Lee, Nathaniel

Nathaniel LEE (1770 - 1845) and Sarah FRENCH (1770 - aft. 1850)

my 4g-grandparents

The parents of my 3g-grandmother Sarah (LEE) EATON were Nathaniel LEE and Sarah FRENCH. The only proof of this is in the death record of Sarah (LEE) EATON. A transcription appears toward the middle of this page. It tells us that Nathaniel LEE was born in Southwick, MA and Sarah FRENCH was born in Westfield, MA. Also, Sarah (LEE) EATON was born in Milburn, NY, so her parents - at least her mother - were there at the time of birth, which was between 12 Dec 1802 and 11 Dec 1803, since both the death certificate and the gravestone say that she died at age 85 on 11 Dec 1888.

Sarah FRENCH was born 15 Nov 1770, in Westfield, Hampshire (later Hampden), MA and died after 15 Nov 1850, in Kane County, IL. She was a daughter of Samson FRENCH and Lusanna "Lucy" ROOT. Her ancestry is taken back several generations in [MQB].

Nathaniel LEE has been more difficult to track, because there were so many men of that name in western MA. One clue is that he was known to be a fine cabinet maker. [BDK, p. 166]

A prime candidate is Nathaniel LEE, born 16 Apr 1770 in Westfield, MA, son of Daniel LEE and Agnis CAMBELL. Note that Westfield and Southwick share a border. Southwick was not incorporated until 7 Nov 1770, so it would not be surprising that the birth record of Nathaniel appeared in the Westfield records.

Many researchers have Nathaniel's parents as Nathaniel LEE and Sarah HUBBEL. I have not seen evidence of this, but it is possible. There were also Nathaniel LEEs born in 1764 and 1773 in Manchester, MA, but that is nowhere near Southwick.

The family moved quite a bit. Based on the birth dates and places of their 5 known children, they were in Milburn, NY in 1803, then MA or NY in 1806, and Berkshire County, MA in 1808. They were still in MA in 1811, but by 1813 they had settled in Chenango, Broome County, NY.

Among the early settlers of Chenango, about 1788 to 1790, were Nathaniel LEE and Lyman LEE, probably related to our Nathaniel LEE.

Nathaniel died between 1840 and 1850, probably in Chenango, and his widow Sarah moved to Kane County, IL and lived with her daughter, Harriet, and several other LEE family members. The exact relationship between all the LEEs is uncertain.

Census Records

In the 1800 Census, there are several Nathaniel LEEs. The one in Northampton, MA is the right one, I think, because he is listed right next to Sampson FRENCH, Nathaniel's father-in-law (see below). Northampton, Westfield and Southwick are all near Springfield, MA.

This may not be the right family, since there were 5 children, all under 10, in 1800, and our Nathaniel and Sarah's 5 known children were born in 1803 to 1813. On the other hand, [MQB, p. 105] says "To them were born a numerous family of sons and daughters."

In 1810 there are, again, many Nathaniel LEEs, but one is found near Sampson FRENCH in the census. This time, they are in Florida, MA, a town in the northeast corner of Berkshire County.

This is probably the right family. We know they were in Berkshire County on 10 Sep 1808, when Thomas LEE was born. The 3 younger children match up with the 3 known children born in 1803, 1806 and 1808, and the 5 older children, 4 girls and 1 boy, match up exactly with the family in the 1800 US Census, above.

The 4 girls who were under 10 in 1800 are here: 2 are now 10 thru 15 and 2 are 16 thru 25. The 1 boy who was under 10 in 1810 is now 16 thru 25. So we have 2 girls born 1795-1800, 2 girls born 1790-1794, and 1 boy born 1790-1794. There are also 2 boys and 1 girl under 10. Nathaniel and Sara were in the 26 thru 44 category in both 1800 and 1810, so they were born 1766-1774.

The Nathaniel LEE family was in Florida, Berkshire, MA in 1810, and Chenango County, NY when Sarah LEE was born, on 25 or 27 Apr 1813, so they must have moved from MA to NY between Jan 1810 and Apr 1813.

In 1820, Nathaniel LEE IV was in Chenango Township, Broome County, NY. His father, Nathaniel LEE III had moved from Great Barrington, MA to Chenango about 1788, where he was one of the first settlers. Nathaniel IV would have been 24, and probably still single. I don't know if he went with his parents to Chenango in 1788, but he was back in MA in 1800 (above).

