William Moses and Laura (Morris) Lee
William Moses Lee
was born in 1877. He was the knee baby, or next to youngest child, of James Monroe and Emily (Byrd) Lee.
William Moses married Laura Morris (1877-1947) in 1900 in York County, VA. Laura was the eldest child of Burrell and Josephine (Roberts) Morris. William and Laura had one child, William Edward Lee (1900-1960).
William Moses and Laura (Morris) Lee
Courtesy: The Lee Family
William Moses was in the prime of his life as a breadwinner when the U.S. government announced they would commandeer the land in the Reservation community. William Moses and his brother Humphrey Lee testified before the U.S. Government's Board of Valuation on Commandeered Property regarding the value of his property and investments in oyster grounds. Below is an abstract of that testimony.
Source: Board of Valuation on Commandeered Property. 1920. Abstract of Testimony In Vols. 1 and 2 of Hearings Before Board On Valuation of Commandeered Property at Yorktown, VA. Box 42, Records of the Board on Valuation of Commandeered Property 1918-1922, Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Navy) 1799-1950, Record Group 125; National Archives Building, Washington D.C.
After the family was forced to leave the Reservation community, William Moses and Laura purchased land and built a new home for their family. Their family home was later passed on to their son and his wife, William Edward and Lula Bell Lee. William Moses and Laura's neice and her husband, Tom and Hattie (Lee) Kearney also lived in the home years later.
Home of William Moses and Laura Lee
Courtesy: Denise McClintock
Laura (Morris) Lee passed away on March 4, 1947. William Moses Lee followed the next year on November 15, 1948.
Laura (Morris) 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.
William Moses 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.
William Edward Lee
(August 11, 1899-1960)
was born on August 11, 1899. He was the only child of William Moses and Laura (Morris) Lee.
William Edward was working for the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in August 1918 when President Woodrow Wilson issued an executive order to seize the land his family owned in the Reservation community. A month later, he registered for the World War I draft. While William Edward would not go to war, his family would be called on to give up their land.
William Edward Lee
Courtesy: The Lee Family
William Edward Lee, WWI draft registration card
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, Operations Inc, 2005.
A few years later, just as his family was being forced to leave the Reservation community, William Edward married Lula Bell Hundley (1900-1996) on December 11, 1921. Lula Bell was the daughter of John and Louvenia (Banks) Hundley, who also lived in - and were displaced from - the Reservation community. William and Lula Bell had six children: Thomas E., George Henry, Charles, James, Alma, and Marian.
William Edward Lee
Courtesy: The Lee Family
Lula Bell Lee
Wife of William Edward Lee
Courtesy: The Lee Family
William Edward continued to work for the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company after leaving the Reservation. He registered for the World War II draft in 1942. William Edward later worked for the Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown on the land where he was born and raised.
Lula Bell was a lifelong member of St. John Baptist Church, where she served as a deaconess, a member of the Nurses' Aide and the Ruth Missionary Circle.
William Edward Lee
Courtesy: Mary Lassiter
Cource: Naval Weapons Station, Yorkton, Staff Yearbook 1945
William Edward Lee, WWII draft registration card
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-47 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, Operations Inc, 2005.
William Edward Lee passed away at the age of 60 in 1960.
Lula Bell Lee died at the age of 96 on November 19, 1996.
William Edward Lee
Courtesy: The Lee Family
William Edward Lee, obituary
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Daily Press, 1960
William Edward and Lula Bell Lee's Children
Thomas E. "Chief" Lee, Sr. (1922-2002)
was born in 1922, shortly after his parents, William Edward and Lula Bell Lee, were displaced from the Reservation community. He attended the James City County Training School.
Thomas was an entrepreneur. He founded T.E. Lee & Sons Moving Company (now Lee Local Moving Company). He also was employed at the College of William & Mary for forty years.
He married Mamie Berletha Johnson (1920-1959) on on July 31, 1940 in Williamsburg, VA. They had six children. He later married Vivian Claudine Edmonds White on October 22, 1961 in Bacon Castle, Surry County, VA. Vivian had seven children from a previous marriage, and Thomas and Vivan had one child. Thomas' seven children are: Barbara, Dale P., Marjorie, Thomasine, Thomas E. Jr., Roger, and Mark Noland.
Thomas was a longstanding member of St. John Baptist Church and a member of the Long Horn Hunt Club of Grove.
Thomas E. Lee passed away on April 18, 2002.
