The James Edward and Nancy (Casey) Lee Family

James Edward Lee

was born in January of 1869 to James Monroe and Emily (Byrd) Lee in the Reservation community.

James Edward married Nancy Casey. Nancy was the daughter of Langman Casey (1843-) and Sallie Priscilla White (1843-), who also lived in the Reservation community. Nancy had a daughter named Lucinda (1892-1935) from a previous union.

James Edward and Nancy had three children together: Fannie (1900-1995), Margaret (1902-1991), and Floyd (1905-1984). Nancy (Casey) Lee passed away. Seven years later, James Edward married Martha Powell, who had four children from a previous marriage: Kate, Laura, Alex, and Ernest.

James Edward Lee
Courtesy: The Lee Family

James Edward was an oysterer and a fisherman. His father, James Monroe Lee, built him and each of his brothers a 32' canoe to get him started in the industry.

In this video clip, descendants Redell King, Everlean Thompson, and Lucille Minkins recall James Edward's life as an oysterman and how he and his brothers always wanted to return to that life and livelihood after their displacement from the Reservation.

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

James Edward was remembered as intelligent and hardworking. Grandchildren Redell King, Everlean Thompson, and Lucille Minkins discuss his abundant practical knowledge as well as his strong writing abilities, despite the barriers to education in this period.

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

Displacement

When the U.S. government announced that it would commandeer the land in the Reservation, James Edward Lee was among those who signed the Prayer Petition, calling on the government to provide more time for families to relocate.

Source: Roberts, John A., Moses Lee, Annie E. Roberts, Cyrus Jones, and L. Redcross. 1918. Petition submitted to Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, by residents of York County threatened with eviction by Presidential Proclamation #1492 dated November 15, 1918. General Correspondence, Records of the Bureau of Ordinance 1818-1967; Record Group 74; National Archives Building, Washington D.C.

At the time of the displacement, James Edward owned 1.47 acres of land. The U.S. government valued the land at $970.00.

After being forced to leave the Reservation community, James Edward and his family moved to Penniman Road. In the clips below, granddaughter Lucille Minkins recalls the homes that James Edward and his brothers worked together to build, and granddaughter Redell King remembers James Edward owning land not just on Penniman Road but also in Newport News. James Edward and his brothers believed in the importance of owning land.

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

As St. John Baptist Church was rebuilt in the Penniman area after being displaced, James Edward served his church community as Church Clerk.

Indeed, James Edward was a religious man. Granddaughter Lucille Minkins fondly recalls her grandfather’s disapproval of her romance magazines when she was young and his thoughts on “the greatest love story of all time.”

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

Granddaughter Redell King discusses how intelligent her grandfather James Edward was and how he taught her things she didn’t learn in school.

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

James Edward Lee and his granddaughter Betty Lee
Courtesy: Allen Stephens

James Edward Lee passed away on November 18, 1956.

James Edward Lee's gravestone, St. John Baptist Church
Courtesy: The Lee Family

James Edward Lee, death certificate
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Their Children

Lucinda Casey

was born in 1888, the daughter of Nancy Casey from a previous union. Lucinda married Essex Washington on October 13, 1907. Together, they had four children, two of whom died as infants: Dennis George Washington (1907 - 1941); Mildred Ann Washington (1912 - 1912); Sadie Elizabeth Washington (1915 - 1986), who later married Raymond Parsons; and Arthur Washington (1917- 1917). Mildred Ann and Arthur Washington were buied at Cheesecake Cemetery in the Reservation.

Lucinda later remarried to Joseph Schofield on May 3, 1917 in York County. Joseph was born on November 11, 1893 to Edward and Sarah Frances Schofield. Lucinda and Joseph had four children of their own: Joseph "Tuck" Schofield (1919 - 2005); Edward Schofield (1921 - 1997); Floyd "Beanie" Schofield (1923 - 1954); and Nancy Lee Schofield (1924 - 1990).

In 1920, the family was renting a home on Cheese Cake Road in the Reservation. When the family heard about the displacement, Joseph signed the Prayer Petition, joining his neighbors in calling on the U.S. government to provide more time for families to relocate before they were displaced from their homes.

