As I start this biography, I cannot help but think of the
terrible things that occurred during the Civil War and the deplorable conditions
that affected the families as well as the land. I knew little about this war
before undertaking this family history nor much of the underlying issues that
caused this war. To me, it has been a real awakening! This is my husband’s
family and herein lies some very sad but interesting stories - a way of life
that was beginning to end. I have concentrated on Major Burwell Lee and his
descendants but other members of the extended Lee families also suffered
hardships. It is also interesting to note that all of the Union and Confederate
Generals mentioned below all graduated from West Point as well as Confederate
President Jefferson Davis. The Confederate States of America was formed on
February 9, 1861, with Jefferson Davis named as President . On April 12, 1861,
the Confederates under General Pierre Beauregard opened fire at 4:30AM on Ft.
Sumter in Charleston, SC, and the war began. The State of Virginia seceded from
the Union on April 17, 1861. On June 19, 1862, Congress enacted a measure
prohibiting slavery in the United States territories and on January 1, 1863,
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation proclaiming that
all “slaves within any State, or designated part of a State….then…in rebellion…
shall be then, thenceforward, and forever freeâ€. The War raged on.........
The tide of war turned against the South at the Battle of Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, which occurred on July 1-3, 1863, when the Confederates were
defeated. On May 4, 1864, the Union began a massive campaign involving all the
Union Armies. In Virginia, Grant with an Army of 120,000 began advancing toward
Richmond to engage Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. In the west, Sherman, with
100,000 men began his advance toward Atlanta to engage Joseph E. Johnston's
60,000 strong Army of Tennessee. On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee
surrendered his Confederate Army to General Ulysses S. Grant at the village of
Appomattox Court House in Virginia. Grant allowed the Confederate officers to
keep their sidearms and permitted the soldiers to keep their horses and mules.
Lee is quoted as saying to his troops - "After four years of arduous service
marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude the Army of Northern Virginia has
been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources." Confederate
General Joseph E. Johnston was originally the Brigadier General in charge of the
Army of Northern Virginia and he took command of the Army of TN when that
command was passed to General Robert E. Lee. General Joseph E. Johnston
surrendered on April 18, 1865 to General Sherman near Durham, NC. Terms of this
surrender were the same as General Grant had given to General Robert E Lee. In
May 1865, the remaining Confederate forces surrendered. The Civil War ended and
the Nation was once again reunited. Over 620,000 Americans died in the war.
Disease killed twice as many as those killed in battle and 50,000 survivors
returned home as amputees. It is interesting to note that General Johnston died
in 1891 from complications of a cold caught while serving as a pallbearer at the
funeral of General Sherman. Maude Clement, in her book "History of
Pittsylvania Co., VA" says "When the war came to a disastrous close at
Appomattox in April, 1865, the sad condition of Virginia is officially described
in the Code of Virginia: "No people ever suffered greater losses by the
termination of the war than the people of Virginia. At one blow their entire
slave population was emancipated, their value entirely lost, and their
accustomed labor instantly stopped, the circulating medium (money) State and
Confederate was rendered worthless, no Federal money in circulation; houses,
homes, fences, mills, given to flame, lands impoverished, and having no money
value, and they themselves entirely powerless to purchase, and for want of
buyers equally powerless to sell...The men of Pittsylvania set about the task of
rebuilding their lives and their country, and though the outlook was dark, they
faced the undertaking with a strong courage. Out of the destruction and wreckage
of the Old South they brought order; and with no outside aid, by their own
efforts, they laid the foundations on which we have built our prosperous
commonwealth today." With the hardships that followed the Civil War, we find
that some of the descendants of Major Burwell Lee were sold for a sack of flour,
some chickens, etc., by the relatives that promised to care for them. This
biography is just one story on this family……….. MAJOR BURWELL LEE, SR.
Eldest son of John Lee and Susannah Guthrey 1766-1825 John Lee, Sr., son
of Charles Lee and Ann Dabbs of Cumberland Co., VA, removed from Cumberland Co.,
VA, to Campbell Co., VA, and, among other interests, founded the Town of
Leesville, VA. John married 1) Susannah, surname believed to be Guthrey because
all records point that direction but no record of his marriage has been found.
He married 2)Frances, surname believed to be Early. Again, no record of this
marriage has been found either and no definitive proof that Guthrey and Early
were indeed surnames of John's wives. John left the most of his estate to his
eldest son, Maj. Burwell Lee, Sr. In John’s LWT, he says “ I give to son Burwell
Lee the land and plantation whereon I now live lying and being in the County of
Campbell and lying on the north side of Goose Creek and Staunton River it being
part of the tract of land I purchased from Jacobus Early with the following
exceptions to wit that part called Darby's field lying in the north side of
Goose Creek at Darby's Ford and adjoining the lands of Jesse Leftwich and others
and one hundred and twenty eight acres taken off said tract for the town of
Leesville at the junction of Goose Creek and Staunton River which leave a
balance of two hundred and forty six acres, I also give my son Burwell Lee the
tract of land I purchased of Robert Owen adjoining the land I now live on and
above named lying on the east side of the same containing one hundred and thirty
five and a half acres and deeded to me by said Owen, also two negro men named
Daniel and Garnett with other necessaries I have heretofore given towards
housekeeping upon his complying with some other items hereafter named . . ."
