September 6th is the 200th anniversary of John D. Lee's birth. To celebrate this momentus event I am taking my family to see the sites of John D. Lee's early life before he moved west. I am inviting others to go along with us. My mom is 95 and I am excited for her to see the things I have discovered as I have made many trips back to the area. Two of my sisters and one of their husbands and my husband are all making the trip.
The schedule right now is to go to Nauvoo on June 19th. We will only be spending the day there. If you wish to see more, go on Monday and we will meet you there.
On Wednesday, June 20th, we will be looking at John D. Lee's property near Vandalia when he was married to Aggatha Ann, the property that belonged to his half sister and her husband in the area, and the state house that was built while he was there.
Thursday, June 21st will be the longest tour day, but the shortest drive. We will go to Kaskaskia and Randolph County. We will tour Kaskaskia, look at the new church, the bell that rang from the old church, the area that Ralph had his property, the property that John D. Lee inherited from his mother. The property that Elizabeth homesteaded with her first husband, and the property she inherited from her grandfather, Henry Smith. You will hear stories about all of them and their families.
Our home base will be St. Louis. If you want to know what hotel we are staying at and any other information, email me at ersdurfee at yahoo.com.
You will be responsible for your own meals and own hotel rooms. For those who let me know they are coming I will give you contact information for me and print up a booklet of the sites we will be visiting. There will be a small charge for the booklet.
If you are on facebook, let me know who you are and I will invite you to our "event." I keep that posted with the latest information.
Showing posts with label Elizabeth Doyle Reed Lee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elizabeth Doyle Reed Lee. Show all posts
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Elizabeth Doyle and John Doyle
My mother was born in Nashville, Tennessee.
This has neither been verified nor disproved. Elizabeth was probably born in Randolph County, Illinois. Elizabeth needed to be old enough to marry Reed by 1805 and have Eliza Virginia in 1806. If Elizabeth were minimally 14 years old when she got married, she would have to be born before 1791. If she got married as early as 1799, as John D. Lee says, she would definitely be born in Randolph County, Illinois, where her parents lived from the time they were married until 1789.
John D. Lee probably got the information for his mother's birth from Charlotte. Charlotte probably was not born in Illinois, but was probably born where ever the Doyles were living after they left Illinois in 1789 and before they returned in 1796. It could have been Nashville, Tennessee, but no proof has been found of the Doyles living there.
She was the daughter of John Doyle,
Joseph Page's deposition states the relationship between John Doyle and his daughter, Eliza or Betsey. See below.
who for many years held the position of Indian Agent over the roving tribes of Indians in southeastern Illinois.
Records stating that John Doyle was an Indian agent have not been found. They are probably in Federal records.
He served in the war of the Revolution,
John Doyle was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. In Randolph County Probate Book A p. 47, is the following: "Joseph Page personally well knew John Doyle a private in the Illinois Regiment under the Command of Colonel George Rogers Clark during the revolutionary war - that his name is on the printed list of said Regiment - he died in this state about fifteen years ago leaving ifsue [issue], Charlotte wife of James Conner and Eliza or Betsey whose first husband was named (blank) Reed by whom she had one daughter Eliza, and whose second husband was Ralph Lee by whom she had one child John D. Lee who have survived her."
and was wounded in one of the many battles in which he took part with the Sons of Liberty against the English oppressors.
No record of John Doyle being wounded has been found. If it were a long-lasting, permanent injury, John D. Lee may have personally known and remembered that about his grandfather.
About (p. 37) the year 1796, he was appointed Indian Agent,
See above comment about Indian Agent.
and moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois.
In 1796 John Doyle and his family returned to Illinois, and moved to Kaskaskia. (See information in blog John Doyle married Chloe Smith.) John and Chloe may have settled on property left to Chloe by her father, Henry Smith, in his will.
This has neither been verified nor disproved. Elizabeth was probably born in Randolph County, Illinois. Elizabeth needed to be old enough to marry Reed by 1805 and have Eliza Virginia in 1806. If Elizabeth were minimally 14 years old when she got married, she would have to be born before 1791. If she got married as early as 1799, as John D. Lee says, she would definitely be born in Randolph County, Illinois, where her parents lived from the time they were married until 1789.
John D. Lee probably got the information for his mother's birth from Charlotte. Charlotte probably was not born in Illinois, but was probably born where ever the Doyles were living after they left Illinois in 1789 and before they returned in 1796. It could have been Nashville, Tennessee, but no proof has been found of the Doyles living there.