Joseph "Tuck" Schofield Jr., son of Joseph Schofield Sr. and Lucinda (Casey) Schofield
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan

Nancy Lee Schofield, daughter of Joseph Schofield Sr. and Lucinda (Casey) Schofield
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Findagrave.com

Soon after, Joseph, Lucinda, and their children were forced to move by the U.S. government and came to live on Penniman Road, according to 1930 census records. Joseph and Lucinda owned their own home, valued at $1,100. Joseph was a laborer in the house building industry.

As the family rebuilt their lives, they experienced a tragedy, Lucinda passed away on April 27, 1935 from complications following influenza at the age of 43.

Lucinda Schofield's death certificate
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Fannie Lee

was born to James Edward and Nancy Lee on September 29, 1900. Fannie was married three times. Fannie's first husband was Phillip Franklin Washington (1898-1925), son of W. and B. Washington. Together, they had one son, Phillip Franklin Washington Jr. (October 4, 1920-April 28, 1924), and three daughters, Marian, Elizabeth, and Lucille. Marian, Elizabeth, and Phillip were all born when the family was living in the Reservation community.

Fannie Lee
Courtesy: The Lee Family

Fannie and Phillip were living in the Reservation when the U.S. government commandeered the land. In this clip, their daughter, Lucille, recalls how her parents took apart their home in the Reservation, carried the parts on a wagon, and rebuilt it in Grove.

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

Shortly after leaving the Reservation, the family experienced tragedy. On April 28, 1924, Fannie and Phillip's son, Phillip Jr., died of tubercolosis at just 3 years, 6 months and 14 days. A year later in 1925, Phillip Sr. also passed away.

Following these tragic deaths, Fannie's father, James Edward, helped her to again take apart their home and move it to Penniman Road where the rest of the family had settled.

Phillip F. Washington Jr., death certificate
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Phillip F. Washington Sr., gravesite, St. John Baptist Church
Courtesy: Ron Stewart, findagrave.com

After her husband passed away, Fannie married George Washington Parsons, son of Ned and Josephine Parsons, in 1926. George had four boys and three girls from his previous marriage to Jessie Williams: Raymond, Winthrop, Everett, Josephine, Ruth Ann, and twins Queen Esther Mae and George Benjamin.

Fannie and George had four daughters together: Catherine, Alzinia, Julia, and Thelma.

Fannie later married Eddie Dixon.

George and Fannie (Lee) Parsons
Courtesy: The Lee Family

Despite the difficult circumstances they faced, the family had great love for each other and created time to enjoy themselves and build relationships. In the first oral history clip below, Fannie and Phillip's daughter, Lucille, recalls losing her father when she was just 9 months old and speaks of what a wonderful step-father she had in George Parsons. In the second clip, Lucille remembers dancing to music from jukeboxes and the old Vitrola they had in their home when she was young.

Lucille (Washington) Minkins
Courtesy: The Lee Family

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

During her career, Fannie provided tireless service to children as the cafeteria manager at the Frederick Douglass School in York County. She was also a dedicated member of St. John Baptist Church, serving as the president of the Pastor's Aid, member of the Ruth Missionary Circle, and Senior Usher Board.

In these clips, Fannie's niece, Redell King, recalls Fannie as the first among the families on Penniman to get electricity in her home, and daughter Lucille Minkins recalls watching her mother cook when she was a child.

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

Fannie passed away at the age of 96 on November 7, 1995. At the time of her death, she had 32 grandchildren and 59 great-grandchildren.

