Henry Alexander Lee Childhood and Youth
Henry Alexander Lee was born March 4, 1844. He was the fifth child of William Allen Lee and Elizabeth Martha Thomas. He was also their youngest son. William Lee was a farmer and most likely participated in the Pee Dee Agricultural Society which gave prizes for the best livestock in the fall of Henry’s birth.
Find A Grave at Henry Lee (1844-1912) – Find a Grave Memorial accessed August 3, 2022.
Henry was six years old in the 1850 census filled out in August, 1850. His father William was 36 years old and was a farmer. His real estate was worth $350. Henry’s siblings in the home were: James Crawford (12), John Thomas (11), Samuel (9), Hannah (7), Henry (6), Mary (4), Ann (3), Jane (2) and Eliza 5 months.
Henry does not appear with his family in the 1860 census. Either he was overlooked or he was hired out to work on someone else’s farm. He would have been 16 then. Sometime after 1860, Henry’s mother Elizabeth Martha Thomas Lee passes away.
Henry Alexander Lee War Service
As a young man, Henry appears to have been of short stature as many present day Lee descendants. His military description says he was 5 feet 4 inches and had blue eyes.
Henry served in the Confederate Army. He served in Company C, 8th Regiment of the South Carolina Infantry. He transferred there from Company D where he had been in August of 1863. He was paid by Capt. Ward through that date. Henry was paid $12 for his horse.
In June of 1864, Henry was treated at the Episcopal Church Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia and transferred to Raleigh, North Carolina.
Dating from 1660, this historic Anglican church served Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Patrick Henry, George Mason, and other Revolutionary legends. After the Civil War’s Battle of Williamsburg, the church served as a hospital for Confederate soldiers. When the rector, Reverend Thomas M. Ambler, made disloyal statements and prayed for the governor instead of Lincoln, the church was closed. Ambler went on to conduct services out of his home, until he joined the Confederate army as a chaplain.
On March 8th of 1865, Henry was at home in Chesterfield, South Carolina where he was captured and taken to New Bern, North Carolina and shipped to Point Look Out Maryland, where he was released on June 29, 1865.
One of Henry Lee’s neighbor’s was not so lucky. Hezekiah Brock, who was a Civilian, was also taken by Sherman’s troops to Wilmington and shipped to Point Look Out Maryland, where he passed away and is buried in the Prisoner’s Graveyard there.
The following is the story of one of the Confederate prisoners who was captured near Chesterfield, South Carolina during the March 1865 period. The article appeared in the North Carolina Argus on March 30, 1865.
The Captain of Henry’s Company, Theodore F Malloy surrendered his troops at Greensboro May, 2nd 1865. T F Malloy later became the mayor of Cheraw.
http://genealogytrails.com/scar/sc_troops9.htm accessed July 22, 2022.
In accordance to the terms of a Military Convention entered into on the 24th day of April between General Joseph E Johnston Commanding Confederate army and Maj General W.T. Sherman Commanding United States Army in North Carolina the Officers and Men whose names are borne on this roll have given their solemn obligation not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly released from this obligation, and they are permitted to return to their homes not to be disturbed by the United States Authorities as long as they observe this obligation and they obey the laws in force where they may reside.
Signed J. L Dew Capt & PM USA Special Commissioner.
Signed TF Malloy CSA Capt Commanding Co B.
Henry Alexander Lee Begins Married Life
Henry Lee married Sarah Jane Brock around 1866. Sarah was the daughter of Squire H Brock 1805-1888 and Rachel Parker Brock 1810-1887. They lived in Chesterfield, South Carolina. She came from a large family. There were 4 daughters and 4 sons in the family. Sarah Jane Brock was reported to be 9 in the 1850 census and in the 1860 census she was reported to be 15.
Sarah Jane Brock’s siblings were:
- Mary A Brock who married William Alfred Rivers. She died in childbirth in 1852. Her son Squire Rivers was raised by his grandfather Squire Brock and grandmother Rachel Parker Brock.
- James Alhannon Brock who married Mary Jane White in Chesterfield, South Carolina. After Mary Jane died around 1870, James married Georgiann Boyt in Alachua Florida, where he moved before the Civil War. James Brock was in the 9th Infantry Regiment that defended Bayport, Florida.