John also says in his LWT "I further desire and direct in consequence of my
giving to my son Burwell Lee the negro man Daniel that he may be with his wife
and children that my said son Burwell Lee pay four hundred dollars towards
raising the twelve hundred dollars for my daughter Sophia." Although slavery was
wrong, the Lee family did try to keep the slave families together. He also gives
“ to my son Burwell Lee all the town of Leesville on the west side of the Third
Broad Street from Goose Creek to him and his heirs forever, excepting the land
adjoining the mill seat half of which 2 acres with mill seat, I reserve for my
estate and allotted for common mill. . . I appoint my son Burwell Lee and my
son-in-law Robt Clark and my son-in-law James Lancaster and my son- in-law John
Arnold, executors . . . . s/John Lee†According to land records, Major
Burwell, Sr., owned, at one time, almost 1000 acres in Bedford and Campbell
Counties, VA. I do not know exactly how many slaves he owned at one time but the
division of his estate show he owned 18 at that time. Burwell Lee, Sr. married
Rebecca Nancy (Ann) Arnold daughter of Moses and Elizabeth Arnold of Cumberland
Co., VA. Burwell Lee served in the War of 1812. His obituaries give small detail
about his life. Nancy (Ann) Arnold, wife of Major Burwell Lee, Sr. was
great-granddaughter of William and Elizabeth Arnold of Cumberland Co., VA, and I
would like to include some background regarding her ancestry which is included
in the Addenda of this biography. Major Burwell Lee, Sr., and Nancy (Ann)
Arnold had the following children: 1. Captain Burwell Lee, Jr. m. 1)Matilda
Arnold 2)Elizabeth Purcell 3)Mildred Dillard Doyle 2. Susannah G. Lee m.
Beverly Arnold and remained in Campbell Co., VA. 3. Ann Lee married John
Anderson - no further information 4. Permelia G. Lee did not marry. She died
in Pittsylvania Co., VA. 5. Tabitha Lee did not marry. She died in
Pittsylvania Co., VA. 6. Jane Lee married Caleb Witt and they are show on the
1840 Randolph Co., MO census. 7. Martha Lee married James Anthony - She may
be the Martha, widow on the Patrick Co. census. 8. William A. Lee married
Mildred Brooks and moved to Amherst Co., VA, about 1860. 9. Doshia A. Lee
married Isaac Wilson and they are shown on the 1850 Morgan Co., KY, census.
THE NEXT GENERATION Burwell Lee, Jr., and his children Son of Major
Burwell Lee and Nancy (Ann) Arnold CAPTAIN BURWELL LEE, JR., son of Major
Burwell Lee and Ann Arnold, was born 1800 and died 1872 Pittsylvania Co., VA. He
married first, Matilda Arnold, who was his first cousin, and daughter of John
Arnold and Patsy Lee. Matilda died 15 March 1843 and left Burwell with 7
children to raise. Matilda's obituary was published 4 April 1843 in the
"Lynchburg Virginian". Burwell quickly married secondly, Elizabeth Purcell,
daughter of Thomas Purcell and Lucy Brown, on 27 November 1843. Thirdly, he
married the widow, Mildred (Dillard) Doyle on 12 October 1857. Burwell was an
honored man in his community. He had established himself and was doing very well
until the Civil War. He donated land for the Leesville Methodist church as well
as land for erection of a school in the Town of Leesville, VA.. It appears that
Burwell Lee, Jr. and family were living with the elders Lees or on their
property in Campbell Co., VA, until about 1853. Capt. Lee was a Justice of the
Peace for Campbell Co., VA.
On 18 November 1853, Burwell purchased 115
acres in Pittsylvania Co., VA, from the Walden family and then on 23 November
1853, Burwell purchased an additional 270 acres on the Staunton River from
Richard H. Wal[d]ton, et al. From a manuscript by Thelma Howell Bennett dated
1983 - "Grandfather Lee built his home in 1859 on land received from his father,
(Burwell Lee, Jr.) and located in Pittsylvania County across the river from
Leesville, VA. It was a one and one-half story, L-shaped clapboard house with
four bedrooms, kitchen and dining room. A picket fence surrounded the vegetable
garden, and hollyhocks and roses grew in profusion around the yard. There were
some large Osage orange trees and walnut trees at the back of the house. There
was also a large orchard of apples, pears, and plums.†This home overlooked the
Staunton River. The 1860 Castle Craig census shows Burwell with real estate
valued at $4000.00 and a personal estate valued at $24500.00 and, herein, starts
the real downturn in the family wealth and increased hardships that came to them
as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation.
After the Emancipation
Proclamation in 1862, life for Burwell Lee, Jr., and his family just began to
get worse. The land was worn out, the cheap labor was gone, and their
Confederate money was useless. Gentleman planters had to learn how to survive on
their own now and many had large families. On 23 January 1863, Burwell and
his third wife, Mildred sold 121 acres on Main Road to Lynchburg near Pannill‘s
stables for $1334.95 to Morton Pannill. Also on this same date, they sell to
Abner Anthony, Jr. 332 acres Plumbtree Branch adjoining the main Lynchburg for
$3665.05. One month later, Burwell and Mildred sell an additional 133 acres to
Walter Nagle for $600 on waters of Ralph Branch. Their 1/5 interest in the lands
of Dr. Lynch Dillard consisting of 200 acres was also sold to John W. Motley on
22 December 1864. Burwell has now sold 453 acres of land in order to raise some
cash. In order to raise more cash, Burwell sold to son to Jeremiah A. Lee of
Pittsylvania Co. on 12 December 1866 recorded 26 December 1866 - 200 acres -
$1500 - tract of land lying and being in the County and State aforesaid upon the
waters of Staunton River and the waters of Jaspers Creek… containing about 200
acres be the same more or less to have . . ." s/Burwell Lee. (Note Jeremiah, in
turn sells this land on 11 August 1884 recorded 8 September 1844 to brother
Robert A. Lee for $500.00 - who in turns sold it on 31 August 1884 to Griffin
Dobyns for $1000.00.) He then sold another 186 acres to son Robert A. Lee on
waters of Staunton River on 1 January 1866. (Note Burwell has now sold a total
of 839 acres.) As things began to be increasingly difficult, Burwell Lee on
26 May 1869 signed a Deed of Trust, with son Robert A. Lee as trustee to
Virginia T. Lee, Lucy E. Lee, Eli Parker, Pannill and Franklin and Jeremiah A.