Fannie (Lee) Dixon, obituary
Courtesy: The Lee Family

Fannie (Lee) Dixon and Laurestine Lee, wife of Alexander Lee
Courtesy: The Lee Family

Marian (Washington) Howlette, daughter of Phillip F. and Fannie (Lee) Washington
Courtesy: The Lee Family

Marian (Washington) Howlette, daughter of Phillip F. and Fannie (Lee) Washington
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan, Findagrave.com

Queen Esther and Josephine, daughters of George and Jessie Parsons, with Alzinia, daughter of George and Fannie Parsons
Courtesy: The Lee family

Standing - daughters of Fannie Lee Dixon: Marian Jackson Howlette, Alzenia ?, Lucille Minkins, Catherine Washington, Julia Wallace
Seated - daughters of George and Josephine Parsons: Josephine Lee, Esther Piggott
Courtesy: The Lee family

Fannie's children carried on the family legacy of hard work and dedication to the church that was forged in the Reservation community. Her daughter, Elizabeth Lee, was employed as an executive housekeeper in Colonial Williamsburg. She was also an entreprenuer; she owned and operated Subarban Florist Shop. Elizabeth was also a member of St. John Baptist Church, the church's altar guild, and its Buzy Bee Club. Her sister Marion served as church clerk for St. John Baptist for a number of years.

Elizabeth Lee, daughter of Phillip F. and Fannie (Lee) Washington
Courtesy: The Lee family

Margaret Lee

was born to James and Nancy Lee in 1902.

On June 23, 1918, Margaret married Charlie Patterson, Jr. (May 25, 1896-August 8, 1967), the son of Charlie Patterson Sr. (1870-) and India (Johnson) Patterson (1871-1922).

Margaret (Lee) Patterson
Courtesy: The Lee Family

Charlie and Margaret (Lee) Patterson
Courtesy: The Lee Family

Charlie Jr. was working as a laborer for a contractor named Simon Curtis in Newport News, VA. The couple began to build a family. Margaret was pregnant with their first child when Charlie was called to serve his country in World War I. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, 18th Pioneer Infantry, on August 2, 1918 and was discharged on August 5, 1919. Their daughter, Everlean, was born on February 4, 1919, six months before his return. As her son Kenneth Johnson later shared, Everlean recalled that she was baptized in Felgates Creek. The couple had three more children: Charlie III (1921-2005), James Coleman (1923-2010), and Alfred (1924-1981).

This image shows Charlie Jr.'s name on an Army Transport Service Passenger List with his wife Margaret as his emergency contact.

Charlie Patterson Jr., recorded on Army Transport Service Passenger List, October 20, 1918
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com, Army Transport Service Passenger List 1910-1939

Five days after Charlie Jr. enlisted in the U.S. Army, President Woodrow Wilson issued an executive order to seize 11,433 acres of land that encompassed the Reservation to construct the Yorktown Navy Mine Depot. As Charlie Jr. was away, others in his community, including his father-in-law James Edward Lee, signed a petition asking the U.S. government for more time to locate. The initial proclamation gave landowners just 30 days to abandon their land, with compensation to be determined later. Residents petitioned, arguing that it would be very difficult to move in the middle of winter when so many of the young men of the community, like Charlie Jr., were in Europe serving the war effort.

When Charlie Jr. returned from the war, his honorable service to his country was not over. He would now need to move his family off the Reservation for the construction of the Yorktown Naval Mine Depot and rebuild a life elsewhere.

In the oral history clips below, Charlie Jr. and Margaret's daughter, Everlean (Patterson) Thompson remembers the U.S. government uprooting her family and how her family had to respond. In the first clip, she recalls her father Charlie and her grandfather James Edward Lee tearing down their house on the Reservation and loading the parts on a horse and buggy to carry to their new land. In the second clip, she recalls her mother making trips back and forth from the Reservation to their new land with the lumber. She remembers riding beside her mother in the wagon as a young child.

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

Although her family had undergone major disruptions, Everlean remembered happy times in her childhood as the family rebuilt their lives off of the Reservation. In this oral history clip, Everlean shares fond memories of trying to make her mother's rolls as a child, and her mother teaching her.

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

After leaving the Reservation, Charlie Patterson Jr. was employed by Colonial Williamsburg until his retirement, and he also farmed.

Despite the deep sacrifices the family had made for the war effort during WWI, Charles Jr. and his three sons, Charles III, Alfred, and James Coleman, were all willing to serve their country again in World War II.

