I will begin this post with the answer to the question that the title of it asks: I don't not know. So, why write a response, or a post at all? The answer to that is, I have a theory.
First, a journey through what I do know of Calvin Lee. He was Grandma's Grandma's Grandpa. How many Greats is that? Grandma was Hattie Helen Hudson Thompson. Her father was James Robert Hudson. His mother was Nancy Caroline Hudson and her mother was Sarah Lee who marrie Burwell Hudson, daughter of Calvin Lee and Elizabeth Duke, so Calvin was my 4th Great Grandfather and we have not gotten past that.
Several trees have Calvin as the son of an Abijah Lee and wife Annie. I do not agree with that at all. If I've made any headway in the heritage of Calvin Lee, it's to dispell that falacy. It wasn't hard. Abijah Lee was a man who was born August 20, 1764 in Middleton, Middlesex, Connecticutt. He married Anna Fellows on March 27, 1785 in Massachusetts. He died July 30, 1806, in Onodage, New York. Anna Fellows Lee lived until January 11, 1843 and died in Knowlestown, Orleans, New York. They were the parents of nine children: 1786 Abner, 1788 Amasa, 1789 Asahel, 1793 Salina, 1795 William Henry, 1797 Harvey, 1799 Calvin. 1803 Almira. and 1805 Abijah Jr. Their son Calvin was born Nov. 21, 1799 in Brutus, Onondada, NY and died on January 22, 1875 in Tuscola, Michigan. Not our Calvin.
Our Calvin Lee was born on April 8, 1802 in North Carolina. Of that we can be assured. He was probably either born in Anson County, but most likely in the part of Montgomery County that became Stanly, and I believe this because of who I am pretty sure could have been, and probably was, his father.
The first record I can find of Calvin Lee, with his name, is a land transaction Number 4692, dated March 17, 1836 wherein Duncan McRae, a land baron, sold to John C. Kindred 25 acres that joined John C. Kindreds own lands and Charles Dees. It had been surveyed in 1835 by William H. Randle and the border began at Joseph Farners corner stake, joined Charles Dees and Kindred's own corner on a hillsided. Milton Dees and Calvin Lee were chain carriers. Calvin would have been 34 years old and already married by then. Remember the Dees Connection.
There are two other very interesting transactions akin to this, that, although they do not mention Calvin Lee, are pertinent to the situation, the one before and the one after. Number 4691, involved the same two guys, John C. Kindred and Duncan McRae. In this one Kindred had purchased another small tract, just 20 acres, from McRae, that joined Charles Dees and Robert 'Dukes'. It had been surveyed in 1831 by Joseph Cauble on the waters of David's Creek, the border began at a second corner stake in Charles Dees tract, joined Robert Dukes,and said John C. Kindred. Allen Dees and John Morton were chain carriers.
Note that Calvin was married to Elizabeth Duke, daughter of James Duke and sister of Robert Duke.
The other, number 4693, Involves a Duncan McRae sell of 200 acres to David King, dated Jan. 21, 1821, joining Robert Duke and Wiley Finch, surveyed by E. W. Harris, on both sides of Ugly Creek. It began at willow oak on the edge of a pond in Robert Duke's line, joined James Duke and George McSwain. Robert Duke and Stephen Morton were chain carriers.
Calvin Lee's old house is now directly across the street from the James Duke cemetery. Just down the road is where old Joshua Hudson had came up from Anson County and settled on Ugly Creek. These mentioned areas are acertained just outside on present day Norwood on the path to Aquadale and Cottonville. The mention of David's Creek and the Morton dings more than a few bells. These Mortons originally lived closer to the present town of Badin. About 1820 or so, they had relocated down near David's Creek. My ancestor, Rev. Samuel Parsons Morton, whose parentage I am also struggling to verify, is recorded as having started a very early church on David's Creek, that did not survive until present day. His story, as is recorded in early records in a newspaper, is that his father died when he was yet a very young man and the oldest of several siblings. I have been able to determine who those siblings were. He lived near a James, who was older and a John who was about the same age. Samuel had a son named Stephen Ferdinand Morton. There is a possibility that Stephen Ferdinand Morton was a brother of Samuel. Stephen F. was born in 1826. Sammy was born in 1805 and was 21 years his elder. He was raised by Sammy. I believe James who was of a different generation may have been an Uncle of Sammy as he did not die when Sammy was a young man, so would not fit the profile of his father. The Stephen mentioned, however, was also of the same generation as James, and then disappears. I believe this Stephen was probably was the father of Rev. Samuel P. Morton and his siblings, and a brother of James. The John mentioned may have been a son of James. He was not a brother of Sameul.
Calvin Lee's second wife was Lucy Morton, daughter of Dominick Morton and Kesiah Ballard Morton. I believe Dominick was also a member of the Morton group that my Samuel P. Morton sprang from. Dominick and Kesiah had a son named Thomas Henry Morton. Thomas had a son named William David Morton. William had a son named Samuel Parsons Morton born around 1878 that married for a time my Great Grandfather Will Davis's oldest sister Molly. They were all a part of what I refer to the Badin Mortons who migrated to David's Creek. A different group than the West Stanly Mortons who had came up from Anson.