- Elizabeth Brock was a sibling who just appeared in the 1850 census. No record was found after that.
- Catherine Brock who married William L Davis, a turpentine farmer from North Carolina. They moved to Jacksonville, Florida.
- Samuel Washington Brock married Henry Lee’s sister, Sarah Jane Lee. He was in the Reserves during the Civil War.[
- John W Brock who married Mary Sellers?
- William Manning Brock who married Lottie Brock and moved to Birmingham, Alabama.
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Florida; Series Number: M251; Roll: 87.
Find A Grave Catherine Brock Davis (1837-1917) – Find a Grave Memorial accessed August 6, 2022.
Fold 3 at Page 2 Civil War Service Records (CMSR) – Confederate – South Carolina – Fold3 accessed August 6, 2012.
William Manning Brock’s obituary at Newspapers.com – The Charlotte News – 25 Nov 1917 – Page 2.
On December 3, 1866, the father of William Lee deeded 106 acres on Westfield Creek to his son Henry.
William Lee to Henry Lee Deed
Chesterfield Register of Deeds Book 2, page 329 William Lee sells Henry Lee 106 acres on west side of Westfield Creek for $600
The State of South Carolina
To all persons these presents shall come, I William Lee of Chesterfield District and the State aforesaid send greeting. Know ye in consideration of the sum of Six hundred dollars the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. I the said William Lee have bargained sell and release unto Henry Lee all that tract or parcel of land lying on the west side of Westfield Creek beginning on a white oak on the bank of said creek running with said line S 68 W 50ch, 25 ch to a Stake thence S 19E to a stake thence N71 E10 Ch50 to a stake cross the fence, thence S29 E 2ch 70 links to a post oak, thence N63, E28 ch 80 links to a stake in an old field thence S 65E 7ch 80 link to a stake on the west bank of Westfield creek thence up the various corners of the creek to the beginning corner containing 106 acres more or less with all and singular the rights members and hereditaments and appurtenances to the said premises belonging on in any error incident or appertaining to have and to hold all and singular the promises before mentioned unto the said Henry Lee his heirs and assigns forever, I the said William Lee do hereby bind myself my heirs and administrators to warrant and forever defend all and singular the promises unto the said Henry Lee against the lawful claims and demands of all persons claiming by from or unto the said William Lee.
Witness my hands and seal this the third day of December in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty six and is ninetieth year of the independence of the United States of America.
Signed Sealed and Delivered in the William Lee
Presence of
William P Brock Daniel McLearen
Chesterfield County Register of Deeds Book 2, page 329.
Henry Lee was a registered voter in the 1868 registrants reported to the federal government. He registered in the Courthouse district.
Henry Lee appears in the 1869 South Carolina census. There are two males which would be Henry and his son Robert. There are also seven white females enumerated. Sarah Jane Brock would be one of the females and the other six are unknown. Three of the unknowns could be his sister Mary Lee with her two daughters.
Henry’s sister Mary Lee Parker died sometime after the 1860 Census. Mary’s husband Boggan Parker lost his life in the War as a Prisoner of War at Elmira Prison Camp.
Find A Grave at SGT Badgegood B. Parker (unknown-1865) – Find a Grave Memorial accessed August 5, 2022.
Henry Lee’s father William married Hannah Thomas after the death of Elizabeth Martha Thomas. A half-brother Joseph Daniel Lee was born on August 26, 1869 in Chesterfield, South Carolina, when Henry Alexander was 25 years old.
Find A Grave at Joseph Daniel Lee (1869-1944) – Find a Grave Memorial accessed August 5, 2022.
Sam Lee was Henry Lee’s oldest nephew. Sam was older brother James Crawford’s oldest son. In July 1879, he was indicted for murder.
Sam Lee was tried for the Frank Presley murder in September of 1879. Sam’s defense was that he was frightened and shot Frank Presley in self defense because of prior threats from several individuals including Frank Presley. In 1878, a crowd of these individuals had come by Henry Lee’s house looking for Sam who lived nearby (also close to the school house). Henry was deposed in July 1979 and testified in court for the defense. Henry also testified in court about the crowd that threatened Sam Lee. Sam Lee testified his Uncle John Thomas Lee was also concerned about the unruly crowd who had torn down the Lee’s gates. Steve Nappier, one of the crowd participants testified he had torn down Henry Lee’s gate but denied that he bore the Lee’s any ill will. Henry’s brothers James Crawford Lee and John Thomas Lee also testified in the trial along with his elderly father, William Lee.
