From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maj. Gen. Henry Lee II (1730-1787) of “Leesylvania”, Prince William Co., Virginia. Henry II, was the third son of Capt. Henry Lee I (1691-1747) of “Lee Hall”, Westmoreland County, and his wife, Mary Bland (1704-1764), whose mother was a great-aunt of President Thomas Jefferson and descended once from King John of England, twice from King Edward I of England, once from King Jean de Brienne of Jerusalem, twice from King Edward III of England and once from King Pedro I of Castile [1] [2].

Henry was born at “Lee Hall” in 1729, settled in Prince William County, living at “Leesylvania”, near the town of Dumfries. He served as a Justice of the Peace in that county and first in commission. In addition he was commissioned as a Burgess in 1758, where he served on and off until 1772. He was a member of the Convention from 1774-1776. Mr. Lee served as County Lieutenant for Prince William, and was active in the duties of that office during the Revolution. Henry also served as a member of the State Senate in 1780. Henry’s will was dated August 10, 1787, and was probated in Prince William County on October 1 of the same year.

Marriage

Henry married Lucy Grymes (1734-1792), nicknamed "The Lowland Beauty" [3] [4]. She was very fair. Her eyes were blue and her hair exceptionally blonde, soft and light as a baby's. According to local tradition, she was one of the Virginia beauties adored by Gen. George Washington (1732-1799) in his early youth. To her legend also ascribes his schoolboy verses, and many have surmised that when in after years Washington so favored her son "Harry", it was because of his tender memories of the boy's mother.

"Leesylvania" was located between Neabsco Creek and Powell Creek in Prince William Co., Virginia. It had a magnificent view up the Potomac River. It was the ancestral home of Robert E. Lee's branch of the family where his grandparents, Henry Lee II and Lucy Grymes lie buried. The plantation home burned about 1790. The estate was sold to Henry Fairfax in 1825, whose family lived there in a home which may have pre-dated the Lee residence. The Fairfax home burned in 1910 and the ruins of the walls and a chimney are all that remain.

Lucy was the daughter of Hon. Charles Grymes (1693-1743) (twice related to President George Washington) and Frances Jennings. Charles was of the estate "Morattico", in Richmond County, Virginia. He was Sheriff of Richmond County, and a member of the Council from 1724-1725.

Children

1. Maj. Gen. Henry Lee III "Light Horse Harry" (1756-1818), Governor of Virginia. Henry married 1) Matilda Lee (1766-1790), daughter of Hon. Philip Ludwell Lee, Sr., Esq. (1727-1775) and Elizabeth Steptoe (1743-1789), who married secondly, Philip Richard Fendall I, Esq. (1734-1805). 2) Anne Hill Carter (1773-1829), daughter of Hon. Charles Carter, Sr. (1737-1802) of "Shirley", and his second wife, Anne Butler Moore (1756).

2. Hon. Charles Lee (1758-1815), U.S. Attorney General, who married 1) Anne Lee (1770-1804), daughter of Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794) and his second wife, Anne (Gaskins) Pinckard. 2) Margaret Christian (Scott) Peyton (1783-1843), widow of Yelverton Peyton (1771-1802). Margaret was the daughter of Rev. John Scott (1747-1785) and Elizabeth Gordon.

3. Richard Bland Lee I (1761-1827) of "Sully", who married Elizabeth "Eliza" Collins (1768-1858), daughter of Stephen Collins and Mary Parish.

4. Mary "Mollie" Lee (1764-1827), who married Philip Richard Fendall I, Esq. (1734-1805), his third wife. Philip was the son of Benjamin Fendall I, Esq. (1708-1764) and his first wife, Eleanor Lee (1710-1759).

5. Theodorick Lee (1766-1849) of "Eckington", who married Catherine Hite (1766-1849).

6. Edmund Jennings Lee I (1772-1843), who married Sally Lee (1775-1837), daughter of Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794) and Anne Aylett (1733-1768).

7. Lucy Lee (1774), who never married.

8. Anne Lee (1776-1857), who married William Byrd Page, Sr. (1768-1812), son of Mann Page (1742-1787) and Mary Mason Selden (1754-1787).

Ancestry

Henry II, was the third son of Capt. Henry Lee I (1691-1747) of “Lee Hall”, Westmoreland County, and his wife, Mary Bland (1704-1764).

Mary was the daughter of Hon. Richard Bland, Sr. (1665-1720) and his second wife, Elizabeth Randolph (1685-1719).

Henry I, was the son of Col. Richard Lee II, Esq., “the scholar” (1647-1715) and Laetitia Corbin (ca. 1657-1706).

Laetitia was the daughter of Richard’s neighbor and, Councillor, Hon. Henry Corbin, Sr. (1629-1676) and Alice (Eltonhead) Burnham (ca. 1627-1684).

Richard II, was the son of Col. Richard Lee I, 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.

• Fendall, Douglas Allen. The Descendants of Governor Josias Fendall (for a detailed list of references click the link).