The firs census that Calvin appears in is the 1840. At this point he is about 38 years old.
| Name | Calvin Lee |
|---|---|
| Home in 1840 (City, County, State) | West Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 | 3 William Calvin 1836, James Douglas 1837 and Robert Benjamin (infant) |
| Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39 | 1 Calvin |
| Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9 | 2 Camilla b 1932 and Lucy b 1835 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14 | 1 Sarah b 1829 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39 | 1 Elizabeth |
| Persons Employed in Agriculture | 2 |
| No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Under 20 | 6 |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 2 |
| Total Free White Persons | 8 |
| Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves | 8 |
This view shows that Calvin and Elizabeth are both in their 30's, with six children, three of each.
This view shows that at this time, Calvin and family lived next to or near, Allen Dees. Right up the way was William Dees (looks like Dry or Dey). Two up is listed Myrick Harwood and his name will come into play later. There is no Charles Dees, mentioned in the deeds listed above, in Montgomery (Stanly) County in 1840. By this time he has migrated west. Milton Dees, whom Calvin shared the task of chain carrier with, is in the 1840 census of Montgomery County. He's in his 20's, his wife in her 30's and they have three small children. Close neighbors of Milton were David Blalock Jr and David Morton Sr. A little further down the page was my ancestor, Job Davis, who lived along the Rocky River below Aquadale. He was close the William H. Randle, Miller Easley and Woodson Ross. This gives a good idea of the general area that Milton Dees lived.
A quick dive into who the Dees family was shows that Charles Dees was born during the Revolutionary War in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Of course, we know from the deeds that he landed on David's Creek in what is now Norwood, Stanly County, NC in the 1820's and 1830's. By 1840, he had landed in Tallahatchie, Mississippi.
He had taken some of his children with him, others had stayed behind. Milton joined him by 1850.
| Name | Milton Dees |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Age | 38 |
| Birth Year | abt 1812 |
| Birthplace | South Carolina |
| Home in 1850 | Tallahatchie, Mississippi, USA |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Cannot Read, Write | Yes |
| Line Number | 19 |
| Dwelling Number | 99 |
| Family Number | 99 |
| Inferred Spouse | Mary Dees |
| Inferred Child | Harriet A Dees; Isabella C Dees; Martha E Dees; Cuepepper Watkins Dees; Alfred A Dees; Sarah F Dees; Mary C Dees |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Milton Dees | 38 |
| Mary Dees | 40 |
| Harriet A Dees | 15 |
| Isabella C Dees | 12 |
| Martha E Dees | 9 |
| Cuepepper Watkins Dees | 8 |
| Alfred A Dees | 5 |
| Sarah F Dees | 5 |
| Mary C Dees | 2 |
Allen Dees, who was listed beside Calvin in 1840, remained in Stanly County. He married Mary Catherine Upchurch and died in 1887. His family cemetery, his Homeplace, is located just north of Norwood off of Highway 52, along what was the Old Salisbury to Cheraw Market Road. He was maybe half a mile as the Crow flies from the old Lee place. Another, older Dees cemetery is located between these two locations near the intersection of Old Cottonville and Matt-Neal Road. The soul legible stone has an R Dees, born in 1730 and died in December of 1816. This is thought to perhaps have been the father of Charles Dees.
Calvin Lee applied for a land grant in 1845 and acquired one in 1847. The deed, found in Book 3, Page 361 of Stanly County, NC Deed books was titles "Calvin Lee's Grant."
Know that we for and in consideration of the sum of five dollars for every hundred acres heerby granted paid into our Treasury by Calvin Lee...84 acres lying and being in Stanly County on the waters of Big Cedar Creek adjoining his onw land ... Howells line (John Randall Howell), his own corner..to his corner Ash on the bank of the Creek...David Blalocks old line back to Howell's line and corner." 15 Oct 1847.
The grant was for " 100 acres on Big Cedar Creek adjoining his own lines and others." It ended up being this very oddly shaped tract of 84 acres. The only neighbor mentioned was David Blalock, besides property he already owned. Witnesses were J. P. Duke and Hardy P. Watkins. It was signed by W. H. Randle and himself.
Big Cedar Creek begins from drainage off a large hill just south of the Cottonville Rd. It runs southeast north of Norwood and parallel with South Stanly School Road until it crosses it.
The creek then splits into Big and Little Cedar Creeks, both emptying into an inlet still called Cedar Creek, into the PeeDee River North of Morgan Mountain.
C. M. Miller created maps of several North Carolina counties in the early 1900's, dated from between about 1904 to 1910. He named not only schools, churches and towns in his maps, but also placed names of some of the residents and home owners in certain locations throughout the counties. The below excerpt from his map of Stanly County, the yellow background indicating they were in Center Township. Calvin Lee died in 1881, but in the below map, you can still see a cluster of Lee's on what was, and remains, his farm. David Lee (1878-1951), was his youngest son, born of his second wife, Lucy Morton Lee. Calvin was 76 years old when David was born. L. A. Lee was Lloyd Lee (1864-1912), the next to the youngest son. Across the road from Lloyd is 'Mrs. Lee'. That would be Calvin's widow, Lucy Morton Lee (1839-1918). On the cutback road that forks off from the one they are on is W. H. Lee, whose property sat behind Mrs. Lee and was next to T. W. Morton. That would have been Willis Henry Lee (1861-1946), grandson of Calvin Lee and son of Robert Benjamin Lee (1840-1896). Thomas Walter Morton was the son of Armistead Morton and F. M. Duke, shown up the road was neighbor and cousin, Francis Marion Duke (1856-1938), son of John P. Duke.