She was the daughter of John Doyle,
Joseph Page's deposition states the relationship between John Doyle and his daughter, Eliza or Betsey. See below.
who for many years held the position of Indian Agent over the roving tribes of Indians in southeastern Illinois.
Records stating that John Doyle was an Indian agent have not been found. They are probably in Federal records.
He served in the war of the Revolution,
John Doyle was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. In Randolph County Probate Book A p. 47, is the following: "Joseph Page personally well knew John Doyle a private in the Illinois Regiment under the Command of Colonel George Rogers Clark during the revolutionary war - that his name is on the printed list of said Regiment - he died in this state about fifteen years ago leaving ifsue [issue], Charlotte wife of James Conner and Eliza or Betsey whose first husband was named (blank) Reed by whom she had one daughter Eliza, and whose second husband was Ralph Lee by whom she had one child John D. Lee who have survived her."
and was wounded in one of the many battles in which he took part with the Sons of Liberty against the English oppressors.
No record of John Doyle being wounded has been found. If it were a long-lasting, permanent injury, John D. Lee may have personally known and remembered that about his grandfather.
About (p. 37) the year 1796, he was appointed Indian Agent,
See above comment about Indian Agent.
and moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois.
In 1796 John Doyle and his family returned to Illinois, and moved to Kaskaskia. (See information in blog John Doyle married Chloe Smith.) John and Chloe may have settled on property left to Chloe by her father, Henry Smith, in his will.
Elizabeth Doyle's marriage to Ralph Lee and children
After the death of Reed, my mother went back to Kaskaskia and lived in her father's family until she married my father in the year 1808.
In the Indiana 1810 census, John Doyle is found in Kaskaskia. His wife is dead. With him are two women who fit the ages of Elizabeth and Charlotte. There are also two young children that fit the ages of Eliza and a male child between the ages of 0 and 5.
R. Lee (probably Ralph) is listed two lines below John Doyle in the same census, showing they were probably fairly close neighbors. Eliza married Ralph on 26 February 1811, not 1808.
Marriage certificate of Ralph Lee and Elizabeth Reed
They were married by the Justice of the Peace, Philip Fouke. The County Clerk in Randolph County has a copy of the original record. When asked where the original records were she said they were in Springfield.
My mother had two children by my father -- that is William Oliver and myself.
Since Ralph and Elizabeth were married on 26 February 1811, it is highly unlikely that John D. Lee had an older brother whose father was Ralph Lee. The earliest William Oliver could be born legitimately would be in December 1811 and Elizabeth would have to get pregnant immediately to have John D. on the 12th of September, 1812. In addition, no child of Ralph and Elizabeth was baptized near this time.
John D. Lee gives three children for his mother, a girl and two boys. In Kaskaskia church records there are three baptisms for children of Elizabeth or Eliza Doyle, a girl and two boys.
Baptism record of Benjamin Rode
Digital image can be found at http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=3;c=1388122;w=403
Go to image 208 (p. 267) in the middle of the page.
This is after Oliver Reed is dead and before Elizabeth married Ralph. Of note, in the records of baptisms for her other children it states that she had a legitimate or legal marriage. In this record nothing is stated regarding a marriage. This child would be less than 5 in the 1810 census, which fits with the census information.
My brother, William Oliver, died when about two years old.
William Oliver (ne Benjamin Rode) could die at two years of age (1811) show up on the 1810 census and be dead even before Elizabeth and Ralph marry and definitely before John D. is born.
At the time of my birth my father was considered one of the leading men of that section of country;
Ralph associated with some of the prominent men in Kaskaskia. One of the people with whom he associated was the justice of the peace, Phillip Fouke. At a corner's inquest held June 1810, those listed as being at Phillip Fouke's house on the night of the 8th of June and giving depositions were: Francis Gardner (signed with a mark), Philip Rochblave, Ralph Lee, Isaac Postewaight, William Stringer, John Goings, Samuel Wells, Ju [Jr.], Samuel _____, John Young, Jonathan Sampson, Moses Wooden [Wooten] (signed with a mark), and Frederick Miller. Others attending were John Fleming and James Lee. Ralph Lee came to the Fouke home with Moses Wooden and Francis Gardner(Sapp 28-29).
he was a master workman, sober and attentive to business, prompt and punctual to his engagements.
He contracted largely and carried on a heavy business; he erected a magnificent mansion, for that age and country, on his land adjoining the town of Kaskaskia.
Ralph Lee did purchase property that was not Elizabeth's. This land was in Kaskaskia. It was land previously a part of John Edgar's orchard.
This tract of land was the property of my mother when she married my father.