I think this is the right Nathaniel LEE because he's in the same township where James EATON grew up. On the same page of the census, are several familiar names: Samuel LEE, Clement FRENCH, Jedediah SEWARD, Sampson FRENCH, Rowland LEE.

The children match up exactly with the children in the 1800 and 1810 censuses above.

In 1830 there is another older male living with the family - perhaps one of Nathaniel's brothers. The female 60 thru 69 could be the wife of either one, or neither. Harriet, age 17, is still in the household.

The couple is still in Chenango Township in 1840. All the kids have left home and started their own families, and several are living nearby. In particular, Sara Jr and James EATON had their first child about 1826, so they were not among the 4 people in this household.

In 1850 there are several LEE families, listed consecutively, so they probably lived near or with each other. There were 60 LEEs in Chenango, in the 1850 Census, and some of them were probably also related to Nathaniel, but I am starting with this group.

In 1850, Sarah LEE was living with her daughter, Harriet, who had married Chandley L. SEWARD.

Living with, or next to, Sara (FRENCH) LEE (1770) in 1850 were the families of Lyman LEE (1781), David LEE (1809), Harriet (LEE) SEWARD (1813), James LEE (1816), and Daniel LEE (1823). Since these families were listed consecutively in the 1850 US Census, they are surely related. Sara (FRENCH) LEE is in the household with Harriet (LEE) SEWARD, and we know from a biography (below) that they are mother and daughter.

Harriet and her family moved to Kane County, IL in 1851, and Sara, being over 80, traveled with them. They joined other LEE families in Kane County, who had migrated after 1846. See the Migration page.

It may be that Lyman LEE (1781) is a younger brother of Nathaniel. Lyman and Nathaniel may be sons of Lyman LEE Sr and/or Nathaniel LEE Sr who were among the first white settlers in Broome County, about 1788. Others from the 1850 census: David LEE (1809), James LEE (1816), and Daniel LEE (1823) may be sons of grandsons of Nathaniel LEE (1764) and/or Lyman LEE (1781). See the Nathaniel LEE page.

David LEE (1809) and family were still in Chenengo, Broome, NY in 1855 and 1860, but by 1870 they had moved to Susquehanna County, PA, where he died in 1883. James LEE (1816) and family were still in Chenengo, Broome, NY in 1855 and 1860, and in 1865 they were in Oxford, Chenango, NY. He died in 1866, in Norwich, Chenango, NY. Daniel LEE (1823) and family stayed in Chenango, Broome, NY until his death in 1907. Public member trees have David, James and Daniel as sons of Lyman LEE (1780), who remained in Chenango, Broome, NY until his death in 1871. So the Lyman LEE branch, however it was related to Nathaniel, seems not to have gone to IL.

Broome County, NY

This 1855 map [click the map for a larger image, or follow the link at the bottom of the page for the full county map] shows the northwest corner of the Town of Chenango, and the northeast corner of the Town of Maine, in Broome County, NY. Two SPENCER properties can be seen near the top. Several FRENCH, HUNTLEY and LEE properties can be seen along Castle Creek Road, which runs north and south from Castle Creek Village to the Chenango River. The R. EATON and S. D. BROOKS properties are in the upper left, near the boundary between the Towns of Maine and Chenango. Presumably this is the general area where James EATON and family lived until 1853. And don't confuse this with Chenango County, on the northeast border of Broome County. Glen Castle, formerly called Chenango, doesn't appear on the 1855 map. It is a small community on Castle Creek Road, about 3 miles south of Castle Creek, the village.

Nathaniel and Lyman LEE were among the early settlers of Chenango, taking up farms south of the Village of Castle Creek. They are mentioned together, so they are probably related, although Nathaniel was born in Massachusetts, and we know from the 1850 Census that Lyman was born in Connecticut, about 1781. Exactly how they are related to our Nathaniel LEE, who married Sarah FRENCH, and came to Broome County between 1811 and 1813, is unclear.

Sara (FRENCH) LEE

Descendants

Nathaniel and Sarah had 5 known children: Sarah (1803), Parley (1806), Thomas (1808), Sabron (1811) and Harriet (1813). The evidence for Sarah is in the death certificate of her daughter. Several records identify Harriet as one of the children. Evidence for Parley, Thomas and Sabron is found in a family letter, below.