In the excerpt below, just a bit north of the Lee cove to the south, is seen the snaking line indicating a creek, north of the big "E", that runs south of Rock Hill School, and in between two railroad tracks.It curves off to the right. In the lower right corner of the map, just above the "N" of the word 'Center' you see marked the Homestead of M. E. Blalock.
Cutting a swath north of the previous excerpt, we can pick back up by locating the M. E. Blalyock place now in the lower left corner among a cluster of burildings. Going in between the M. E. and Blaylock is the creek. It now heads northeast and is lined by two marks I have made to indicate the creek in between and we can see it is labeled David's Creek. At the time this map was made around the turn of the Century (1880-1900), a part of what is found on maps today as Cedar Creek, was actually David's Creek back in the day. Cedar Creek today is seen with three branches and empties in to the Pee Dee River into Cedar Creek Inlet. Those three branches, in reality, should be Big Cedar Creek, Little Cedar Creek and David's Creek. In 1904, and in 1832, David's Creek ran from a small mountain, hilltop called "Rock Hill" to the river. The inlet was formed and the river transformed by the building of the dams just after these maps were created.
Calvin Lee was a seemingly quiet, respected, and peaceable man. He appears a few times in the Court Records of early Stanly County, but never in lawsuits and never on the wrong side of the Law. In the November Session of the Court of Pleas and Quarters, he was summoned as Juror. In February of 1848, he was paid $3, along with Robert M. Lanier and William D. Watkins, for serving as commisioners in the case of James S.Turner and David C. Lilly vs. Edmund Thompson and others in a Petition for Partition of Land.
In August of 1847, he was one of a Committee to inquire into the state of the mind and fitness of Ursella Forrest, to conduct her own business. They found that she was an "idiot or lunatic" and incapable of attending to her business.
Calvin again served as a Juror in February of 1850 and again that year in August. Calvin didn't make waves.
He wasn't the only Lee mentioned in these old records of the first ten years of existence of Stanly County. There is John Lee, of Richardsons Creek just below the county line and south of the Rocky River. It concerned a conveyance and his son-in-law, James M. Davis, my third Great Uncle. Uncle James, the second son of Job Davis and Sarah Winfield Howell Davis, had married John Lee's daughter, Rowena. They appear to have shared a close relationship and and James eventually took over the operation of John Lee's Mill on Richardsons Creek, near its junction with the Rocky River. John Lee, who married Elizabeth Coppedge, was the son of Robert Lee (1745-1808) and Rachel Hogan, two very early families in the Rocky River area.
I do believe Calvin Lee of Center Township, Stanly County, was a relation of these same Lee's, but he was neither son nor brother of John.
There was one more mention of a Lee in these early Court Records, that in the same term of court in 1848 when Calvin served as juror, August Session, 1848.
"William Lee to Jacob Shoffner - reregistered." That simple, but of Great Importance.
The above is from the deed that the above italicized statement was allluding to. The Deed, found in Book 2, Page 135, of Stanly County deeds, although Stanly was still part of Montgomery County at the time, was dated November 13th, 1832. Titled 'Wm Lee to Jacob Shoffner' it was an Indenture between William Lee and Alfred Lee of Montgomery County, NC and Jacob Shoffner of the same, for $300 they sold three tracts or parcels on the Southwest prong of on Little Creek of Long Creek. The first tract of 100 acres was on the North side of Little Creek (now known as Little Long Creek). The second tract of 127 acres was described as being near the fork (of Little Long Creek and Long Creek, which is now within the City of Albemarle, pretty much, on the southwest side) on the North side. The third tract began at a Pine tree near the entrance of a small branch and Lake in the second line granted to James Roper crossing McGuires fork three times, to Benjamin Lilly's corner, running with Lilly's line, then Ropers line. It was signed in the presence of Lindsey F. Cagle and Benjamin Cagle and wasn't proven until that August Session of Court 16 years later in 1848.
The thrid tract was in a very different location than the first two.
Jacob Shoffner would part with his investment in a few years, selling the property to Myrick Harwood. Recall, it was related that the property bordered that of Benjamin Lilly. Jacob Shoffner to Myrick Harwood and Moses Smith Book 1 P 191.
A quick look back at Calvin Lee in 1840.
Location! Location! Location! The mantra of Real Estate Agents everywhere. Calvin Lee was not in the same location upon his first appearance in records in 1836. He wasn't far, but he fell in love and married Elizabeth Duke sometime before the birth of their oldest child, Sarah, and settled in next to her father, James Duke.