In the Indiana 1810 census, John Doyle is found in Kaskaskia. His wife is dead. With him are two women who fit the ages of Elizabeth and Charlotte. There are also two young children that fit the ages of Eliza and a male child between the ages of 0 and 5.
R. Lee (probably Ralph) is listed two lines below John Doyle in the same census, showing they were probably fairly close neighbors. Eliza married Ralph on 26 February 1811, not 1808.
Marriage certificate of Ralph Lee and Elizabeth Reed
My mother had two children by my father -- that is William Oliver and myself.
Since Ralph and Elizabeth were married on 26 February 1811, it is highly unlikely that John D. Lee had an older brother whose father was Ralph Lee. The earliest William Oliver could be born legitimately would be in December 1811 and Elizabeth would have to get pregnant immediately to have John D. on the 12th of September, 1812. In addition, no child of Ralph and Elizabeth was baptized near this time.
John D. Lee gives three children for his mother, a girl and two boys. In Kaskaskia church records there are three baptisms for children of Elizabeth or Eliza Doyle, a girl and two boys.
In the archives of the Catholic church in Belleville, there was a baptism for a Benjamin Rode, on Jan 29, 1809, with parents Jean/John [Rode] and Elizabeth Daille/Doyle. The child was born the 27th of January.
Baptism record of Benjamin RodeDigital image can be found at http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=3;c=1388122;w=403
Go to image 208 (p. 267) in the middle of the page.
This is after Oliver Reed is dead and before Elizabeth married Ralph. Of note, in the records of baptisms for her other children it states that she had a legitimate or legal marriage. In this record nothing is stated regarding a marriage. This child would be less than 5 in the 1810 census, which fits with the census information.
My brother, William Oliver, died when about two years old.
William Oliver (ne Benjamin Rode) could die at two years of age (1811) show up on the 1810 census and be dead even before Elizabeth and Ralph marry and definitely before John D. is born.
At the time of my birth my father was considered one of the leading men of that section of country;
Ralph associated with some of the prominent men in Kaskaskia. One of the people with whom he associated was the justice of the peace, Phillip Fouke. At a corner's inquest held June 1810, those listed as being at Phillip Fouke's house on the night of the 8th of June and giving depositions were: Francis Gardner (signed with a mark), Philip Rochblave, Ralph Lee, Isaac Postewaight, William Stringer, John Goings, Samuel Wells, Ju [Jr.], Samuel _____, John Young, Jonathan Sampson, Moses Wooden [Wooten] (signed with a mark), and Frederick Miller. Others attending were John Fleming and James Lee. Ralph Lee came to the Fouke home with Moses Wooden and Francis Gardner(Sapp 28-29).
he was a master workman, sober and attentive to business, prompt and punctual to his engagements.
He contracted largely and carried on a heavy business; he erected a magnificent mansion, for that age and country, on his land adjoining the town of Kaskaskia.
Ralph Lee did purchase property that was not Elizabeth's. This land was in Kaskaskia. It was land previously a part of John Edgar's orchard.
This tract of land was the property of my mother when she married my father.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Family information given to us by JDL
(p. 40) ...I got a letter from my sister, informing me of her marriage to Josiah Nichols, a nephew of Barker Berry, the sheriff of Fayette county, Illinois, and inviting me to visit them. Nichols was a wealthy man, and lived sixteen miles north of Vandalia.
Eliza Virginia married Isaiah Nichols, rather than Josiah Nichols. This could have been misinterpreted by the person who "co-authored" the book.
All I know of my father, after I was eight years of age, is, that he went to Texas in the year 1820, and I have never heard of him since. What his fate was I never knew.
If Ralph went to Texas in 1820, he returned in 1826. He is involved in a court case in Randolph County at that time. Mr. Archambeau owed Ralph money and Ralph won the case. His lawyer was Sidney Breese. John D. Lee would be fourteen at this point in time. It does not look like Ralph looked his son up at that time. Charlotte could have been ornery enough that he didn't dare visit his son.
The phrase, "went to Texas" frequently referred to a person who left town and was never heard from again.
When my mother died, my uncle and aunt Conner took all the property--a large tract of land, several slaves, household and kitchen furniture, and all; and, as I had no guardian, I never received any portion of the property...
The slaves were set free by an act of the Legislature; the land was sold for taxes, and was hardly worth redeeming when I came of age; so I sold my interest in all the land that had belonged to my mother, and made a quit-claim deed to it to Sidney (p.41) Breeze, a lawyer of Kaskaskia, in consideration of $200. My sister, by the kindness of Dr. Fisher, her guardian, received a much greater price for her interest in the land than I did.