Lee. This deed shows that Burwell, as guardian, owed Lucy $1250 since 1858; Eli
Parker $100 since 1867; Pannill and Franklin $50 since 1869 and Jeremiah Lee
$100 since 1869. Burwell now has put up his land containing 420 acres on
Staunton River all his farm animals, plantation tools, household and kitchen
furniture, crops and sorghum mill. Burwell was to remain in quiet and peacable
possession of the said tract or parcell of land…until default be made. The note
was due 1 April 1870. He apparently could not meet the due date of the trust and
so……………… in 1870, Burwell is shown with real estate valued at $3500 and a
personal estate of $700. His personal wealth has shrunk $23,800. He has little
cash left now and most of his property is gone. On 4 June 1871, Burwell,
under the Homestead Law, claimed 276 acres on the waters of Staunton River and
Jasper’s Creek which he assessed at the price of $6.00 per acre for a total of
$1600. He also included the following articles say one old desk and bookcase one
sideboard one bureau three bed and bedsteads and furniture, one gray mare,
filly, all of which I value at the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars.
Captain Burwell Lee, Jr., and Martha Kerziah Arnold had the following children:
1. Angelina Catherine Lee married Washington Arnold, son of Chesley Arnold and
Susannah Wesley Andrews. 2. Martha Lee appears living with her parents in
1850. No further information. + 3. Edward Price Lee married 1)Hardinia Duke
2)Affiah Susan Arnold 4. Julianna Lee married John A. Franklin - no further
information + 5. Jeremiah A. Lee married Medora Lee went to Lafayette Co.,
MO. + 6. Robert Austin Lee married Martha Kerziah Arnold and remained in
Pittyslvania Co., VA 7. Chestina Lee died unmarried in 1866 in Pittsylvania
Co. VA.
Captain Burwell Lee, Jr., and Elizabeth Purcell had the following
children: 8. Virginia T. Lee died 1875 unmarried in Pittsylvania Co., VA.
9. Alonzo H. Lee - no further information 10. Lucy E. Lee married George
Austin, son of William C. and Susan L. Austin. Angelina and Washington
Arnold went to Oglethorpe Co., GA where she died soon thereafter. I have no
further information on Martha or Julianna Lee. I have not been able to find
anything further on his son Alonzo H. Lee, who was born about 1850 according to
census records, except as Burwell writes in a letter to Mosby Arnold on 30 April
1866 - “I have my own daughter and wife to support, no son with me, one married
and one single son…†His "married son" would be Robert; the other "single" son
must have been Alonzo. Lucy appears on the 1900 St. Clair Co., AL, census with
one child and married 25 years. +3. EDWARD PRICE LEE, son of Burwell Lee and
Matilda Arnold was born 1830 and died 1864. He was better known as “Priceâ€. In
1850 Campbell Co., Leesville, VA, census, Price is living with his father, age
and included in the household were Eliza Duke, age 19, laborer, and Hardinia
Duke, age 17. He seems to have been married twice. I have found the following
marriage record in Campbell Co., VA, between Edward Price Lee and Hardinia B.
Duke. The form is not completely filled out but says “Date of license - 13
January 1851 - 14 January 1851 - date of marriage - Edward P. Lee and Hardinia
B. Duke. Parent Sallie B. Duke. By M. E. Andrews, Methodist Episcopal Church.â€
Price married secondly, Affiah Susan Arnold, daughter of Rev. Mosby Arnold and
Ann Dabbs Andrews on 16 September 1852 Lafayette Co., MO. The 1860 Pittsylvania
Co. census shows Edward and Affiah with 4 children, living in their own home.
Price is aged 32, farmer with a personal estate valued at $900. He apparently is
living on the land of his father and the $900 personal estate are the slaves
that Burwell gave to them at the time of their marriage. Price enlisted in
the Confederate Army on 25 March 1862 with his brother Robert Austin Lee and
served with Co. I, 2nd Virginia Cavalry, Radford's Rangers, 30th Virginia
Volunteers. The Muster Roll of April 1864 shows that Price had been sick since
February 1, 1864 and that he died in Petersburg, VA on 14 July 1864. The
Register of Effects of Deceased Soldiers turned over the quartermaster, CSA,
filed 1864, was in the amount of $20.00. Affiah, his wife, while holding the
youngest child, the other children waiting at the door with her, watching for
Price to return, was struck by lightening and killed on July 31, 1864. The
family, desperate to get word to Price, could not seem to locate him. They
finally enlisted the aid of General Robert E. Lee, and it was found that Price
had died Petersburg the 14th of the same month. The six young children were now
six young orphans. Captain Burwell Lee, had been supporting the children
since the death of their parents in 1864. He finally, in desperation writes
several to Rev. Mosby Arnold, the children's other grandfather, asking him to,
to at least take three of them, because he was having such a difficult time
without money or help. At this time, all Burwell had was his land, some stock, a
river lot, kitchen furniture and plantations tools and was also supporting his
daughter and wife, and one single son. He could not even clothe the children. It
was not until 1867 that help was to arrive and the children left Lynchburg for
Missouri on Thursday night, the 26th of September 1867. More is written about
what happened to these children in later paragraphs. The 1870 Pittsylvania
Co. census shows Walter, age 13, Edward, age 11 and Gertrude, age 7 living with
Burwell. Burwell died in 1872. I could not find Jeremiah A. Lee on the 1870
census but he is listed on the 1880 and no children are in the household. The
1870 Lafayette Co., Clay Township, PO Freedom, shows Mosby Arnold and the
orphaned children Anna age 17, Mosby 15 and Eugene 10 in his household. Mosby
has real estate valued at $8500 and a personal estate of $7525. Rev. Mosby
Arnold died 1876 Missouri at age 86. After Burwell Lees death in 1872, those
children that were living with him were sent to live with their Uncle Jeremiah
A. Lee. +5. JEREMIAH A LEE, son of Burwell Lee and Matilda Arnold was born
1833 and died 1918 Lafayette Co., MO. On the 1850 Franklin Co., VA census,
Jeremiah, age 17, is living with William Pannell, merchant, and working as a
clerk. In 1860, he is back living with his parents in Campbell Co., VA. By 1867,
he is travelling to Lafayette Co., MO, where he married Medora C. Lee, daughter
of Richard Lee and Almary Arnold. Jeremiah and Medora were first cousins, once
removed. Medora Lee Lee was daughter of Richard Lee and Almary Coke Arnold,
daughter of Rev. Mosby Arnold. Richard was son of John Lee and Tabitha Arnold.