Calvin Lee was certainly old enough to have appeared in the 1830 census, but he did not.
| Name | James Duke Senior |
|---|---|
| Home in 1830 (City, County, State) | Montgomery, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14 | 1 James Pinkney (1815) |
| Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19 | 1 Benjamin Lewis (1812) |
| Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69 | 1 James |
| Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9 | 1 Martha |
| Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59 | 1 Elizabeth |
| Free White Persons - Under 20 | 3 |
| Total Free White Persons | 5 |
| Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) | 5 |
He was not living with his in-laws. James Duke, sr. was living with his wife and three younger children. He didn't have a male in his household old enough to be Calvin or a female old enough to be Elizabeth.
| Name | Robt Green Duke |
|---|---|
| Home in 1830 (City, County, State) | West Side Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 | 2 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9 | 2 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Under 20 | 4 |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 2 |
| Total Free White Persons | 6 |
| Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) | 6 |
His older two sons, Robert Green Duke...
| Name | James D Duke |
|---|---|
| Home in 1830 (City, County, State) | West Side Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 4 |
| Total Free White Persons | 4 |
| Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) | 4 |
and James D. Duke, were already out on their own, and had started their own families. In 1836, James D. Duke would migrate to Carroll County, Tennesee.
| Name | Alfred Lee |
|---|---|
| Home in 1830 (City, County, State) | West Side Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 | 2 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 | 2 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Under 20 | 5 |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 2 |
| Total Free White Persons | 7 |
| Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) | 7 |
Were there any Lees in Montgomery County, in West Pee Dee, which would become Stanly in 1841, in the area where Calvin Lee is first found in 1836? There were two! First Alfred Lee, a young man in the same age group as Calvin.
| Name | Will Lee |
|---|---|
| Home in 1830 (City, County, State) | West Side Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Under 20 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 2 |
| Total Free White Persons | 4 |
| Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) | 4 |
Then there was William, in his 60's with a probable wife in her 40's, with a younger man and a teenaged girl in his home. Calvin should have been counted in his 30's, but could this, mistakenly, have been him. Could Elizabeth, who should have been in her later teens, have been mistaken as 14? Questions to ponder.
Alfred Lee and William Lee had sold their property in Stanly County (Montgomery) and had migrated away in 1832. Alfred appears on the Tax List of Monroe County, Tennessee in 1836.
| Name | Alfred Loe |
|---|---|
| Home in 1840 (City, County, State) | Marshall, Tennessee |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49 | 1 Alfred |
| Free White Persons - Males - 70 thru 79 | 1 William |
| Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9 | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14 | 2 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29 | 1 |
| Persons Employed in Agriculture | 2 |
| No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Under 20 | 6 |
| Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 | 2 |
| Total Free White Persons | 9 |
| Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves | 9 |
In 1840, he is enumerated in the county of Marshall, Tennessee. Alfred is in his 40's, which is correct compared to later records. He has a man in his home in his 70's. I believe this man to be William, his father.
William was the father of Alfred, at least. Alfred would migrate again, to Graves County, Kentucky. He would pass away there in 1875, and there is a death record. In it, his place of birth is given as Montgomery County, NC, and his father's name is given as William. I am going to explore the lives of both Alfred and William in further posts.
William was a very common name amongst the Rocky River area Lee's. But there was only one on the north (Montgomery/Stanly) side of the River. This one didn't make a lot of waves, so I refer to him as "Quiet William". Like Calvin, he appears in basic records, but nothing out of the ordinary sets him apart.
Calvin
| Name | Calvin Lee |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Age | 48 |
| Birth Year | abt 1802 |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Home in 1850 | Centre, Stanly, North Carolina, USA |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Real Estate | 510 |
| Cannot Read, Write | Yes |
| Line Number | 16 |
| Dwelling Number | 89 |
| Family Number | 90 |
| Inferred Spouse | Elizabeth Lee |
| Inferred Child |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Calvin Lee | 48 |
| Elizabeth Lee | 50 |
| Sarah Lee | 21 |
| Comeller Lee | 19 |
| Lucy Lee | 17 |
| William Lee | 16 |
| James Lee | 13 |
| Robert Lee | 11 |
| Alfred Lee | 8 |
By 1850 Calvin and Elizabeth have added a 4th son and 7th child, Alfred, born about 1842. Hmm, why does that name sound familiar? Oh Yes, because we were just disgussing Alfred Lee, son of William, who with his father, had moved to Marshall County, Tennesee in the 1930's. That Alfred was born in 1800, in comparison, Calvin Lee was born in 1802, only two years apart in age.
While Calvin Lee's parents are currently unknown, his wife, Elizabeth Duke's parents were known to have been James and Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) and James Dukes's parents to have been Robert Duke and Isabella Vinson. Elizabeth's brothers were James D., Robert Green, Benjamin Lewis and John Pinkney. If the couple were following the old naming pattern of naming sons for his father, then her father, there after, the oldest brothers, etc. Then their sons naming of William Calvin, James Douglas, Robert Benjamin and Alfred M. Lee would make sense. His father, William, her father, James, Robert Benjamin for her two brothers and Alfred for his.
| Name | Calvin Lee |
|---|---|
| Age | 59 |
| Birth Year | abt 1801 |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Birth Place | North Carolina |
| Home in 1860 | Stanly, North Carolina |
| Post Office | Albemarle |
| Dwelling Number | 603 |
| Family Number | 608 |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Real Estate Value | 900 |
| Personal Estate Value | 1000 |
| Inferred Spouse | Elizabeth Lee |
| Inferred Child | Robt Lee; Alfred Lee |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Calvin Lee | 59 |
| Elizabeth Lee | 60 |
| Robt Lee | 20 |
| Alfred Lee | 18 |
Now, 1860 provides a much different picture of the family for more reasons than one. Only youngest sons, Robert and Alfred are still in the home.