Henry Lee’s deposition
The State versus Samuel J Lee
Personally comes Henry Lee who makes oath on the day referenced to by John Williams Goodwin he saw Frank Pressly, Steve Nappier, Tom Proffit and two others he thought to be the Adams boys within a few hundred yards of Mr. Lee’s school house going in that direction, He has seen the Adams boys but his acquaintance is so slight that he does not like to be positive about their being in the crowd.
Sworn to before me
19 July 1879
DM Matheson
Notary Public
Henry Lee
Henry Lee’s testimony
I saw the crowd near my house. Pressly was one. Napier, Proffitt and the Adams were the crowd. They passed my house coming from towards Sam Lee’s. I am uncle to Sam Lee. Never saw pistols before.
South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Chesterfield Co General Court Sessions, Indictments 1880 #651 State Versus Samuel J Lee.
Sam Lee’s testimony .
I did go to old man P’s (Pressley’s) the Sunday after I heard of the School house crowd. John Lee desired to know who were the persons because they had torn down gates. FP (Frank Pressly) was not there. Old man was there.
James Lee Testimony (Henry’s brother and Sam Lee’s Dad)
Father of deft. I saw difficulty at Fair Grounds and stopped it. I heard Lewis Gainey tell Lee that Pressly, Adams, and others were at school house to whip him. Once in Cheraw I heard Goodwin tell Lee that Nappier and a crowd were going to whip him because of the fight with Tom Proffitt. I saw that fight. Proffitt drew gun. Lee knocked him down. Herd Gainey tell Lee that the crowd at school house would do and where they run. My son began to carry pistol after these troubles. Never made a habit of it before.
My son may have had other pistols. I have carried pistols. 25 years ago. Never knew of his carrying two pistols. Pressley fired a number from run. Miss Goodwin was living at my fathers. My son was also living there. He and I had had trouble but he went off on his own account. This was in 1878. Last year he hired with ____. He will be 19 years old 10th March 1880.
Pressley was 140-150 lbs weight – must have been 26-28 years old. Nearly as stout as Sam Lee.
John Lee Testimony (Henry’s Brother and Sam Lee’s uncle)
Uncle to Deft. Heard Miss Edwards deny to Deft that he had ever made threats or others. She said she knew nothing about the case had not seen P (Presley) for over six months before it occurred.
After schoolhouse crowd were seen I did on Sunday go to old man Pressleys to see Frank and find out who the parties were because they had committed depredation.
William Lee Testimony (Henry’s father and Sam Lee’s grandfather)
Grandfather of Deft.
John Goodwin lived 3 years with me. I heard him repeat about the schoolhouse crowd. Heard him say the crowd at schoolhouse hunting Sam Lee to kill him. Lewis Gainey heard it and ran to tell Sam.
Deft lived with me year 1878 and part of year hired by month at $7 per month. He left of his own accord.
Steve Nappier’s testimony
Was at school house with Pressly. Proffit and Adams and a stranger. Got with Pressly at Brock’s mill a mile off. He met me accidentally and I asked him to go to schoolhouse to sing. I did not mention Sam Lee’s name to the boy who said I did. I knew Sam Lee. In the winter before homicide I met Lee at mill. He asked me to go to girl’s house. Lee said if Pressly bothered him he would kill P (Pressly). It was about Christmas before the homicide I was friendly with Lee then. I never threatened to whip Lee – never laid in wait for him. Knew he had a difficulty with Uncle Proffit. I never felt so angry over that I would kill Lee. I heard Pressly say he disliked Lee. On my way to schoolhouse, I passed Lee’s. I just asked the little boy about Gainey but I had no business with him. I think I lived on same side of creek with P (Pressly). There was no feud between Lee and the rest of us. I tore down Henry Lee’s gate because I could not open it. Bore the Lee’s no ill will. Did not go to Radcliffs and take fodder. Never heard Pressly threaten Lee.