Thomas Lee, Oldest child of William Edward and Lula Bell Lee
Courtesy: The Lee Family
Charles Edward Lee, Sr. (1924-2008)
was born on January 9, 1924 to William Edward and Lula Bell Lee.
Charles married Elnora Bartlett (1926-2001). They had six children: Charles Jr., Deborah Tomica, Albert, Linda, Marian Inez, and Sandra.
Charles was working for the Colonial Restoration (now Colonial Williamsburg) in the 1940s when he registered for the World War II draft. He later was employed by Shirley Pewter Shop where he worked for many years until his retirement.
Charles was a member of St. John Baptist Church and served on its Brotherhood Committee. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and riding a motorcycle. He was a member of the Buffalo Boyz Motor Cycle Club.
Charles Edward Lee Sr. passed away on February 28, 2008.
Charles Edward Lee, son of William Edward and Lula Bell Lee
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Daily Press
Charles Edward Lee, WWII draft registration card
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-47 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, Operations Inc, 2005.
George Henry Lee (1925-1992)
was born in 1925 to William Edward and Lula Bell Lee.
George attended the James City County Training School and was in the first class to graduate from the new Bruton Heights School after it was built. He then continued his education, pursuing an engineering degree at Heal University in Nevada.
George Henry Lee, son of William Edward and Lula Bell Lee
Courtesy: The Lee Family
"Bruton to Have First Graduation," Daily Press, circa early 1940s
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
George married Sin Cha Lee. The couple had two daughters: Chong Kil and Chong Wha.
George joined the U.S. Navy and served during World War II. He gave many years of service as a engineer for the Civil Service.
George was a member of St. John Baptist Church and served on its Cemetery Committee. He is remembered as a dependable person who helped friends and family in any way he could.
George Henry Lee, WWII draft registration card
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-47 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, Operations Inc, 2005.
George Henry Lee passed away on February 20, 1992.
George Henry Lee, gravesite at St. John Baptist Church Cemetery
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Findagrave.com
Reverend James Monroe Lee, Sr. (1928-2003)
was born in 1928 to William Edward and Lula Bell Lee. He was named for his great-grandfather, James Monroe Lee, who built a life in the Reservation community after his emancipation from slavery.
James Monroe served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
James Monroe married Alice Jones. They had four children: Beverly, James Monroe Jr., Margaret, and Timothy.
Rev. James Monroe Lee Sr.
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Findagrave.com
James Monroe Lee Sr., gravesite at St. John Baptist Church Cemetery
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Findagrave.com
Alma Lucille Lee (1929-1970)
was born in 1929 to William Edward and Lula Bell Lee.
Alma married Pete Colley (October 1, 1926-) on November 8, 1947 in Newport News, VA. They had three children: Pete Jr., Lucinda Sherrone, and Patricia Ann.
Pete was working at the Navy Mine Depot in the 1940s when he registered for the World War II draft.
Alma (Lee) Colley
Courtesy: Mary Lassiter
Pete Colley, WWII draft registration card
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-47 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, Operations Inc, 2005.
Alma was very involved in the life of the community. The news clippings below illustrate her commitment to service, from supporting vacaction Bible School at St. John Baptist Church and serving as assistant secretary for the Frederick Douglass PTA to organizing the March of Dimes.
Alma (Lee) Colley recognized for participation in the March of Dimes
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Daily Press
Alma (Lee) Colley recognized for participation in the Frederick Douglass PTA
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Daily Press
Alma (Lee) Colley recognized for participation in the St. John Baptist Vacation Bible School
Courtesy: Bernie Vaughan
Source: Daily Press
Marian Braxton Lee (1931-2011)
was born in 1931 to William Edward and Lula Bell Lee.
Marian had three children with Ernest Carter Sr.: Ernest Jr., Brenner Philemon, and John. Marian later married Dupree McMath, Jr. (1930-1983) on August 21, 1978 in James City, VA.
Sources:
Board of Valuation on Commandeered Property. 1920. Abstract of Testimony In Vols. 1 and 2 of Hearings Before Board On Valuation of Commandeered Property at Yorktown, VA. Box 42, Records of the Board on Valuation of Commandeered Property 1918-1922, Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Navy) 1799-1950, Record Group 125; National Archives Building, Washington D.C.
Daily Press. 2008. Charles Edward Lee obituary.
Legacy.com. 2002. Thomas E. Lee obituary.