The two oldest Lee daughters, Sarah and Camilla, have married brothers. Sarah married Burwell Hudson and Camilla married Elijah Hudson, both sons of Joshua Hudson Jr. of Ugly Creek. Both sisters are living near to each other not far from their fathers house. James D, William C and Lucy Lee are all missing from this census.While it is possible they were all living together somewhere far away, I really don't believe so. I think the census taker just overlooked them. James D. Lee married in 1859, yet in 1860, his wife Julia is counted in her parents home. That's odd, but there could be a number of explanations. Remember, these were old country people. They knew survivial and the earth and had a wealth of knowledge concerning plants, weather and many things lost to most people today, Yet, if a census taker arrived and asked a busy farm wife to name her children, she might have named them all, including her oldest married daughter. He may have arrived at the Lee home to find Elizabeth sweeping the yard or churning butter, while Calvin was busy out back and asked who was in the home. Maybe only Robert and Alfred were in the home, while Lucy and William were off to the store in Norwood. We can't know. What we do know is that the three of them were alive in 1860 and most likely in Stanly County.
The War
Calvin Lee had at least 3 sons to enlist in the Civil War. I can not find a record that his oldest son, Wiliam C. Lee, ever did. While there were William C. Lee's who served in the Confederate Army, none of them seem to fit his profile. Their were two of about the same age, one born in Wilcox County, Alabama and the other in Lumpkin, Mississippi. William Calvin Lee may have had a disability that precluded him from participating. While he was a healthy 16 year old Laborer for his father in 1850, anything may have happened.
Second son, James D. Lee served in Company C, 18th NC Infantry. He survived.
Third son, Robert B. Lee served in Company K, 42nd NC Infantry. He survived.
Fourth son, Alfred M. Lee served in Company C, 18th NC Infantry with his older brother, James D. He did not survive, and died of disease on January 24, 1863.
In 1868, Calvin lost another son, when William C. Lee died at the age of 32. He never married that I can find. He is buried in the old Norwood town cemetery.
Also in 1868, Calvin Lee appears in another deed in Book 6, Page 159. Dated August 22, 1868, Calvin filed to protect his Homestead. Reconstruction had begun and if the southern families, especially the yeoman class who owned no slaves, and had lost sons, husbands, fathers and brothers in staggering numbers, had not suffered enough already, the north, the "USA", had means and methods of punising them more and tried taking what little, if anything, they had left.
"Whereas on Application of Calvin Lee made to James F. Kendall, acting Justice of the Peace,,,,,under assigners Freeholders of said County have been appointed by said Justice to set off a Homestead for said Lee....Act of the General Assembly of North Carolina ratified 22 August, 1868 whereby give the boundaries of Said Lee's ........bounded by East...James Harwood...south by H. S. Watkins...west John P. Duke...North Allen Dees and others....east on DK Thompson...so John Thompson..with Famers land w.. on H. S. Watkins...above named tracts together ... 380 acres... "
Among his personal possessions listed (and evaluated for taxes) were a mare and colt, a mule, a sow and 6 pigs, a wagon, a thrasher, goats, sheep and he also kept bees. He had a fair amount of tools, furniture and crops listed to be taxed as well. He survived. Neighbors William Thompson and Marina Watkins had listed Homesteads before and after his. There were many household headed by women at this time.
Calvin's Grant showed a very oddly shaped peice of land. His neighbors, into the 1860's, bore the same surnames as those of William and Alfred Lee in the 1830's. Some were the same people.
| Name | Colin Lee |
|---|---|
| Age in 1870 | 48 |
| Birth Date | Dec |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Dwelling Number | 12 |
| Home in 1870 | Center, Stanly, North Carolina |
| Race | White |
| Gender | Male |
| Post Office | Albemarle |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Cannot Write | Yes |
| Male Citizen Over 21 | Yes |
| Personal Estate Value | 400 |
| Real Estate Value | 500 |
| Inferred Children | Lucy Lee; Levi D Lee |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Colin Lee | 48 |
| Lucy Lee | |
| Levi D Lee | 6 |
| Merion Hindson | 16 |
| Fannie Hindson | 12 |
Elizabeth Duke Lee must have died sometime in the early years of the 1860's. Calvin remarried to Lucy A Morton, who was 37 years his junior. Lucy was the daughter of Dominic Morton and wife, Keziah Ballard Morton. Their first son, Loyd A. Lee, was born on April 22, 1864, making a likely marriage year of 1862 or 1863. A wedding document has not been located, oddly, although those of his children married before this are recorded in the Stanly County marriage records. If it had been recorded, it would probably have given the names of his parents.
