Richard Lee
Recent identification of Richard's parents shows that he was from Worcestershire, England. His father was John Lee, a clothier whose business was in Worcester. His mother was Jane Hancock from Twining, twelve miles south of Worcester. They were probably married before 1616. Richard was the second son, and was christened on 22 March 1618. It was after his mother's death that Richard set sail for Virginia, arriving in Jamestown late 1639 or early 1640. He was in the party of Sir Francis Wyatt, who had been appointed governor of Virginia in 1639. Because of his connection to Governor Wyatt, Richard obtained position (1640) as clerk of the quarter court in the secretary of state's office. Among others on the voyage to Virginia, was Anne Constable, Richard's future wife. Her family had connections to the Wyatt's and other important associations which aided Richard in his remarkable success once he arrived in Virginia. Even when the crown appointed Sir William Berkeley as Governor in 1642, Richard held his position. Richard's first land patent appears in 1642, 1000 acres on Poropotank Creek, estuary of the York. There were no other settlers in this region. This estate grew to 1500 acres and they named it "Paradise". Richard continued to gain influence and wealth. He was appointed Attorney-General in 1643. In 1646 he held position as Sheriff of York County, in 1647 he was Burgess of York County, and 1649 he was named Secretary of State. He became a Member of Council in 1651 until the Puritan House of Burgesses took over under Cromwell. About this time Richard and family moved to the southern part of the "Northern Neck" between the Rappahannock and the Potomac Rivers, onto his acquired acreage which they named "Dividing Creek". In addition, he established two other plantations in what was to become Northumberland County. Estates built from Richard's holdings included: Lee Hall, Ditchley, Cobb's Hall, Mount Pleasant, Blenheim. At his death in 1664, Richard Lee owned 13,000 acres; more than any other Virginian. Besides the Virginia land holdings, Richard, in 1658, was moved to purchase a large estate outside of London, named "Stratford - Langton". In Richard's will, written in February, 1664, he directs that the London estate be sold, and for Anne to bring the family back to Virginia, for the Lee children to be raised as Americans and inherit his land holdings and accumulated wealth. Richard passed away at Dividing Creek on 1 March 1664.