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Hannah Harrison Ludwell Lee (December 5, 1701 – January 25, 1750) was an American colonial heiress and the wife of Colonel Thomas Lee. A granddaughter of Philip Ludwell and Benjamin Harrison II, she was a prominent figure within the American gentry. She grew up at
Green Spring Plantation Green Spring Plantation in James City County about west of Williamsburg, was the 17th century plantation of one of the more popular governors of Colonial Virginia in North America, Sir William Berkeley, and his wife, Frances Culpeper Berk ...
, her family's estate in James City County, and lived a privileged life typical of members of the Virginia planter class. Upon her marriage, she became a member of the
Lee family The Lee family of the United States is a historically significant Virginia and Maryland political family, whose many prominent members are known for their accomplishments in politics and the military. The family became prominent in colonial Bri ...
, bringing a large dowry and social prestige to the family. With her dowry, she and her husband built Stratford Hall, the family seat of the Lees.


Early life and family

Lee was born Hannah Harrison Ludwell on December 5, 1701 at
Green Spring Plantation Green Spring Plantation in James City County about west of Williamsburg, was the 17th century plantation of one of the more popular governors of Colonial Virginia in North America, Sir William Berkeley, and his wife, Frances Culpeper Berk ...
to Hannah Harrison Ludwell and Philip Cottington Ludwell II. She was their second daughter. Her father served as a member of the Virginia Governor's Council and was an auditor of the king's revenue. Her paternal grandfather, Philip Ludwell, was the first Governor of the
Province of Carolina Province of Carolina was a province of England (1663–1707) and Great Britain (1707–1712) that existed in North America and the Caribbean from 1663 until partitioned into North and South on January 24, 1712. It is part of present-day Alaba ...
and served as Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses. Through her mother, Ludwell was a descendant of the Harrison family of Virginia. Her maternal grandfather, Benjamin Harrison II, served as a sheriff, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, and as a member of the Governor's Council. She was a niece of Benjamin Harrison III. Lee's brother, Philip Ludwell III, was the earliest-known
Eastern Orthodox Christian Eastern Orthodoxy, also known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity, is one of the three main branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholicism and Protestantism. Like the Pentarchy of the first millennium, the mainstream (or "canonical") ...
in North America after his conversion to
Russian Orthodoxy Russian Orthodoxy (russian: Русское православие) is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, whose liturgy is or was traditionally conducted in Church Slavonic language. Most C ...
in 1738.


Marriage and children

In May 1722 she married Thomas Lee at her family's plantation. She brought a large dowry, as well as social and political prestige, to the marriage, therefore increasing her husband's wealth and status in the colony. She and her husband had eleven children: * Richard Lee (b. 1723) * Philip Ludwell Lee (February 24, 1726 – February 21, 1775) * John Lee (b. 1728 d. 1782) * Hannah Ludwell Lee (February 1729 – 1782) * Thomas Ludwell Lee (December 13, 1730 – April 13, 1778); a member of the Virginia Delegates and editor of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. * Richard Henry Lee (January 20, 1732 – January 19, 1794); signer of the United States Declaration of IndependenceAlexander, ''Stratford Hall and the Lees Connected with its History'' (1912) p. 86 & p. 103 *
Francis Lightfoot Lee Francis Lightfoot Lee (October 14, 1734 – January 11, 1797) was a Founding Father of the United States and a member of the House of Burgesses in the Colony of Virginia. As an active protester regarding issues such as the Stamp Act of 1765, L ...
(October 14, 1734 – January 11, 1797); signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Married Rebecca Tayloe, daughter of John Tayloe II of Mount Airy. Tayloe built
Menokin Menokin, also known as Francis Lightfoot Lee House, was the plantation of Francis Lightfoot Lee near Warsaw, Virginia, built for him by his wife's father, John Tayloe II, of nearby Mount Airy. Lee, a Founding Father, was a signer of the United ...
for his daughter and her new husband. * Alice Lee (June 4, 1736 – March 25, 1817) * William Lee (August 31, 1737 – June 27, 1795) * James Lee (b. and d. 1739) * Arthur Lee (December 21, 1740 – December 12, 1792) The family lived on a plantation in
Machodoc Machodoc is an unincorporated community in Westmoreland County, in the U.S. state of Virginia. History A post office called Machodoc was established in 1872, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1955. Machodoc is a name derive ...
until it was destroyed by a fire in 1728. Lee, who was pregnant with her fourth child, was thrown from her room on the second floor in order to escape the flames, resulting in the miscarriage of a son. The family reportedly lost no less than 50,000 pounds due to the fire. The British government later gave her husband 300 pounds as compensation, and Queen Caroline gave them money to finance rebuilding the plantation. While their home was being rebuilt, the family stayed at
Lee Hall Mansion Lee Hall or Lee Hall Mansion is a historic brick plantation house that was built during the period from 1848 to 1859. The community of Lee Hall, Virginia is named for it. The house and village are located near the junction of U.S. 60 and VA 238 ...
, the home of Lee's brother-in-law. The family later lived at Stratford Hall in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Lee's husband built Stratford with money from her dowry. She played a significant role in the design and construction of the house. Lee's husband served as a vestryman, a justice of the peace, as a member of the House of Burgesses, and as a member of the Governor's Council. He served as ''de facto'' governor of the colony in 1749, when he was named President of the King's Council of Virginia after Governor William Gooch was recalled to England. He was nominated for an appointment as governor by George II, but died before the appointment took place.


Death and burial

She died on January 25, 1750 at Stratford Hall. She was buried in the Burnt House Fields Cemetery at Mount Pleasant in January 1751. Her grave was later moved to Stratford.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ludwell Lee, Hannah Harrison 1701 births 1750 deaths Colonial American women
Hannah Hannah or Hanna may refer to: People, biblical figures, and fictional characters * Hannah (name), a female given name of Hebrew origin * Hanna (Arabic name), a family and a male given name of Christian Arab origin * Hanna (Irish surname), a famil ...
Hannah Hannah or Hanna may refer to: People, biblical figures, and fictional characters * Hannah (name), a female given name of Hebrew origin * Hanna (Arabic name), a family and a male given name of Christian Arab origin * Hanna (Irish surname), a famil ...
Hannah Hannah or Hanna may refer to: People, biblical figures, and fictional characters * Hannah (name), a female given name of Hebrew origin * Hanna (Arabic name), a family and a male given name of Christian Arab origin * Hanna (Irish surname), a famil ...
People from James City County, Virginia Spouses of British politicians Virginia colonial people