Migration from NY to MI and IL

All 5 known children of Nathaniel and Sarah migrated westward, with their families, after Nathaniel died. Thomas went to Monroe County, MI between 1841 and 1850, and the rest went to Kane County, IL. Sabron was in Kane County by 1845, when her husband bought land from the government. Parley migrated between 1846 and 1848. Harriet and family made the trip in 1851, brining her mother, the widow Sarah (FRENCH) LEE. Sarah (LEE) EATON and her family migrated between 1853 and 1855.

Nathaniel LEE b. 16 Apr 1770 in Southwick, Hampshire (now Hampden), MA, d. 16 Sep 1844 in Chanango, Broome, NY
+ Sarah FRENCH b. 15 Nov 1770 in Westfield, Hampshire (now Hampden), MA, d. abt. 1850 in Kane, IL

1. Sara LEE b. Aug 1803 in Milburn, NY, d. 11 Dec 1888 in Castle Creek, Broome, NY
+ James EATON b. 25 Feb 1797 in NH, m. 4 Jul 1824 in Binghampton, Broome, NY, d. 8 Oct 1864 in Hampshire, Kane, IL

2. Parley LEE b. 1806 in NY or MA, d. 5 Jun 1879 in Udina, Kane, IL
+ Mariah b. abt. 1802 in CT, d. 1877

3. Thomas LEE b. 10 Sep 1808 in Berkshire, MA, d. 27 Feb 1893 in Petersburg, Monroe, MI
+ Paulina SEWARD b. 28 Feb 1813 in Delhi, Delaware, NY, m. 2 Oct 1831, d. 4 Feb 1892 in Petersburg, Monroe, MI

4. Sabron LEE b. abt 1811 in MA, d. 1875
+ Freeman TEMPLE b. 7 Jun 1806 in MA, d. 1857 in Kane, IL

5. Harriet LEE b. 27 Apr 1813 in Chenango, NY, d. 3 Sep 1864 in North Plato, Kane, IL
+ Chandler Lambert SEWARD b. 13 Oct 1807 in Meredith, Delaware, NY. d. 7 Nov 1891 Sycamore, DeKalb, IL

1. Sarah LEE was born Aug 1803 in Milburn, NY, and died 11 Dec 1888 in Castle Creek, Broome, NY. She married James EATON on 04 Jul 1824 in Binghamton, Broome, NY. Sarah and James were my 3g-grandparents. See the James EATON page.

The death record of Sarah (LEE) EATON contains some important information. Her parents were Nathaniel LEE, born in Southwick, MA, and Sarah FRENCH, born in Westfield, MA. She died 11 Dec 1888 (surely 1988 is a typo!) and was buried in Glen Castle Cemetery, so she undoubtedly died in Broome County, NY. Her age was 85, so she was born about 1803. More specifically, between 12 Dec 1802 and 11 Dec 1803.

These dates match the gravestone in Glen Castle, which is still legible.

2. Parley LEE was born about 1806 in MA or NY. His wife was Maria or Mariah, born about 1802, in CT. They lived in Broome County, NY. Parley died on 05 Jun 1879 in Udina, Kane, IL.

Census records agree that Parley was born about 1806. The 1850 and 1870 US Censuses say he was born in NY, but the 1860 US Census and the Mortality Schedule in the 1880 US Census say he was born in MA.

The main reason to believe that Parley LEE is the brother of Sarah (LEE) EATON is that they were born 3 years apart, and both took their families from Broome County, NY to Kane County, IL about 1847. Also, they bought farms in Plato Township, a little over a mile apart.

Much less is known about Parley's wife, Mariah or Maria. She was 48 in 1850, and 58 in 1860, so born about 1802, in CT. It is not even known whether Mariah was the mother of Parley's children. It seems she was his wife in 1850 and 1860.

Their children were born in NY, probably Union, Broome, NY, except the youngest, Lyndana, born about 1848, in IL. So they moved from NY to IL between 1846 and 1848. So, about 1847, the family moved to Plato, Kane County, IL, and a large portion of the extended LEE family made the same migration at the same time, or soon after. See the Festus EATON page for more about this.