The above census records is full of transcription errors. It was Calvin, not Colin, Loyd not Levi and "Marion Hudson", not "Merion Hindson". Marion and Fannie were his grandchildren, children of oldest daughter, Sarah, who had died in November of 1860. Her other two children, Caroline and Sarah, were living with their stepmother, Sarah McSwain Hudson, whom Burwell had married after Sarah Lee Hudson's death. He and Sarah McSwain had one child, Ella, then Burwell was killed in the Civil War. His twin, Henry Hudson had married Rebecca Ann Murray and left with her family to Arkansas, as a defector. He was killed there, along with her brother, Jesse Murray, his wife Mary Ann, and her father, Ben Murray. Rebecca returned to Stanly County with their daughter, Martha, and her mother, Martha Ross Murray and the three children of her brother, Jesse, John, Benjamin and Mary Jane. She would marry an Aldridge and move to Anson County.
Elijah Hudson survived the war. Burwells' widow Sarah was found living next to Elijah and Camilla in 1870. This was, after all, his brother's widow. He appears to have taken care of both families for awhile. Also living with Elijah and Camilla was Lucy Lee, her unmarried sister. As their stepmother was a little younger than all three sisters, that may have been an issue that played into why she was not living with her father.
Sarah would remarry to elderly merchant, John Norwood, of the Norwoood Brothers store in Center. She would have another child.
On February 9th, 1870 Calvin appears in another deed, leaving property to his son, Robert. In Book 24 Page 74. The property was 59 1/2 acres on Cedar Creek adjoining the property of William Morton. It was signed "C. Lee" and underneath his signature, "C. F. Lee", with the little 'X' in the middle indicating the person was illiterate and signed their name with simply the 'x'. Over the X was the word 'her' and underneath the word 'mark'. Her mark. C. F. Lee. Who was C. F. Lee? Calvin was married to Lucy A. Morton Lee at the time.
The third and youngest daughter of Calvin Lee and Elizabeth Duke was Lucy Lee, born around 1835. Lucy was never married and a melancholy soul. In 1870, she was living with the Hudsons, her sister Camilla Lee Hudson and her husband, Elijah. According to family stories, sometime between 1870 and 1880, Lucy decided to take her own life. She first took poison, which failed, and later jumped off the roof of the Lee home and at that time, succeeded. She was most likely buried in the Duke-Lee family cemetery, but no stone remains.
| Name | Calvin Lee |
|---|---|
| Age | 79 |
| Birth Date | Abt 1801 |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Home in 1880 | Center, Stanly, North Carolina, USA |
| Dwelling Number | 10 |
| Race | White |
| Gender | Male |
| Relation to Head of House | Self (Head) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse's Name | L. A. Lee |
| Father's Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Mother's Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Neighbors | View others on page |
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Calvin Lee | 79 |
| L. A. Lee | 37 |
| Loid Lee | 16 |
| David B. Lee | 2 |
Calvin was not finished adding to his family. By the 1880 census, his youngest son, David Bennett Lee was born. Above, we find Calvin at 79, Lucy at 37, Loyd at 16 and David B.Lee at aged two. Calvin Lee was 77 years old when his youngest son was born. David B Lee was in his 50's when his youngest son was born. That son lived until recent times. That's why the Lee family stories are so freshly recalled. A man living in 2013 had a grandfather born in 1802. The one thing not recalled was who Calvin's parents were.
1880 was Calvin's last census. He died on September 2, 1881 at the age of 79 of heart disease.
Calvin Lee left a Will. Dated September 5, 1878, he very eloquently willed his soul to his creator and his body to the tomb. He left his 'plantation' and all up on it, including horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, wagons and all household furnishings and farm implements to his wife, Lucy Lee, and his two younger sons, Loyd and David. At this time, Loyd would have been 14 and David, an infant.
"As for my sons James and Robert and my grandchildren, children of my daughter Camilla Hudson," Calvin said he had already given to them the equivalent of what was being left to the younger children.
He made an exception that if Lucy married, all of her share would instead go to Loyd and David. Calvin had outlived all of his daughters and two of his sons.
He named his sonJames as his Executor.
Witnesses were W.P Thompson and R. Harris. Calvin had added a one line addendum to the paragraph concerning his older sons and grandchildren.
"l desire that they remain in peaceable possession of the same". It would not always remain so.
I was a little disappointed in that there was no mention of the children of his oldest child, Sarah, of which her oldest daughter was Grandma's Grandma.
Lucy Morton Lee, understandably, outlived her husband by nearly four decades. She was 79, and laid to rest at nearby Cedar Grove Church, in between Norwood and Cottonville. She had lived with youngest son, David. Lucy had outlived her older son, Loyd.
Loyd passed away on July 12, 1912 at the age of 48. He was buried in the Norwood Town Cemetery where his older brother, William was. After his death, there came some legal wrangling and a disruption of the 'peace' Calvin had wished for. The printed notice gave information on descendants of Calvin Lee,
Of the
And of the location of the property
The children and grandchildren of Calvin Lee were:
1) Sarah Ann Lee (1829-1860). Married Burwell Hudson 4 children:
A) Nancy Caroline Hudson Singleton (1852-1830) Son James Robert Hudson with James Robert Thompson, son of W.C Thompson. Married W. Robert "Dodie" Singleton, 7 children:Sarah Frances "Fanny", Rosa Ellen, David Tillman, Sophronia Ann, Mary Florence, Burl Whitley, and Pearl L. Singleton.