Sam Lee was found not guilty of murdering James Frank Pressley in the February 1880 term but he later got in trouble with Boggan Cash. He was acting as one of Boggan Cash’s body guards when he was on the lam and was captured and killed. Sam was tried for aggravated assault for his part in that.
In 1883, Henry Lee witnessed a deed when Squire Brock sold Sara Jane White Lee 100 acres on Meadow Branch.
Henry Alexander Lee The Later Years
The Henry Alexander Lee family was not found in the 1880 census and the 1890 census is missing. However. we know that the Lee family experienced losses during this period.
- Henry’s mother in law Rachel Parker Brock died in 1887,[1] and his father in law, Squire Hugh Brock died in 1888.[2] His brother in law John W Brock, died sometime after the 1880 census.
- His sister Ann “Annie” died in 1889 when Henry Alexander was 45 years old.[3]
- His sister Lottie Charlotte died on April 11, 1891, in Chesterfield, South Carolina, when Henry Alexander was 47 years old.[4]
- His father William Allen Lee passed away on April 25, 1892, in Chesterfield, South Carolina, at the age of 75. There is no record of where William Lee is buried but it is most likely he is buried at Zoar United Methodist Church at Brock’s Mill since there are several other Lee’s buried there during the same time period.
Henry purchased a hunting knife and a gun at his father’s estate sale. His son R A Lee purchased a corn sheller for .25 cents.
[1] Find A Grave at Rachel Parker Brock (1810-1887) – Find a Grave Memorial accessed August 5, 2022.
[2] Find A Grave at Squire H. Brock (1805-1888) – Find a Grave Memorial accessed August 5, 2022.
[3] Her husband Richard Wilkerson is a widower in the 1900 census. Ancestry.Com. Year: 1900; Census Place: Harleesville, Marion, South Carolina; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0072.
[4] Find A Grave at Lottie Charlotte Lee White (1849-1891) – Find a Grave Memorial accessed August 5, 2022.
In March of 1893, Henry’s stepmother Hannah passed away. An inquisition was requested by stepson, John Thomas Lee because he found the death suspicious. The jurors found that Hannah died of natural causes at Zoar Church on March 7, 1893.
State of South Carolina J T Lee says WT Brock
Some time ago I don’t know the exact time said the family had given the deceased Laudanum or morphine and she lay some days unconscious not speaking and he after the said Brock gave her some strong coffee, and she vomited and became conscious and said her vomit smelled of laudanum, and she got better, these are my reasons for believing that she may have been treated that way again, and that was several months ago, I was told that she had been lingering a week or two, the report was that she called for something to eat just before she died. The deceased was about 65 years of age. The deceased died at 4:00 o’clock Sunday morning and her son did not let anyone know of it until evening of that day. Her son J D Lee did not notify any of her kindred of her death, the circumstances all along aroused suspicious with me and is the reason I demanded an inquest. JT Lee
State of South Carolina County of Chesterfield. Dr. AM Redfearn sworn says I have examined the dead body of Hannah Lee. I see nothing in the appearance of the body to lead me to suppose that death was caused by anything other than natural causes. There are no marks or other evidences of violence on the body and no appearances of any kind whatever of a suspicious character visible in the superficial examination.
AM Redfearn MD
The State of South Carolina, Chesterfield County
An Inquisition, indented taken at Zoar Church in the County and state aforesaid the 7th day of March 1893 before CM Hunt Coroner, upon view of the body of Hannah Lee then and there being dead, by the oaths of JE White Foreman, WF White, JA White ET White, Wm Cagle, Alex Brigman, SJ White, SE Brock, SJ White, Alvin White, PP Brock, William Davis being a lawful Jury of Inquest, who being charged and sworn to inquire for the State of South Carolina, where and by what means the said Hannah Lee came to her death upon their oaths, do say: that the deceased came to her death from natural causes
And so the said Jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid, do say that the aforesaid Hannah Lee came to her death from natural causes.
In witness whereof, I CM Hunt, Coroner aforesaid, and the Jurors aforesaid to this Inquisition have set our hands and seals this day and year aforesaid.
