John Constable Lee (1643 – 1673), the Oxford educated eldest son of London merchant and Virginia planter

Richard Lee I Richard Lee I (1618 – 1 March 1664) (later nicknamed "The Immigrant") was the first member of the Lee family to live in America (although he also considered himself an English gentleman). Poor when he arrived in Virginia in 1639 on a ship ...

accompanied his father on several of his voyages between London and its Virginia colony, as well as became a planter and official in Westmoreland County, including a term in the

House of Burgesses The House of Burgesses was the elected representative element of the Virginia General Assembly, the legislative body of the Colony of Virginia. With the creation of the House of Burgesses in 1642, the General Assembly, which had been established ...

shortly before his death.

Early and family life

Named after his paternal grandfather or uncle, John Lee was born near Tindall's Creek on the north side of the York River shortly after his newly married parents moved away from the Virginia colony's capital at Jamestown, and as an infant escaped with them from a major Native American raid in 1644 that killed many English settlers and their native allies. He grew up at his father's various newly established plantations in Virginia, then sailed to England to study at

Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

in preparation to becoming a physician.

Career

However, after graduation he did not become a doctor, but instead assisted his father with the family's business interests, both mercantile and agricultural. John Lee probably accompanied his father on his last voyage to Virginia, where Richard Lee died on his Northumberland County plantation, after naming John Lee as his executor. John Lee inherited three islands in

Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the ...

from his father, as well as the Machodoc plantation in Westmoreland County. In addition to operating the plantation (using his own, indentured and enslaved labor), Lee became an important person in Westmoreland County. He led its militia, including representing it on a joint committee with neighboring Northumberland and Stafford Counties to defend against Native American raids in 1666, and in 1673 he, Col.

John Washington John Washington (1633–1677) was an English merchant who emigrated across the Atlantic Ocean and became a planter, soldier and politician in colonial Virginia. In addition to leading the local militia, and running his own plantations, Washin ...

and others served on a commission to arrange the boundary line between Lancaster and Northumberland Counties. Lee also served as Westmoreland County's high sheriff at various times, as well as justice of the county court. Westmoreland County voters elected John Lee as one of the county's two delegates to the

in 1673, and he succeeded his younger brother

Richard Lee II Colonel Richard Lee II ( – ) was an American planter, politician and military officer from Northumberland County, Virginia who served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly and was captured during Bacon's Rebellion. Early life Bor ...

(who had served as one of the county's two delegates to the House of Burgesses in 1671 and 1672).

Death and legacy

John Lee never married, and died at his home later that year. Although Richard Lee II had only inherited property in Gloucester County from his father, after his brother John's death, he not only inherited his brother's significant library, but also assumed responsibility as their father's executor, as well as inherited the Machodoc plantation (to which he moved his family). Machodoc would burn down in 1729, but a historical marker notes its continued use as the Lee family cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, John Constable 1643 births 1673 deaths People from Westmoreland County, Virginia

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

House of Burgesses members American people of English descent American planters People from colonial Virginia