Their first known child was born in 1832, and Parley does not seem to have been a head-of-household in 1830, so I suspect that Parley and Mariah (or his 1st wife) were married about 1831, when Parley was about 25 and Mariah about 29. They had at least 9 children.

Of course, Parley and/or Mariah may have had older children who were already grown before 1850.

In 1850, Parley and Mariah had 9 children at home. The census taker has been very sloppy, and the transcriber for Ancestry has translated Parley as Perley, and Mortimer as Martina. Several other names are unclear. This family used some unusual names!

The 1860 Census has the LEE family in Plato Township. Parley is owner of real estate valued at $3,000, and personal estate $600. The birthplace of Parley is Mafs, which is Massachusetts. For Mariah it is Conn, which the transcriber at Ancestry has made Canada, but I think it is Connecticut.

The 1860 Land Ownership Map of Kane County has a 160-acre farm in Section 16, Plato Township, under the name Parley LEE, just over a mile north of J. EATON.. Several nearby properties bear the names of LEE, EATON and SEWARD. The map can be seen on the Festus EATON page.

By 1865 the family had relocated to Hampshire Township.

Mortimer LEE, son of Parley LEE and Mariah, married his first cousin, Susan A. EATON, daughter of Sara LEE and James EATON. See the James EATON page.

2. Parley Lee b. 1806 in MA or NY, d. 5 Jun 1879 in Udina, Kane, IL
+ Mariah b. abt. 1802, d. 1877
i. Mortimer LEE b. 20 May 1832 in NY, d. 24 Mar 1895
+ Susan A. EATON b. 21 Jun 1833, m. 6 Dec 1858 in Kane, IL, d. 8 Aug 1902
ii. Orenius LEE b. 1833 in NY
iii. Louisa LEE b. 1835 in NY
+ Daniel CAMPBELL b. 1826 in NY
iv. Oscar LEE b. Jul 1837 in NY, d. aft. 1900, widowed
v. Lazette LEE b. 31 Dec 1839 in NY, d. 11 Apr 1883 in NE
+ George J. SPENCER b. 29 Oct 1827 in Chenango, Broome, NY, m. 21 Apr 1855 in Kane, IL, d. 24 Dec 1903 in Grand Island, Hall, NE
vi. Orestus LEE b. 10 Jan 1842 in NY, d. 10 Jun 1921 in Saint Charles, Kane, IL
+ Romelia MACOMBE/MCCUMBER b. 1844 in NY, m. 10 Jan 1870 in De Kalb, IL, d. 1870
+ Susan MATTESON/MADISON b. 13 Jan 1848 in Norway, m. 25 Jan 1874 in Grundy, IL, d. 29 Feb 1924 in Saint Charles, Kane, IL
vii. Diantha LEE b. 6 Feb 1842 in NY, d. 24 Sep 1875
+ Cary M. CAMPBELL b. 27 Jul 1829 in NY, m. 29 Mar 1858 in Kane, IL, d. 24 Feb 1904
viii. Finette/Vinette LEE b. 1844 in NY, d. aft. 1860
ix. Lyndana/Landond LEE b. 1848 in IL, d. aft. 1860

3. Thomas LEE was born 10 Sep 1808 in Berkshire, MA, and died 27 Feb 1893 in Petersburg, Monroe, MI, age 84. His wife was Paulina SEWARD, born 28 Feb 1813 in Delhi, Delaware, NY, died 4 Feb 1892 in Petersburg, Monroe, MI, age 78. They were married on 2 Oct 1831, when Thomas was 23 and Paulina was 18. They had 5 children, of which 4 lived to adulthood, and 1 died at age almost 5.

Paulina was also called Polina, Perlina, Susannah and Patsy.

Brother and sister Thomas and Harriet LEE married sister and brother Paulina and Chandler SEWARD, whose parents were David and Susannah SEWARD. Many dates are recorded in the family Bible [LSB].

The family moved to Summerfield, Monroe County, MI between 1841 and 1850. The census says that Thomas was born in CT, but I think that is a mistake. He was working as some kind of mechanic.