B) Marion Morrison Hudson (1855- 1921).
Son James Franklin Hudson with Mary 'Polly' Hudson, his father's half-sister.
Son Marion Patterson Mauldin Hudson with Lundy Cornelia Shepherd Mauldin.
Married Margaret Mary Rummage, 7 children: Harriet "Hattie", Hammitt Jefferson, Nancy Lee, James Calvin, Walter Cannon, John Henry, Alfred Douglas.
C) Emma Frances "Fanny" Hudson (1858-1879). Never married. Died young.
D) Sarah Anne Hudson (1860-1957). Married John Wesley Whitaker, 8 children: Thompson A., Ada Almetta, Lou Daisy, John Samuel, Berta Mae, Carrie Ingram, Otis (or Artist) Lee, raised grandson, John Boyd Whitaker, son of Ada.
2) Camilla Caroline Lee. (1832-1871) Married Elijah Spurgeon Hudson. 10 children.
A) Elizabeth J "Bettie" Hudson (1851-1919). Married James Marion Hinson, 3 daughters: Eva Samantha , Minnie Viletti (Violet), Jennie Adele. Died Limestone County, TX.
B) James H. Hudson (1854-1941) Married Mary Adeline Carpenter 8 children; Henry Marshall, Sarah Isabel ,Camilla Jane, Dorson Allen 'Dorse', Jonah Lee, Martha Louise 'Lily',
Phronis Beth aka Fanny . Adopted son, Sam Brown Hinson Hudson.
C) Lucy Agnes Hudson (1856-1917) Married Joseph Turner Cauble, 10 children; Camilla Minnie, Frances J. Martha Louise, Elijah,Lillie V., Jonah Lee, Stella Boyd, Myrtle V., Agatha Mae.
D) Pattie Martha Hudson (1857-1932) Married Andrew Webster Smith, 10 children; John Calvin, King David, Eliza J., Charles Sampson, Crowell Travis, Ada C., Earnest Lee, Mary Lou, Infant, Claud.
E) Sallie Ann Hudson (1859-1903) Married Dock F. Hopkins; 12 children; James Franklin, John Jefferson, William Baxter, Elijah, Mary Morris, Lucy Agnes, Clarence Palmer, Samuel Dock, Millard Bishop, Edith Mae, Crawford, Gracy.
F) Elijah C. Hudson (1863- before 1900).
G) Gillie Frances or 'Frances Abigail ' Hudson (1866-1927) Married Henry Clinton Furr, 11 children; John Calvin, James Lank, William Thomas, Essie Camilla, Sallie Ann, Frances O. 'Frank', Adele, Bessie C., Pearly Clifford, Grace (1900-1900), Clyde (1901-1902). Laurens County, SC.
H) Wincy Elizabeth Hudson (1868-1942) Married Thomas Henry Lisenby, 3 children; William Brantley, Virgil Zephanias, John Travis.
I) Caroline Darcy Hudson (1869 - between 1910 - 1920) Married James H. Nichols, no children.
J) Joshua David Hudson (1870-1938) Married Margaret Lougenia 'Jenny' Russell, 6 children; Willie Lee, Mary Camille., Edgar Roosevelt, Wincie Irene, Tom Alexander, Bessie Mae.
Elijah Hudson married twice more after the death of Camilla, and had two more sons.
3) Lucy Elizabeth Lee (1835 - aft. 1870).
4) William Calvin Lee (1836-1868)
5) James Douglas Lee (1837-1919)
Married 1st, Julia Ann Rummage, 7 children, Married 2nd Rebecca Elizabeth Simpson, 3 children. By Julia Rummage;
A) John Calvin Lee (1869-1938) Married Beadie Rosetta Blalock, 6 children; Johnsie Mae, Grace, Samson Dewey, Jeter Leroy, Flora Ann, David Campbell.
B) James Alfred Lee (1863-1933) Married 1st Sophronia Kate Kimrey, 5 children; Mary Lillian, Arthur Harris, Anna C., Robert Edward, Walter Bernard. Married 2nd, Mary Elizabeth Fesperman.
C) Mary Margaret Lee (1865-1945) Married Benjamin Franklin "Bud" Thompson, 10 children; Mary Wesley, Henry V., Reuben Fletcher, Julia Helen, Herman Lee, Lillie Florence, Paul E., Earnest, Jennie Bett, Viola. Polkton, Anson County.
D) William A. Lee (1867-1883)
E) Sophronia "Fannie or Phronis" Elizabeth Lee (1870-1960) Lived in Johnston County, NC. Married Edmond Deberry Eudy, one son, William Monroe Eudy.
F) Nannie P. Lee (1872 - 1901).
G) George Washington Lee (1875-1931) Lived in Cabarrus County, NC. Married Grace Furry, two sons, Russell and Frank.