John was son of William and Ave Lee, Tabitha daughter of Moses Arnold, Sr. and
Elizabeth of Cumberland Co., VA. Jeremiah became a professor at Western Bible
and Literary College, was later named Odessa Collegiate Institute. I have not
been able to find him on the 1870 census records. The 1880 Lafayette Co., MO,
Odessa, Twp of Sinabar shows him age 66, married 32 years, school teacher born
Virginia - Medora born Mississippi, age 54 and married 32 years with no children
none living. The same holds true for the 1900 Lafayette Co., Odessa, Ward 3,
census as well. NOTE This is the same uncle that Walter S. Lee, in his
biography, says sold the children for three barrels of corn, a sack of flour, a
hen and a lot of small chickens. When Jeremiah died, he left a Will, and
everything was left to Medora. While in prison, brother Robert A. Lee, wrote the
following: “Brother Jerry, when I last heard from him was in Government
briefings, he is unfit for service as you well know. He is anticipating the
Ministry, as a Presbyterian.†I have no further information as to why he was
considered unfit for military service. +6. ROBERT AUSTIN LEE, SR., son of
Burwell Lee and Matilda Arnold, was born 1835 and died 1918 Pittsylvania Co.,
VA. Matilda and Robert were second cousins. Robert was probably named for his
father's good friend, Robert Austin who was one of the witnesses on the marriage
bond for Burwell Lee and Matilda Arnold. He is listed living with his parents on
the 1840 and 1850 Campbell Co. census records. He married Martha Kerziah Arnold,
daughter of Col. Moses Arnold and Margaret D. Hopkins on 2 July 1856. Their
marriage announcement was carried in the Lynchburg Virginian 8/8/1856 - MARRIED
- At the residence of Col. Moses Arnold, by the Rev. M. E. Andrews on the 2nd of
July, Mr. Robert A. Lee to Miss Martha K. Arnold, all of Campbell County.†One
of the descendants remembers that it was told to her that Margaret Hopkins was
only 12 years old when she married Moses Arnold and was still playing with dolls
when she got married. Col. Moses Arnold gave permission for his daughter Martha
to marry Robert. Witness to his permission was Edward S. Lee, his cousin. Moses
was son of Wiatt Arnold and Keziah Penick, Margaret daughter of William Hopkins,
Jr. and Mary M. Haden. Wiatt Arnold was son of Moses Arnold, Sr., and wife,
Elizabeth of Cumberland Co., VA. After both of her parents died, Martha and her
brother elected to have their uncle, William V. Haden act as their guardian.
Robert is shown on the 1840 and 1850 census records of Campbell Co., Leesville
District, VA living with his parents. By 1860, he and Martha are shown on their
own living in the Castle Craig District with real estate valued at $2200.00.
In 1862, Robert felt the call to serve in the Confederate Army and, with his
brother, Edward Price Lee, enlisted on March 25th, Campbell Co., VA for 3 years
in the Confederate Army by J. D. Alexander. He served with Co. I, 2nd Virginia
Cavalry, Radford's Rangers, 30th Virginia Volunteers. Captain P. C. W. Radford
was from Bedford Co., VA. Commander of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry was General
Fitzhugh Lee. This unit was part of Pickett's Division of Longstreet's Corps.
Robert left his wife and child at home with several faithful slaves who had been
given to them when they were married. Robert appears on the roll of
Prisoners of War at Old Capital Prison, Washington DC, 23 March 1863 and that he
was committed on 21 March 1863. He had been captured by the Army of the Potomac
at Kelly’s Ford, Virginia on 17 March 1863. He was released in an Trade of
Prisoners on 21 March 1863. He again returned to service and on the Muster of
November and December 1863 - the records show that he was absent and captured 27
June 1864 at the Battle of Gaines' Mill. He then appears on a roll of prisoners
of war received at Elmira, NY, 17 July 1864 from Point Lookout, MD and that he
was captured at Gaines Mills on 27 June 1864. Remarks Transferred for exchange
10 March 1865. Records show he was parolled at Elmira NY March 10, 1865 and sent
to James River for exchange. Parole dated Elmira, NY 10 March 1865. Robert
received a disability pension from the State of Virginia for his service during
the Civil War under the Act of 1900. The battle at Kelly's Ford, location of
Robert's first capture, was located in Culpeper Co., VA and occurred on 17 March
1863. Principal commanders were Brig. Gen. William W. Averell of the Union
forces and Brig. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee of the Confederate forces. A total of 3000
soldiers were involved and casualties were estimated at 200. Averell's cavalry
division crossed the Rappahannock River to attack and Lee counterattacked. Union
Forces withdrew in mid-afternoon. This battle set the sage for Brandy Station
and cavalry actions of the Gettysburg campaign. The battle scene on May 4,
1864, resulted in Robert's second capture. The battle encompassed the areas of
Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Mule Shoe, Bloody Angle, Hanover
Junction, Cold Harbor, Yellow Tavern and the Gaines Mill area. In the book "A
Stillness at Appomattox" p. 365, the author writes "General Jeb Stuart was in
charge of three Cavalry divisions commanded by 1) Major. Gen. Wade Hampton, 2)
General Fitzhugh Lee, 28 year old nephew of General Robert E. Lee and 3) Gen. W.
