07/09/2015
Research by Antoinette Lee: Lee Family R/T 3rd great grandfather John C. Calhoun Brief Bio: Antoinette is a published author, whose work is used in colleges around the country. She has made several television appearances regarding her non-fictional work. Additionally, she is a historical researcher, whose work has inspired archaeological digs and contributions to historical societies throughout the southern portion of the United States. Furthermore, she is an entrepreneur among other talents and accomplishments.
Oral family history:
The Lee Family
Martha Liza (Lizella) Lee was born a slave between 1803 and 1820. She was a full blooded Indian, probably a Cherokee. Martha, who called herself Lizella was owned by a family, surname “Lee” who lived in Anderson County, South Carolina. Oral family history says that she became the mistress of VP John C. Calhoun who served under Andrew Jackson. Martha had several children by John C. Calhoun. Nancy Lee who was born about 1830, Richard Lee unknown birthdate, Jacob Lee (my 2nd great-grandfather) born about 1845 in Calhoun Falls, SC. Nancy Lee lived in the Fort Hill Plantation, John C. Calhoun‟s main house „the mansion.
Nancy Lee sewed clothes for the other slaves and she did not work hard labor/field labor. Nancy Lee had blue eyes and blond hair and to distinguish her from the other White Calhoun females, she was ordered to wear a scarf over her head. Floride Calhoun, the wife of John C. Calhoun was upset that her husband would allow his slave birth child (illegitimate daughter) to reside in their home. John C. Calhoun did not believe in selling his slaves but his wife demanded that Martha Liza‟s children, Richard and Nancy be sold. Date unknown: 12 year old Nancy was sold to the Brattey family of Mt. Carmel, South Carolina. Richard Lee was sold to “Speculators in Texas” The Lee family never recovered Richard. After Martha Liza children were sold, she gave birth to Jacob Lee (my 2rd great grandfather).I believe that Martha Liza had two other children, Dinah and John by John C. Calhoun.
When John C. Calhoun died Martha Liza Lee left Fort Hill. Around 1953 she married Abram Lee and they had children. It is not known why they both had the surname of Lee. Maybe Martha was his wife before her engagement with Calhoun. Maybe they came from the same Lee plantation. Whatever the case, Martha was allowed to keep her surname “Lee”.
Martha Liza Lee was at a picnic in Anderson County and little did she know that Nancy was also at this picnic. When Martha realized that Nancy was her daughter, she fainted. Martha Liza Lee reunited with her daughter that was torn away from her by slavery. They had the opportunity to bond again. Martha Lizella Lee died in 1913 in Anderson County, South Carolina. A family by the surname of Cothran and Marshall white relatives of Nancy continue to visit with her, her children and her grandchildren (after slavery ended)
This oral family history was written in the early 1900s by one of Nancy‟s children. I was told
this history by Edith McIntosh.
Antoinette Lee
DNA
My DNA: This writer Antoinette Lee‟s DNA matches numerous, Calhoun/ Ewing/ Calhoon/Caldwell relatives of John C. Calhoun. Particularly Ezekiel Calhoun‟s line Patrick Calhoun‟s brother.
Here is just one example:
DNA profile name: Lovesnotes. Ancestry DNA says: the confidence is high that we are 4th to 6th cousins.
Lovesnotes direct line is:
James Calhoun 1741 in PA married Sarah Taylor and their daughter was Mary Calhoun 1765-1839 James Stephen Calhoun 1843 married Caroline White
James Calhoun‟s parents were: Hugh Colhoun born in 1692 in the Crosh House estate in Tyrone, Ireland. In 1715, he married Agnes J. McCleary. Hugh Colhoun died in 1753.
Children of Hugh Colhoun and Agnes Jane McCleary were
(Mine) Martha Calhoun was born in 1719, Drummontolen, Ireland, She married John Caldwell, 1739.
(Lovenotes) James Calhoun, born in 1723, Drummontolen, Ireland; died on February 04, 1799 in PA and married. Sarah Taylor, May 17, 1753. They had seven more children, I did not list
My Martha Calhoun and your/;lovenotes James Calhoun were siblings.