By Rebecca Elizabeth Simpson, James Douglas Lee had 3 children;
H) Infant who was born and died in 1894.
I) Beulah Jane Lee (1895- 1994) Married Samuel D. Mauldin; 9 children; James Patterson, Rufus Worth, Martha Evelyn, Helen Lee, Mary Craig, Betty Jean, Ervin, Sammy Lee, Glenn Larry.
J) Richmond Paul Lee (1897-1988) Married 1st Bertha Mae Odell, 5 children; infant daughter, Ralph Wesley, Bonnie E., Lois Nellie 'Tiny', Connie Jewel. Married 2nd, Vertie Lou Medlin, no children. Married 3rd, Esther Lola Long, 1 child; Lena Mae.
K) Minnie Ruth Lee (1900-1990), Married Archie Newell Hancock; 3 children; Ruth Gades, Fred Herman, Carol Elizabeth.
All children of James D. Lee remained in Stanly County unless otherwise noted.
6) Robert Benjamin Lee (1840-1896) Married Martha Jane Watkins, 7 children:
A) Willis Henry Lee (1861-1946) Married Lucy Thompson, 8 children; Furman Covington, Annie Jane, Mary Frances, Henry Fletcher, Richard Daniel, Della Craig, Joseph Shelley, Spencer Blackburn.
B) Elizabeth Jennie Lee( 1864-1877)
C) Robert Arthur Lee (1866-1953) Married 1st: Mary Lou Hathcock, 2 children; Ella Louise and Hattie. Married 2nd: Annie Lee Lineberry, 8 children; Bessie Maude, Marion Edward, David Lorenzo, Laura, Lenzie Jerome, Robert Benson, June Clifton, Margaret Louise.
D) Nancy A. (1869- 1870)
E) Joseph Douglas Lee (1871-1951) Married Etha Wilson, no children, "remembered as a bachelor until the age of 75", from his obituary. Greensboro, NC
F) Araminter (Araminta) Helen Lee (1874-1960) Married Joseph R Fleming; two sons, Reid Lee and Montgomery "Mott" Benjamin. Married 2nd: Louis Ratcliff Van. Tangipahoa, Louisiana.
G) Thomas F. Lee (1878-1884)
7) Alfred M. Lee (1842-1863)
By second wife, Lucy A. Morton (1839-1918)
8) Lloyd A. Lee (1864- 1912) Married Francis E. "Fanny" Howell. 9 children total, 7 who lived to adulthood.
A) Calvin Jones "Jay" Lee (1884-1949) Married 1st Hattie Griffin, 6 children; Addie Mae, Lawrence, Marvin Columbus, Cular James, Janevia, Evelyn. Married 2nd Telia Ann Watson, 4 daughters; Margaret Virginia, Hettie Estelle, Thelma and Helen. Marlboro County, South Carolina.
B) Infant in 1885
C) Infant in 1887
D) George Efird Lee (1888 - 1954) Married Lillie Mae Russell, 8 children; Sadie Elizabeth, Lucille, Beatrice, Georgie Mae, Rachel, Clyde, Velma, Ralph.
E) Mary Francis Lee (1888-1966) Married Champ Briesco Burgin, 2 children; Mattie Lou, Lee Daniel.
F) Edgar Terrell Lee (1891- 1933) Married 1st: Laura Lula Shankle 6 children, three who died in infancy, three who grew up; Millard Collins, Ray Shankle, Effie Nora. Married 2nd: Minnie Alta Watson, 3 children; Laura, Alta Lee, Edgar Terrell Jr. Chesterfield County, S.C.
G) Millard Lee (1893-1918) Unmarried.
H) Carrie R Lee (1898 - 1970) Married Arnie Pope, 5 children; Lloyd Daniel, Georgia Ruth, Edith Louise, Kenneth Arney, Mildred Elizabeth.
I) Fannie H. Lee (1904 - 1956) Married 1st, John Lee, no children. Married 2nd, Chester S. McClelland, 2 sons; Chester, Jr., Kenneth Lee. Baltimore, Maryland .
9) David Bennett Lee (1878 - 1956) Married 1st , Liza Inezzie Nisie Blalock, no children. Married 2nd: Roxanna Little, 5 children:
A) Lucy Margaret Lee (1921- 2007) Married John Duston Dennis, 2 children; Barbara Ann, Minnie Lucille.
B) Luther Bennett Lee (1921-1945) Married Stella Marie Frick, two children; Annie Belle and David "Buddy" Lee. WWII.
C) Minnie Lou Lee (1922- 2014) Married Cecil Eroyal Little, three sons; J.Z. , David and Roy.
D) Rosa Bell Lee (1924-1924)
E) Henry Lloyd Lee (1925-2007) Married Hazel Florence Rummage, 5 children; Lloyd Melvin, Janet, Kathy and twin girls who died as infants in 1941.
Much appreciation to the memories of Pastor Henry Lloyd Lee, founder of New Hope Baptist Church, and his vivid recall and wealth of knowledge of his family.
Calvin Lee has today, many descendants any his tree has many branches. Can we discover more of his roots? More posts to come on the early Lee's of David and Cedar Creek and their possible connections.
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