H. F. "Rooney" Lee, his 27 year old son. It was during this time at Yellow
Tavern that Jeb Stuart was killed. Near Gaines Mill, General Sheridan made a
raid and there were 400 Union prisoners set free and 300 Rebels were captured".
After discharge, Robert decided to try the ministry and became a Circuit
Rider for the Methodist Church. He instrumental in helping start the Motley
United Methodist Church in Motley, VA. Life for Robert and his family was very
difficult but they managed by hard work to keep going. The 1910 Pittsylvania Co.
census shows John and Ella Scruggs and their four children living next door to
them, as well as a nephew, Robert A. Walden, age 15. On 6 April 1911, Robert
and his wife M. K. Lee for $150 sold 50 acres to Ella Scruggs (their daughter)
with “reservations that we the parties of the first part occupy and hold the
mansion house, garden, pasture and firewood and spring during their natural life
and at their death then the said Ella V. Scruggs to own the said land in her own
right. s/Robert A. Lee, Sr./M. K. Leeâ€. On 3 August 1914, Robert and Martha, for
$300, sold the land adjoining the lands of Henry C. Parker and Mrs. Ella Scruggs
to John Scruggs. The only property that Burwell Lee had remaining after the
Civil War was passed on to his son, Robert, and then on to the descendants of
Robert A. Lee. Much of the old Burwell Lee property is under water due to the
formation of the Leesville Dam on the Staunton River. All of that property has
been sold now and the old homestead has since burned down. The graveyard of
Robert and Martha is now located on the property owned by the Roach family.
Gravesites of Burwell Lee and Matilda, or any of his other wives, have not been
found and I suspect they are under the Lake.
In a manuscript written by
Thelma Howell, a granddaughter of Robert A. Lee, she says "My mother passed on
to me the following incident which happened to Grandmother Lee during the war
when the Union soldiers were rampaging through part of Virginia. One day when
she was preparing the midday meal, suddenly several Union soldiers appeared at
her kitchen door! Naturally, she was startled, but tried not to show it. She
said, “How do you do, gentlemen. We are just going to have dinner (meaning her
daughter, her servant, and herself).†Then adding, “It’s not much, just
cornbread and beans, but you are welcome to join us.†They sat down and at some
of the food, then thanked her and went on their way. A few nights later, the
moon was shining and she saw five men approaching her smokehouse. She watched
with fear as they stood and talked for a few minutes, then turned and left. She
heard later that a neighbor’s smokehouse had been robbed that night. She often
wondered if the men were the same ones she had fed, and they decided not to rob
her since she had befriended them. “Grandfather Lee lived about a year after
his wife’s death, but I can only remember him in his casket with his white board
against his dark suit….They sleep in peace, undisturbed by the fact that in
recent years the waters of Staunton River have been harnessed by two dams -
Upper one at Smith Mountain, and the Lower one at Leesville, and a beautiful
lake now covers much of the land they once knew.†..... “While Robert was busy
with the ministry, Martha was busy running her household, raising six children,
and attending to the needs of the sick in the community. She also made the
family clothing, including tailoring suits for her husband. She had knowledge of
illness and whenever someone in the neighborhood was sick they would send for
Mrs. Lee, since doctors were not readily available. No matter what time - day or
night - when someone needed her, she would either take her horse and buggy or
ride horseback to help in whatever way she could. She served as midwife to many
of her neighbors. Martha Howell tells of the story that one time Grandmother
Scruggs was in labor at the same time as another woman in the neighborhood.
Grandmother Lee was rushing back and forth between them and both delivered
safely. When Robert A. Lee and his wife Martha became feeble, John Scruggs and
Ella Lee Scruggs moved into the Lee home and helped take care of them until
their deathsâ€. Robert A., Martha K., John Scruggs, Ella Lee Scruggs are all
at rest in the Lee Family Cemetery on the road to Leesville Dam that passes
through Motley, VA. THE ORPHANED CHILDREN OF EDWARD PRICE LEE +1. ANNA
FLORENCE LEE, daughter of Edward Price Lee and Affiah Susan Arnold, was born 19
June 1853 and died 19 August 1921 in Harrisonville, Cass Co., MO. Anna married
Barry Clay Collins 13 January 1875, Lafayette Co., MO. They are shown on the
1900 and 1920 Cass Co., Grand River, census records, Anna having had eight
children by 1900 and eight children were still living at that time. Her obituary
also describes the lightening incident and the deaths of her parents. +2.
MOSBY ARNOLD LEE, son of Edward Price Lee and Affiah Susan Arnold, was born 28
July 1855 and died 25 November 1935 in LaJunta, CO. From the obituary of MOSBY
ARNOLD LEE, published in the Lajunta, Colorado newspaper on 27 November 1935, we
find "Mosby A. Lee, one of the best known citizen and stockmen in this part of
the state for a long term of years....In 1880, Mr. Lee came to Colorado and
settled at Trinidad where he conducted a ranch for a time. They came to Lajunta
where Mr. Lee became state brand inspector". +3. WALTER SELWYN LEE , son of
Edward Price Lee and Affiah Susan Arnold was born 2 June 1857 and died after
1930 in CO or NM. Walter Lee is living with his cousin, Edwin Lee and family,
listed as a student, on the 1880 Bedford Co., Otter District, VA, census. The
1900 and 1920 census records show him living in Los Animas Co., Trinidad, CO.