3. Thomas LEE b. 10 Sep 1808 in Berkshire, MA, d. 27 Feb 1893 in Petersburg, Monroe, MI
+ Paulina SEWARD b. 28 Feb 1813 in Delhi, Delaware, NY, d. 4 Feb 1892 in Petersburg, Monroe, MI
i. Eliza F. LEE b. 12 Aug 1833 in NY, d. 28 Oct 1896
+ Dewitt Clinton GILLETT b. 5 Jan 1825 in NY, m. 11 May 1850 in Monroe, MI, d. 15 Jun 1897 in Lake Odessa, Ionia, MI
ii. Paulina LEE b. 5 Jan 1835 in NY, d. 25 Oct 1908 in Franklin, Lenawee, MI
+ Joseph Hoover SPALDING b. May 1822 in NY, m. 1856, d. 30 Apr 1914 in Franklin, Lenawee, MI
iii. Lucy Almina LEE b. 27 Oct 1840 in NY, d. 18 Oct 1906 in Summerfield, Monroe, MI
+ John SMITH b. 15 Jan 1834 in MI, m. 1870, d. 1 Sep 1908 in Monroe, MI
iv. George Washington LEE b. 9 Oct 1842, d. 24 Sep 1847
v. Thomas Farrington LEE b. 25 Aug 1850 in Petersburg, Monroe, MI, d. 19 May 1905 in Adrian, Lenawee, MI
+ Starzy Mary PERCY b. 2 Aug 1853 in Petersburg, Monroe, MI, m. 1871, d. 7 Jun 1937 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, MI

4. Sabron LEE was born about 1811 in MA, and died about 1875, age 64. Her husband was Freeman TEMPLE, born 7 Jun 1806 in MA, died about 1857 in Kane, IL, age 51. They were probably married in the early 1830s, since they had 4 children in the 1840 US Census. They are listed next to Chandler SEWARD in the census, so they probably lived together or nearby.

On 1 Sep 1845, Freeman TEMPLE purchased 40 acres of government land in Kane County, IL. This land was in Twp 41-N, Range 7-E, later known as Plato Township. Specifically, it was in Section 9, in the north central part of Plato. Freeman died in 1857, but a remnant of his farm appears in this 1860 plat map, below. Among his neighbors were L. LEE and Parley LEE.

The TEMPLE family moved from Chenango to Plato, Kane County, IL between 1840 and 1847. By 1850, Freeman had a farm valued at $1,000. They had 4 boys, probably sons, with the eldest 3 matching the 3 boys in the 1840 US Census. The girl under 5 in 1840 would have been 10 to 15 in 1850, and she was not present. The youngest boy, Lucerry, may have seemed like a grandson or other relative, but later records show that Lucian Berry TEMPLE was a son of Freeman and Sabron.

4. Sabron LEE b. 1811 in MA, d. 1875, bur. Willow Lawn Cemetery, Plainfield, Bremer County, IA
+ Freeman TEMPLE b. 7 Jun 1806 in MA, d. 1857 in Kane, IL
i. Edward Faber TEMPLE b. Oct 1832 in NY, d. 1905
+ Rhoda DORMAN b. Mar 1834 in NY, m. 22 Jul 1852 in Kane, IL, d. 1913
ii. James R. TEMPLE b. 1833 in NY
+ Harriet L. SAWIN m. 29 Aug 1852 in Kane, IL
iii. Edwin TEMPLE b. 1835 in NY, d. 7 Aug 1894
+ Clarinda Adelia THRALL b. 1850 in NY, m. 24 Sep 1865 in Kane, IL
iv. Lucian Burr TEMPLE b. 1 Nov 1846, d. 3 Apr 1923 in Nora Springs, Floyd, IA
+ Martha Effie SUTCLIFFE b. Sep 1853 in WI, m. 1874, d. 14 Jul 1924 in Nora Springs, Floyd, IA

5. Harriet LEE was born 25 Apr 1813 in Chenango County, NY, and died 03 Sep 1864 in Kane County, IL. She married on 28 Nov 1830 in Broome County, NY, to Chandler Lambert SEWARD, born 13 Oct 1807 in Kortwright, Delaware County, NY, and died 07 Nov 1891 in Kane County, IL.

Chandler, sometimes called Chandley, preferred the name Lambert.

Chandler was the son of David SEWARD and Susannah SMITH. David's parents were Enos SEWARD and Sarah. These SEWARDs were probably related to Levi SEWARD, my 3g-grandfather, and Susannah may be related to Levi's mother, Martha SMITH, since they all lived in Broome County, but I have not yet found the connection.

