Henry Lee I was a prominent Virginian colonist, brother of Governor Thomas Lee, and grandfather of Revolutionary War hero Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee....
(1691-1747), for “an annual rent of one peppercorn only, payable on Christmas Day”. After Richard’s death in 1718, the estate was sold by his wife Martha Silk (d.ca. 1734), who sold it to her brother-in-law, Col. Thomas Lee
Thomas Lee (Virginia colonist)
Thomas Lee was a leading political figure of colonial Virginia. He was a member of the Lee family, a political dynasty which included many figures from the pre-American Revolutionary War era until the late 20th century. Lee became involved in politics in 1710 and he became the resident manager of...
, Hon. (1690-1750). Thomas resided here until it burned down January 29, 1729, and removed to his newly built “Stratford Hall”. The fire was so serious that the field near the old mansion at “Machodoc” where the Lee burial ground became was forever named the old “Burnt House Fields”. The land was sold to Richard Lee III’s only son Col. George Lee (1714-1761), who had come over from England. A new plantation was built by George who called his new estate “Mount Pleasant”. The new house was built further back from the river and upon higher ground. This house also burned down.
Children
- John Lee (21 May 1678-1679), who died in infancy.
- Hon. Richard Lee III (1679-1718), who married Martha Silk (1680-ca. 1734).
- Capt. Philip Lee, Sr.Philip Lee, Sr.Captain the Hon. Philip Lee, the Elder , was a Captain, Justice of the Peace, and Sheriff in colonial Maryland.Lee was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, probably at “Paradise” in 1681, the son of Colonel Richard Lee II, Esquire , by his marriage to Laetitia Corbin...
, Hon., Esq. (1681-1744) of "BlenheimBlenheim (Maryland)"Blenheim", was the once historic estate of the Lees in Charles County, Maryland. It was owned by Capt. Philip Lee, Sr., Hon., Esq. ....
", who married 1) Sarah (Brooke) Dent (1683-1724), widow of her uncle, Col. William Dent, Sr., Gent. (1660-1705). Sarah was the daughter of Col. Thomas Brooke, Jr.Thomas Brooke, Jr.Colonel Thomas Brooke, Jr., of Brookefield was President of the Council in Maryland and acting 13th Proprietary Governor of Maryland. He was the son of Major Thomas Brooke, Esq. and his second wife Eleanor Hatton .In 1720 he was elected President of the Council, and acting Governor of Maryland...
, Hon. (1660-1730) and Barbara Dent (1676-1754). 2) - Ann Lee (1683-1732), who married 1) Capt. Daniel McCarthy, Sr., Esq. (1679-1724), son of Dennis (MacCartee) McCarthy, Sr. (d. 1694) and Elizabeth BillingtonElizabeth BillingtonElizabeth Billington was a British opera singer born in London, her father being a German clarinetist named Carl Friedrich Weichsel , and her mother Fredericka Weichsel née Weirman , a popular singer. Her brother, Charles Weichsel Elizabeth Billington (1765 or 1768 in London – 25 August 1818 in...
. 2) Hon. William Fitzhugh, Jr. (1679-1713) of "Eagle's NestEagle's Nest-Geography:*Eaglenest Range, a mountain range in British Columbia, Canada*Kehlsteinhaus or Eagle's Nest, Hitler's retreat in the German Alps near Berchtesgaden*Adlerhorst or Eagle's Nest, Hitler's command complex near Bad Nauheim...
", King George Co., Virginia. - Francis Lee (1685-aft. 1754), who married Mary Barnell (1687-?)
- Col. Thomas LeeThomas Lee (Virginia colonist)Thomas Lee was a leading political figure of colonial Virginia. He was a member of the Lee family, a political dynasty which included many figures from the pre-American Revolutionary War era until the late 20th century. Lee became involved in politics in 1710 and he became the resident manager of...
, Hon. (1690-1750) of "Stratford Hall", Westmoreland Co., Virginia. Thomas married Hannah Harrison Ludwell (1701-1750), daughter of Col. Philip Ludwell II (1672-1726) of "Greenspring", and Hannah Harrison (1679-1731). - Capt. Henry Lee IHenry Lee ICapt. Henry Lee I was a prominent Virginian colonist, brother of Governor Thomas Lee, and grandfather of Revolutionary War hero Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee....
(1691-1747) of "Lee HallLee HallLee Hall may refer to:People:* Lee Hall , US lawyer and animal rights activist* Lee Hall , English playwright and screenwriter* Lee Hall , news anchor for WEEK-TV in Peoria, Illinois...
", Westmoreland Co., Virginia. Henry married Mary Bland (1704-1764), daughter of Hon. Richard Bland, Sr. (1665-1720) and his second wife, Elizabeth Randolph (d. 1719). - Arthur Lee (1693-1756), who married an unknown Sherrad
Ancestry
Richard II, was the son of Col. Richard Lee IRichard Lee I
Col. Richard Lee I, “the Immigrant” arrived in Jamestown in 1639 at the age of 22 with very little to his name other than the patronage of an influential man, Sir Francis Wyatt, the 1st Governor of Virginia. Once there he became Attorney General of the Colony of Virginia, Colonial Secretary of...
, Esq., "the immigrant" (1618-1664) and Anne Constable (ca. 1621-1666).
Anne was the daughter of Thomas Constable and a ward of Sir John Thoroughgood.