The 1920 census shows him living with wife Mary and adopted daughter, Annabelle.
>From the biography of WALTER S. LEE, son of Price Lee and Affiah Susan
Arnold, we find....... “The three Lees at Lexington went to live with Uncle J.
A. Lee and his wife. It was in the month of October 1872 and they lived there
all that winter. Walter recalls the charity of someone who helped the three
small children on their train ride to Missouri. The children had been given a
letter from the Masonic Order and at every change of trains they gave it to the
conductor. When they arrived at the Potomac River near Washington, DC, the
conductor who had taken the letter told them "Sit still until I come back for
you." A train porter came back and took the children to a boat to cross the
river because the bridge over the Potomac river had been washed out. They were
then put on a train headed to Cincinnati. All they carried with them was an
ol-fashioned carpet bag bound with steel around the edge in which they carried
their food. They had no clothing but what was on their back. He continues and
says "About daylight on the way to Cincinnati we were eating our breakfast on
the train when a tall, red whiskered man came in and the conductor pointed to
us. This tall man asked us about our parents. We told him both were dead. He sat
down beside us. The carpet bag was open and a key in the lock of it carried a
ring with the Masonic emblem. He took the key and asked who it belong to. We
answered we did not know whether it was father's or not. This man then took up
the carpet bag, opened the window of the train and threw the bag out. We started
to cry." This man stayed with them and paid all their expenses and fixed them up
for all their meals between Cincinnati and St. Louis. They had to cross the
river at St. Louis and Walter says "[This man] took my sister up in his arms and
my brother and I followed and when we reached the other side he put us on a bus
and took us to a hotel where we stayed until the train arrived that was to take
us to Lexington, MO. He also boarded this train and delivered us safely at
Lexington. Then he left and we never saw him again and never learned his name.
He then goes on to say........ "In the spring, along about May, this uncle
must have got tired of us for he sold me to a cousin, Edwin J. Lee, for three
barrels of corn, a sack of flour and a __________ . At the same time he sold my
brother E. P. Lee to another cousin, Thomas Lee, for the same amount. They he
traded my baby sister to an old aunt, a sister of my mother, Almary Lee, for a
hen and a lot of small chickens. I do not remember how long I lived with
this man but it must have been two or three years. Then he left and went back to
Virginia and I went to work for an uncle, Richard Lee, the husband of Aunt
Almary. I lived and worked there about one year and then went to work on a farm
for a cousin for $10 a month...... Then my brother Mosby and myself went to work
for a man named Hirtly and after about a year I went back to Virginia and stayed
with a cousin to whom I had earlier been sold. I then went to school at New
London, Bedford Springs, VA. Three years later I left there and returned to
Missouri in 1878.†Walter later tells us that he met Frank James, brother of
the outlaw Jesse James when he was working on the farm in Missouri for Ed Lee.
Frank had dinner with the Lee family and Walter accompanied him out to the barn
to get his horse. He asked Walter about his parents and Walter told him that
they were dead and "that this man (Ed Lee) had bought me." As Frank was about to
leave, he slipped Walter a five dollar bill and told him to "Keep it yourself -
don't give it to the man in the house". Walter writes that he did not know who
the man was until the next day he was seen at Lexington. He goes on to say that
he never met Jesse James but he met Cole Younger a number of times at Lee's
Summit where he visited with his aunt. He also tells that during his stay in St.
Joe, he was in the house which Jesse James was killed and describes it as "a
small house upon a steep bluff overlooking the Francis street depot of the
railroad". Walter's obituary which appeared in Chronicle-News, Trinidad, CO
on 8 June 1930, mentions that Walter had been a resident of Trinidad for 48
years and was a former cattleman. He was employed by the state cattle inspection
service. It notes that he also ranched with his brother M. A. Lee and John
Taylor. And, of course, it is mentioned "Perhaps it is fitting to say he has
upheld the dignity and honor of that grand old name of Lee of the LEES of
Virginia". +4. EDWARD PRICE LEE, JR., son of Edward Price Lee and Affiah
Susan Arnold, was born about 1859. He is listed on the 1860 Pittsylvania Co.
census, age 1, living with Burwell Lee, and the 1870 Pittsylvania census shows
him living with Burwell and Mildred, age 11. Edward married a Miss Foster and
adopted a daughter named Anna Belle Lee and a son Clyde Lee. He was living at
1025 Chelwood NE #131, Albuquerque, NM. Hazel Lee Garlington has told us that
Edward died of spotted fever and was buried in a cemetery outside Trinidad-San
Rafael Cemetery. +5. EUGENE LESLIE LEE, REV., son of Edward Price Lee and
Affiah Susan Arnold was born 12 December 1860 and died 14 January 1940 in Heron,
MT. >From his biography, he describes the death of his parents. Relating the
lightening incident in which he mother was killed, he says "My oldest sister has
often related to me the following facts in connection with this sad event. My
father had not been able to visit home for a long time. My mother had not heard
word from him for about six weeks. This war was raging in and around Richmond at
this time and it was almost impossible to send letters. On July 31, 1864, mother
said she felt impressed that she was going to see father that day and she
thought surely he must be coming home. She accordingly washed and dressed up all
the children and made herself ready to meet him when he should come. She was
sitting in the door waiting for him as she supposed when there came a flash of
lightning from a storm which had suddenly risen, striking the house and killing
her instantly. A Negro servant who was present said the only words she spoke
were 'O God, my children'. It seemed almost a miracle that some of the children
were not killed. Gertrude was in mother's lap and the others were standing
around her.....I learned from Uncle Jerry Lee that grandfather Lee laid the case
before Gen. Robt. E. Lee and he made an investigation of the matter and found
that father was moved from the hospital at Richmond to Petersburg where he died
of pneumonia and was buried in the Confederate burying ground only a few weeks
before mother was killed by lightning. Thus she met him but not as she expected.