My Martha Calhoun married John Caldwell and they had Martha Caldwell 1750-1802. Martha Caldwell married Patrick Calhoun 1727- 1796. Their son is my 3rd great grandfather US president and US senator John C Calhoun (1782-1850)
US Census (documentation) briefly
Martha Liza Lee enslaved mistress to Confederate Vice President, US senator John C. Calhoun
son Jacob Lee.
Jacob Lee 1844-1918
According to the 1870/1880/1900/ US Census Jacob Lee was born between 1844-1849.
In 1870, Jacob Lee married Eliza Simmons, they had several children one of which was Peter
Lee.
Peter Lee 1868-1927
According to the 1870/1880/1900/ US Census Peter Lee was born in the month of April year 1868. Peter Lee married Rachel Lee in 1886. Rachel and Peter lived in Anderson County . Peter Lee was a carriage driver and Rachel Lee owned and operated a hotel/diner “The Ice Cream Shoppe. Since there were no hotels that allowed Natives and African Americans, Rachel‟s hotel welcomed traveling minorities a safe and comfortable haven. Rachel and Peter Lee had several children one of which was Henry Lee.
Henry Lee 1891-1955
Henry Lee was born on March 28, 1891. Henry Lee left Anderson County, SC and moved to PA. In Philadelphia, Henry Lee owned and operated a furniture store. Henry Lee married twice, he married Mary Elizabeth Kirk and they had several children. Henry married Lottie Ollie R. Brown and they had several children one of which was Charles Edward Lee.
Charles Edward Lee 1921-2011
Charles Edward Lee had several wives and children. Charles Edward Lee married Marguerite Davis they had several children one of which was Antoinette Lee (this writer)
Slave Records
Lee family owned Martha Liza Lizella Lee. Ending with Calhoun family relationship with John C. Cahoun.
Records from South Carolina Department of Archives and History retrieved from
http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/Search.aspx?br=1
Series: S213003 Volume: 005K Page: 00400 Item: 000 Date: 4/13/1831
Description: GAILLARD, SEXTUS T. TO THOMAS AND STEPHEN LEE, TRUSTEES FOR JEREMIAH AND CAROLINE DICKINSON, BILL OF SALE FOR A SLAVE NAMED LIZA, ABOUT 14 YEARS OLD.
Names indexed: DICKINSON, CAROLINE; DICKINSON, JEREMIAH; GAILLARD, SEXTUS T.; LEE, STEPHEN; LEE, THOMAS; LIZA (SLAVE)
Locations:
Document type: BILL OF SALE
Series: S108093 Reel: 0003 Frame: 00241 Item: 000 Date: 9/14/1840
Description: SPEED, MARTHA S. OF ABBEVILLE DISTRICT, WILL TYPESCRIPT (1
5
FRAME) (ESTATE PACKET: BOX 89, PKG. 2210)
Names indexed: ARMISTEAD, AJAX; BAKER, S.S.; CALHOUN, MARY JANE; CALHOUN, WILLIAM M.; HOLT, ANNA ELIZA; HOLT, ELIZABETH; HOLT, MARTHA; LEE, THOMAS; LIZZY (SLAVE); LUCY (SLAVE); REID, J.S.; SPEED, JOHN B.; SPEED, MARTHA S.; TAGGART, JAMES
Locations: ABBEVILLE DISTRICT
Document type: WILL (TYPESCRIPT)
Who is Martha Speed in the 1840 Will
According to the US Census several genealogy records
Martha Calhoun married John Speed in 1830
Martha Calhoun: Born 1812 in Long Cane Settlement, Abbeville, South Carolina, USA
Death 04 Oct 1840 in Abbeville, Abbeville, South Carolina, USA
Daughter of Martha Patsey Moseley and Col Joseph Calhoun Birth 22 Oct 1750 in Staunton, Augusta, Virginia, USA Death 14 Apr 1817 in Long Cane Creek, Abbeville, South Carolina, USA
Col Joseph Calhoun father was William Caldwell CALHOUN Capt
Birth 12 Feb 1727 in Drummontolen, Donegal, Ireland
Death 1790 in Long Cane Creek, Abbeville, South Carolina, USA States
Next record we find Martha Liza Lizzy Lizella is in records housed at Clemson University Fort Hill Plantation of John C. Calhoun.
Provided by William Hiott Historian of Clemson University.
(See page 7.)