The birth and death dates for Harriet and Chandler are inscribed on their shared gravestone in the North Plato Cemetery, Kane County, IL. The dates and places are also recorded in the biography of son-in-law William H. ROBINSON (below).

Kortright (not Courtwright), Delaware County, NY, the birthplace of Chandler Lambert SEWARD, was formed from the town of Harpersfield in 1793. Delaware County is on the east side of Broome County.

Three months after Harriet died, on 4 Dec 1864 in Kane County, IL, Chandler remarried, to Eliza BABCOCK, born 15 Sep 1847 in Pen Yan, NY, died about 1907. So he was 51, with 4 children, and she was 17, younger than all 4 children. Chandler and Eliza had 7 more children.

The family had 2 daughters and 1 son in 1840. William, the youngest, was born in 1843. Mary Jane, the oldest, married in 1848.

They had 3 children at home in the 1850 US Census. They lived in Chenango, Broome, NY with several other LEE families. The family moved from Broome County, NY to Kane County, IL in 1851, joining Harriet's brother, Parley LEE and his family, in Plato Township. (That census appears higher on this page because Harriet's mother, Sarah (FRENCH) LEE, was living with them.)

William H. ROBINSON married Sabron C. SEWARD in 1858. His biography gives some information about her family. Her parents were Chandley Lambert SEWARD and Harriet LEE. The parents of Harriet LEE were Nathaniel LEE and Sarah FRENCH. So we have confirmed that Harriet, in the 1850 Census (above), was indeed the daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah. Furthermore, Harriet was born on 25 Apr 1813, in Chenango County, which borders the north part of Broome County, in New York. Nathaniel and Sarah came to New York by way of Connecticut. Nathaniel was a fine cabinet maker, not a farmer, as most of his sons seem to have been. We also have details about Harriet's 4 children, and Sabron's 4 children.

5. Chandler Lambert SEWARD b: 13 Oct 1807 in Courtwright, Delaware, NY, d: 7 Nov 1891 in Kane, IL
+ Harriet LEE b: 25 Apr 1813 in Chenango, NY, m: 28 Nov 1830 in Broome, NY, d: 3 Sep 1864 in Kane, IL
......i. Mary Jane SEWARD b: 15 Nov 1831 in Norwich, Chenango, NY, d: 29 Apr 1909 in Kaneville, Kane, IL
...... + HOLMES
......ii. Nathaniel Edrick SEWARD b: 30 Dec 1834 in Romulus, Seneca, NY, d: 14 May 1912
...... + Permelia HOLT m: 1858 in Kane, IL
......iii. Sabron Cecelia SEWARD b: 18 Oct 1837 in Romulus, Seneca, NY, d: 21 Nov 1917 in Sycamore, De Kalb, IL
...... + William H. ROBINSON b: 9 Jan 1835 in Bradford, Canada, m: 1 Aug 1858
......iv. William Wallace SEWARD b: 3 Sep 1843 in NY, d: 04 Aug 1914 in Goodwell, Newaygo, MI
...... + Mary J. OWEN m: 1864 in Kane, IL
+ Eliza BABCOCK b: 14 Sep 1847 in Pen Yan, Yates, NY, m: 4 Dec 1864 in Kane, IL, d: 6 Feb 1907 in Plato, Kane, IL

Sources

[BCM] Map of Broome County, NY from 1855, in various sizes

[BDK] The biographical record of De Kalb County, Illinois (1898)

[HPS] History of Broome County, New York, by H. P. Smith, 1885

[JWL] Annals of Castle Creek, N.Y., and vicinity, together with genealogies of some of the early families, by Julius Whiting Lilly, 1905

[LSB] Lee-Seward Bible - Transcription from the Bible of Thomas Lee and Paulina Seward (requires Ancestry)

[MQB] A Genealogical History of the French and Allied Families, by Mary Queal Beyer, 1912

[MWT] Nathaniel Lee on Michael Ward's Tree (requires Ancestry license)

[WWL] Lee family quarter-millennial gathering : of the descendants and kinsmen of John Lee, one of the early settlers of Farmington (1884) by William Wallace Lee (requires Ancestry license)

Updated 4 Jul 2022 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.