Instead of him coming to his early home to meet her, she went to her heavenly
and eternal home whither he had preceded her only a few weeks. Surely 'God moves
in a mysterious way his wonders to perform'. Her last prayer 'Oh God, my
children' was heard and interpreted and has been abundantly and wonderfully
answered. God's eye has been over us. We have not hungered nor been
homeless..... God's promise to care for the orphan has been verified in us."
From the obituary of Rev. E. L. Lee we find that he began his training for the
ministry at Central College, Fayette, MO, and at the close of his college
career, in 1884, he went to Montana as a young minister for the Methodist
Episcopal Church South. +6. GERTRUDE LEE, daughter of Edward Price Lee and
Affiah Susan Arnold, was born about 1863. The 1870 Pittsylvania County census
shows her living with Captain Burwell Lee and his third wife, Mildred, age 7.
She was the infant in her mother's arms when she was struck by lightning. When
the other 3 children were sent to MO after the death of grandfather Burwell,
Gertrude, Walter, and Edward Price Lee, Jr. were first sent to an uncle in
Odessa, Jeremiah Lee. After about a year, Gertrude was taken by her Aunt Almary
Lee to raise. Gertrude Lee, daughter of Eugene Leslie Lee said that her father
passed on that his sister Gertrude married, moved to OK and died in childbirth
at a very young age.
......................................................... ADDENDUM:
www.civilwarhome.com - West Point Graduates: General Pierre Beauregard -
Class of 1838 Jefferson Davis, lst and only President of the Confederacy -
Class of 1828 General Ulysses S. Grant - Class of 1843 General Joseph E.
Johnston - Class of 1829 General Fitzhugh Lee - Class of 1849 General
Robert E. Lee - Class of 1829 General Tecumseh Sherman - Class of 1840
Major GEneral James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart - Class of 1849 Cumberland Co.
Order Book 1788-1792, page 95, dated 25 May 1789, shows Burwell Lee was an
Ensign in Captain Cocke's Light Co. Also, "A Guide to Virginia Militia Units in
the War of 1812" by Stuart Lee Butler, shows Brigade 12, Division 1, Campbell
Co., 53rd and 117th Regiments - Lt. Col. Thomas W. Cocke - July 20, 1803; Lt.
Col. Alexander Austin - January 20, 1813; Maj. Burwell Lee - July 18, 1813.
Campbell County Militia Units served in the Defense of Richmond and Norfolk.
Burwell Lee's Obituaries - 1) Lynchburg Daily Virginian, dated 12/1/1825 P3C4 -
Major Burwell Lee died 15 Nov 1825, age 59, at his home in Campbell Co. Funeral
service preached by the Rev. William Leftwich on 3rd Sunday; 2) Lynchburg
Tri-Weekly - 1825 - Died on the 15th inst. at his residence, in Campbell County
about the 59th year of his age, MAJ. BURWELL LEE, after a severe illness of a
week - Thus he who was the only hope of his family, in a few days was called
hence and left them to bemoan their irreparable loss - In his death, society has
lost much. He was a man of extensive usefulness. He has filled many important
offices, and in all of them has acquitted himself with becoming dignity; and a
testimony of the universal regard of his acquaintances and neighbors was
manifested on the day of his burial by the large number who assembled to pay him
the last tribute. WILLIAM ARNOLD, ancestor of Nancy (Ann) Arnold, was a
planter and lived on Guinea Creek when that section of Virginia was part of
Goochland. He received a grant of 400 acres from William Gooch on 17 March 1736
(Land Patent Book 17). The land lay on both sides of Tan Wallet Run.
Appraisement of William Arnold's estate included the following slaves: Peter
(man), Ban (boy), Lucy (woman), Birch (girl), Cummigiah (woman), Sarah (girl),
Peggy (girl), Frank (boy), Juda (girl), Carrey (girl), Gilbert (boy), and Peter
(boy child). William Arnold's son, MOSES ARNOLD, inherited 200 acres and
"the plantation whereon he and I live". MOSES ARNOLD was the grandfather of
Nancy (Ann) Arnold. Moses was considered a very prominent man in Cumberland Co.
owning a large plantation and many slaves. The following sources contain
information regarding his military record and service to his country:
Genealogical Records: Virginia Colonial Records, 1600s-1700s; Virginia Colonial
Soldiers, French and Indian War, 1754-1763, p. 53 - Return of the Second Company
of Rangers Commanded by Capt. John Ashby 21 Oct 1755 - Moses ARNOLD, enlisted 17
Oct, 5'8", brown complexion, age 22, Virginia, planter; Genealogical Records:
Virginia Colonial Records, 1600s-1700s List of The Colonial Soldiers of
Virginia, Surnames A-B, p. 18 - Moses Arnold; Va. Mag., Vol. 2, p. 153; Military
Records: Virginia in the Revolution and War of 1812; Virginia Militia of the War
of 1812, Vol., II, Muster Rolls, p. 452 - Moses Arnold, Private, served 6 days.