Granddaughter Vivian recalls Margaret cooking at the Skimino Girl Scout Camp in the summers. She also prepared food in the Frederick Douglass School cafeteria for at least ten years alongside her sister, Fannie.

Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com. US WWII Draft Registration Cards 1940-1942

Charlie Patterson, Jr. passed away at the age of 71 on August 8, 1967. Margaret (Lee) Patterson passed away on January 4, 1991. They were both buried in St. John Baptist Church's cemetery.

Charlie Patterson Jr., obituary, August 11, 1967, Daily Press
Courtesy: Mary Lassiter
Source: Daily Press

Margaret (Lee) Patterson, obituary
Courtesy: Mary Lassiter
Source: Virginia Gazette, January 9, 1991, via Williamsburg Public Library

Charlie Patterson Jr., gravesite, St. John Baptist Church
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Findagrave.com

Margaret (Lee) Patterson, gravesite, St. John Baptist Church
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Findagrave.com

Margaret and Charlie Jr.'s children carried on their legacy.

Their eldest child, Everlean Patterson, married twice. She married Woodrow Wilson Johnson, Sr. (1917-1951) on September 11, 1938 in Williamsburg, VA. Woodrow was the son of Beverly and Malvina (Woodey) Johnson. Woodrow was employed as a bell hop at the time of their marriage. Together, Woodrow and Everlean had five children:

Woodrow Wilson Johnson Jr. (1939-1995) married Alice Wallace (1940 -) on May 19, 1957 in James City, VA. He later remarried to Virginia Abrams. He had five sons and two daughters. He was employed as a mechanical shop supervisor with the state highway department until his retirement. He was a member of St. John Baptist Church.
Charles E. Johnson (1940-) married Viola Ashlock. They had three children.
Al Spencer Johnson (1944-1981) married JoAnne Johnson (1946-) on January 8, 1965 in James City, VA. Al Spencer had three children.
Billy Rodger Johnson (1946-) married Maxine Elizabeth Williams (1947-) on October 1, 1971 in James City County, VA. They had one son.
Kenneth Lee Johnson (1948-) married Velaria Jacqueline Venable (1950-) on September 29, 1973 in Newport News, VA. They had two children.

After Woodrow Johnson Sr. passed away, Everlean married Samuel Thompson, Jr (1927-2006) on February 9, 1957 in Williamsburg, VA. Samuel was born to Samuel Thompson, Sr, and Lillie Mae (Smith) Thompson in Charlotte, NC. Samuel was working as a fireman at the time of their marriage.

Woodrow Wilson Johnson Sr. and Everlean (Patterson) Johnson
Courtesy: Mary Lassiter

Everlean (Patterson) Johnson Thompson
Courtesy: Mary Lassiter

Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com. Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989, [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Everlean Thompson and neice Vivan
Courtesy: Mary Lassiter

Woodrow Wilson Johnson Jr., obituary
Courtesy: Mary Lassiter

Margaret and Charlie Jr.'s second child, Charlie Patterson III (1921-December 17, 2005) married Woodruth Jones (1925-2004). They had 7 children: Arthur Lee Patterson, Vivian (Patterson) James, Charlotte Patterson, Charlean (Patterson) Carr, Alvin Patterson, Charlie Patterson, and Larry Williams. Charlie had a mechanical mind and was a gifted auto mechanic. He worked at a garage owned by Raymond Redcross, whose family was also displaced from the Reservation. Charlie rode a motorcycle and had his own shop in his backyard. At the time of his death, he had fourteen grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Margaret and Charlie Jr.'s third child, James Coleman Patterson (1923-2010), married Ruth Anna Cary (1924-2013) on September 15, 1945 in Williamsburg, VA. They had 3 children.

Margaret and Charlie Jr.'s youngest child, Alfred Patterson (1924-1981), married Alice Rebecca Cary (1922-2015) on October 26, 1946 in James City, VA. They had 2 children.

James Coleman Patterson Sr., son of Margaret (Lee) Patterson and Charlie Patterson Jr.
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Findagrave.com

Ruth Anna (Cary) Patterson, wife of James Coleman Patterson Sr.
Courtesy: The Lee family

Floyd Lee, Sr.

was born in 1903 to James and Nancy Lee. He was about 18 years old when the family was displaced from the Reservation. He married Mable Oliver and began a family.