CM Hunt, Coroner
JE White, Foreman (John Erwin)
PP Brock (Peter Preston Brock)
WM Davis
SE Brock
SJ White (Simpson J)
Alin White (Alvin White)
WA Cagle
Alex Brigman
SJ White
WF White (William Franklin)
JA White
EF White (Ellison Franklin)[1]
https://csidixie.org/inquests/3951 accessed August 6, 2022.
Henry Lee loses 106 acres on Westfield Creek to Ann Evans
Ann Evans buys land at public sale for $50. Apparently foreclosed on Henry Lee[1]
March 6, 1896 • Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA
On October 2, 1897, this tract of land was purchased by Sara Jane White Lee from Ann Lacoste Evans for $260.[2]
[1] Chesterfield County Register of Deeds Book 15, page 547.
[2] Chesterfield County Register of Deeds Book 14, page 504.
On December 22, 1899, Henry and son Thomas A Lee witnessed the recording of a deed of land from Samuel Parnell White to his son Nicholas Asbury White.
Henry’s sister Eliza Lee Butler died around 1900 in Laurel Hill, North Carolina, when Henry Alexander was 56 years old.[1]
[1] Ancestry.Com. This is the last census that Eliza Lee Butler appeared in. Year: 1880; Census Place: Red Hill, Marlboro, South Carolina; Roll: 1235; Family History Film: 1255235; Page: 537A; Enumeration District: 110.
In the 1900 census, Henry Lee and wife Sarah Jane Brock Lee are living in the Courthouse District in Chesterfield County. They report they have been married 34 years and that they have two children born and two living. In the home is Thomas A Lee (age 30). Next door is son Robert A Lee and his wife Sarah Crawford Lee. They have two children born and two children living. Those are daughters Catherine (2) and Della (9 months). Also in the home is Hannah Crawford, Sarah’s sister.
Samuel W Brock sold Henry Lee 1 acre land Meadow Branch for $5. It bordered Eli Brock and Sarah Jane White Lee on April 24, 1903.
Henry’s brother James Crawford Lee died on July 14,1907 in Richmond County, North Carolina.
As indicated by online trees.
His son Robert A Lee died on October 8, 1908 in Chesterfield County.
Find A Grave at Robert A. Lee (1867-1908) – Find a Grave Memorial accessed August 6, 2022.
In 1910, Henry Lee was receiving a Class 2 pension of $20.00 which was administered by the County of Chesterfield.[2]
Henry’s wife Sarah Jane Brock Lee passed away on November 25, 1910, in South Carolina at the age of 68. They had been married 44 years. Sarah Jane Brock Lee was buried at Zoar United Methodist Church at Brock’s Mill. Her inscription on her marker reads “At Rest.”
On January 19, 1912 Henry and Thomas Augustus Lee mortgaged 101 acres Meadow Branch to E T Teal.
Chesterfield County Register of Deeds, Misc. Volume, General Index to Deeds Chesterfield County, SC Grantor.
To the north of Henry Lee and Sarah Jane Brock Lee’s grave are several empty grave sites. My hypothesis is this is where his youngest son, Thomas Augustus Lee is buried. This could also be where William Lee who died in 1892 and Hannah Lee who died in 1892 is buried.
In his will Henry Alexander Lee left everything to his only surviving son, Thomas Augustus Lee.
Henry Alexander Lee was survived by his son Thomas Augustus Lee, his daughter in-law, Janie Crawford Lee (widow of Robert A), grandchildren, Della Ann Lee, James Latimer Lee, Ben Thurman Lee, and Lela Jane Lee.
He also was survived by four siblings: John Thomas Lee of Chesterfield, Samuel William Lee of Alabama, Sarah Jane Lee Brock of Chesterfield, and half brother Joseph Daniel Lee of Arkansas.
Conclusion:
Like his older brothers, Henry Alexander Lee was a soldier and a farmer. He had his troubles during the War and was taken by force from his native soil and sent to Point Look Out, Maryland as a Prisoner of War. He returned to marry Sarah Jane Brock in Chesterfield and lived a productive life. He had a relatively small family who ventured to far away places such as Florida and Los Angeles, California. Like other Lee siblings, Henry’s descendants married other Lee Cousins.
Henry was a well-regarded truthful man and a trustee for his Church. The Lord provided him refuge and he is now “Asleep In Jesus.”
Martha's Family Connections 