Residents of Cumberland Co. prior to the establishment of the Republic in 1789
were MOSES ARNOLD, THOMAS ARNOLD, JOHN ARNOLD, AND WILLIAM ARNOLD, JR. The
Cumberland Co. Inventory of Estate of MOSES ARNOLD dated 24 June 1811, included
the following slaves: Wyate, Isaac, Randolph, Ben, Peter, Violet, Philes, Judah,
Patients, Lucky, Ann, Frank (total of 16 slaves), 10 horses or yearlings, two
oxen, fourteen bulls or cows, 36 hogs, 24 sheep, and a detailed listing of a
large variety of plantation and household utensils and furniture. MOSES and
ELIZABETH ARNOLD had the following children and all are mentioned in his LWT:
1. John Arnold married Patsy Lee, daughter of John Lee and Susannah Guthrey
- to Campbell Co., VA 2. Patsy Arnold - I have not found any more information
on her 3. Nancy (Ann Arnold) married Burwell Lee, son of John Lee and
Susannah Guthrey - to Campbell Co., VA 4. Gillea Arnold married Bird Smith -
remained in Cumberland Co., VA 5. Tabitha Arnold married John Lee, son of
William Lee and Ave Noel - to Campbell Co., VA 6. Wiatt Arnold married Keziah
Penick - to Campbell Co., VA 7. Chesley Arnold married Susannah Wesley
Andrews - to Oglethorpe Co., GA 8. Rebecca Arnold married Jacob Epperson - I
have not followed this family 9. Moses Arnold, Jr., married Mary (Polly)
Arthur - to Monroe Co., WV We move now to the father of Nancy (Ann) Arnold -
JOHN ARNOLD and his family. JOHN ARNOLD settled in Campbell Co., VA. A family
bible was passed down to Rev. Mosby Arnold, their son, and later to his
daughter, Martha Virginia Arnold and I believe that Barry Collins has the
original bible at the present. The Division of Estate of JOHN ARNOLD
contained in Campbell Co., VA, Will Book 7, page 269, submitted on 14 April 1834
showed the following: a. 1/3 of estate to widow & Slaves: Booker, Lavinia
and child, Mary Jane b. 2/3 of estate to Mosby Arnold, son & Slave: Matt
c. Willis Rucker in right of his wife Tabitha Arnold Rucker d. William
Clayton in right of his wife Susanna Arnold e. Burwell Lee in right of his
wife Matilda Arnold Lee f. George Jones in right of his wife Sally Arnold
Jones - Slave: John g. Benjamin Brooks in right of his wife Julianna Arnold
Brooks h. Thomas Davis in right of his wife Nancy Arnold Davis i. Betsy
Brown j. John Andrews in right of his wife Patsy Arnold k. Beverly Arnold
Slaves: Willis and Matilda Note: Each received money and slaves. Slaves:
Neptune, Louisa, Lavinia, Isaac, Osborn, Mary Jane, Dick, Rhoda, Langhorne,
Bird, Matt, Frank, Wiatt, Booker, Matilda, Juliet, Willis, John John Arnold
and Patsy Lee are buried in the Burris Lee Richardson Cemetery, Lynch Station,
behind Mt. Hermon Methodist Church, Campbell Co., VA. "The War of the
Rebellion A compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate
Armies, published under the direction of The Hon Daniel S. Lamont, Secretary of
War shows that on 10 May 1865, Headquarters Six Army Corp, C. H. Whitteley,
Assistant Adjutant General ordered "In pursuance of General Orders, No. 13, from
these headquarters May 7, 1865, the following named justices of the peace are
authorized and empowered, upon their qualifying themselves by taking the
prescribed oath of allegiance to the United States, to resume their functions in
all that related to the preservation of order and the re-establishment and
maintenance of industry, and all military commanders are strictly enjoined to
aid them to that end with the forces at their command whenever it may be
necessary …….Ninth district, John W. Motley, BURWELL LEE, D. T. Snow…." "THE
LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN", on April 4, 1843, published the following obituary for
Matilda Lee - Matilda Lee, wife of Capt. Burwell Lee of Leesville, Campbell
County, died 15 Mar 1843 age 41 years 3 months leaving 7 children. In writing
obituaries, three things must be observed. First, we must confined ourselves to
the truth; secondly we should do justice to the dead; and thirdly, endeavor to
benefit the living under the influence of these views we have taken our seat to
give notice of the demise of Mrs. Matilda Lee, wife of Capt. Burwell Lee, of
Leesville, Campbell County, Va. Mrs. Lee had been in bad health for several
years but had apparently improved, so much that thoughts were entertained that
she would recover; but, about two months before her death, she grew worse, but
did not excite serious apprehension until within a week or ten days before her
death, which occurred on Wednesday morning, the 15th of March 1843 ________ aged
41 years, 3 mos. _____ religion while young, ______ we have _______________
woman; as a wife, devoted to the interests and happiness of her companion; as a
mother, prudent, exemplary and affectionate, as a neighbor, perfectly
unobtrusive; and it has not been the lot of many to have so few enemies. But
inscrutable are the ways of providence. She has been called hence leaving to
mourn her absence, one of the kindest husbands, and seven children, and we hope
that the want of her counsel in the domestic circle, and her vacant seat at the
table will prove a daily admonition to her family, and be sanctified to the
salvation of every member, white and coloured, and that they may follow her as
she followed Christ, and finally meet in the Kingdom of Heaven. On 9 March
1850, the following deed is recorded in Campbell Co., VA - Burwell and
Elizabeth, his second wife, William A., and Mildred A., to Littleberry Moon,
Samuel C. Tardy, Morton Pannell, Jr., Thomas Leftwich, Abner Anthony, Jr.,
trustees . . . where the citizens of Town of Leesville and surrounding county .
. came to be erected on the lands of said Burwell Lee and William A. Lee, near
their mills in the County of Campbell, a schoolhouse or academy noting that they
did agree previous to the erection of said house to make a donation of a lot of
land to trustees of the Academy. A certain lot or parcel of ground situated on
the West side of Third Broad Street in the Town of Leesville, estimate to
contain 1/2 acre. I have posted Wills, Deeds, etc., on the Bedford,
Campbell, Franklin, Henry and Pittsylvania Counties USGENWEB county pages as
well as in the USGENWEB ARCHIVES if you wish further information on these Lee
and Arnold families as well as my family webpage
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/h/u/Molly-Shumate/index.html
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