Floyd Lee Sr.
Courtesy: The Lee Family

After the birth of her youngest child, Mable began to suffer from illness, and her eldest daughter, Redell, began to take responsbility for the younger siblings and household. When Redell was just fourteen years old, Mable passed away. Redell had to grow up quickly and take care of the family. Just as her parents' generation had to create new livelihoods after dispossession, Redell exhibited that same resiliency.

In these oral history clips, Redell remembers these difficult times, as well as her grandfather, James Edward Lee, coming to live with her family after her mother died. He was a gift from God as he was always there for the family.

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

A few years after Mable passed away, he remarried to Helen Wallace.

Floyd Lee Sr.'s children across his two marriages include: Herman Lee, Redell (Lee) King, Douglas Lee, Sr., Betty (Lee) Martin, James Lee Sr., Floyd Lee Jr., Joseph Lee, Linda (Lee) Badger, F. Rebecca (Lee) Crumbley, Matthew Lee, Delores (Lee) Barker, and Chris Oliver.

Joseph "JoJo" Lee
Courtesy: Allen Stephens and Betty (Lee) Martin

Douglas Lee
Courtesy: Redell King

Herman "Toppy" Lee
Courtesy: Allen Stephens and Betty (Lee) Martin

Herman Lee
Courtesy: Redell King

Chris Oliver, James Lee Sr., and Floyd "Skeeky" Lee Jr., sons of Floyd Lee Sr.
Courtesy: The Lee Family

Floyd Lee's family carried on the family's relationship with St. John Baptist Church that began in the Reservation. From childhood, Redell’s relationship with church was marked by a sense of community and deep spirituality. In this oral history clip, she recalls how active her family was in St. John and the lively nature of revivals. Just as spiritual and community life were tightly linked in the Reservation community, Redell's personal experience demonstrates how that legacy carried on.

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

This generation of Lees worked hard to rebuild lives and livelihoods, but they also made time to come together as a family and community to enjoy each other. In this oral history clip, Redell (Lee) King recalls her parents and aunts and uncles having barn dances, drinking home brew, and dancing into the night after a long week of work. But they never missed church on Sunday!

Descendants Mrs. Redell King, Mrs. Everlean Thompson, and Mrs. Lucille Minkins
Source: Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, 2022, The Village Initiative Collection.

Floyd Lee Sr.'s five daughters in September 2022, (l to r) Redell (Lee) King, Betty (Lee) Martin, Linda (Lee) Badger, F. Rebecca (Lee) Crumbley, Delores (Lee) Barker
Courtesy: Delores (Lee) Barker

Floyd Lee Sr.'s children, (l to r) Matthew Lee and his wife Theresa Lee, Rebecca (Lee) Crumbley, Delores (Lee) Barker, Linda (Lee) Badger and her husband Orlando Badger
Courtesy: Delores (Lee) Barker

Source:

Ancestry.com, Army Transport Service Passenger List 1910-1939
Ancestry.com. Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989, [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
Ancestry.com. US Headstone Application for Military Veterans 1925-1970.
Ancestry.com. US WWI Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918.
Ancestry.com. US WWII Draft Registration Cards 1940-1942.
Daily Press. 1967. Charlie Patterson Jr., obituary, August 11.
King, Redell, Everlean Thompson, and Lucille Minkins. 2022. Oral History collected by Molly Robinson, April 26, The Village Initiative Collection.
Lee Family Tree: David Lee and James Monroe Lee. Compiled by the Lee family based on recollections of Alexander Lee.
Legacy.com. 2005. Charlie Patterson III, obituary.
Roberts, John A., Moses Lee, Annie E. Roberts, Cyrus Jones, and L. Redcross. 1918. Petition submitted to Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, by residents of York County threatened with eviction by Presidential Proclamation #1492 dated November 15, 1918. General Correspondence, Records of the Bureau of Ordinance 1818-1967; Record Group 74; National Archives Building, Washington D.C.