I was born on the point of land lying between and above the mouth of the Okaw or Kaskaskia river and the Mississippi river, in what is known as the Great American Bottom--the particular point I refer to was then called Zeal-no-waw, the Island of Nuts. It was nineteen miles from the point of the bluffs to the mouth of the Okaw river; ten miles wide up at the bluffs and tapering to a point where the rivers united. ... This point of land is one of the finest on the globe; there I spent my early years;...
The course of the Mississippi River has changed since John D. Lee lived there. The Mississippi now uses the old Kaskaskia River channel. Where JDL lived is now on the western side of the Mississippi, part of what is now called Kaskaskia Island. It is only accessible from Missouri. The area where his home was is probably now in the Mississippi channel.
Sources:
(More will be added to this as I get time.)
Black, Henry Campbell, M.A. Black's Law Dictionary. West Publishing Co., St. Paul, Minn. 1968.
Lee, John Doyle. Mormonism Unveiled.
Randolph County Circuit Court. 1832-43 Probate Record.
Sapp, Peggy Lathrop. Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol XIX, No.1, Spring 1987. "Kaskaskia-Randolph County Manuscripts".
Eliza Virginia married Isaiah Nichols, rather than Josiah Nichols. This could have been misinterpreted by the person who "co-authored" the book.
All I know of my father, after I was eight years of age, is, that he went to Texas in the year 1820, and I have never heard of him since. What his fate was I never knew.
If Ralph went to Texas in 1820, he returned in 1826. He is involved in a court case in Randolph County at that time. Mr. Archambeau owed Ralph money and Ralph won the case. His lawyer was Sidney Breese. John D. Lee would be fourteen at this point in time. It does not look like Ralph looked his son up at that time. Charlotte could have been ornery enough that he didn't dare visit his son.
The phrase, "went to Texas" frequently referred to a person who left town and was never heard from again.
When my mother died, my uncle and aunt Conner took all the property--a large tract of land, several slaves, household and kitchen furniture, and all; and, as I had no guardian, I never received any portion of the property...
The slaves were set free by an act of the Legislature; the land was sold for taxes, and was hardly worth redeeming when I came of age; so I sold my interest in all the land that had belonged to my mother, and made a quit-claim deed to it to Sidney (p.41) Breeze, a lawyer of Kaskaskia, in consideration of $200. My sister, by the kindness of Dr. Fisher, her guardian, received a much greater price for her interest in the land than I did.
I was born on the point of land lying between and above the mouth of the Okaw or Kaskaskia river and the Mississippi river, in what is known as the Great American Bottom--the particular point I refer to was then called Zeal-no-waw, the Island of Nuts. It was nineteen miles from the point of the bluffs to the mouth of the Okaw river; ten miles wide up at the bluffs and tapering to a point where the rivers united. ... This point of land is one of the finest on the globe; there I spent my early years;...
The course of the Mississippi River has changed since John D. Lee lived there. The Mississippi now uses the old Kaskaskia River channel. Where JDL lived is now on the western side of the Mississippi, part of what is now called Kaskaskia Island. It is only accessible from Missouri. The area where his home was is probably now in the Mississippi channel.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I know I have contradicted many things that John D. Lee said. There could be several reasons for the discrepancies. His family information was not from primary sources. His mother did not live long enough to pass family information on to him. The only relatives he had living were his Aunt Charlotte and his elder sister, Eliza. Charlotte's relationship with John D. Lee and his father, Ralph Lee, were not the best. Charlotte was also the younger sister and probably didn't know as much information as her older sister, Elizabeth, would have known. Charlotte may not have even known her mother's name if Chloe died in childbirth having her. I am actually amazed at how much information John D. Lee knew, considering the circumstances.Sources:
(More will be added to this as I get time.)
Black, Henry Campbell, M.A. Black's Law Dictionary. West Publishing Co., St. Paul, Minn. 1968.
Lee, John Doyle. Mormonism Unveiled.
Randolph County Circuit Court. 1832-43 Probate Record.
Sapp, Peggy Lathrop. Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol XIX, No.1, Spring 1987. "Kaskaskia-Randolph County Manuscripts".
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Ralph Lee married Elizabeth Doyle Reed
Ralph Lee married Elizabeth Reed on the 26th of February 1811 in Randolph County, Illinois. Their marriage license is available from Randolph County, Illinois. *1
In some instances of Family Search, Ralph's wife has incorrectly been identified as Sarah Elizabeth. This information probably came from Nauvoo Temple Index records. *2
This card states that John D. Lee is Sarah Doyle's son.
This card states that John D. Lee is Elizabeth Lee's grandson.
The temple records show that John D. Lee was baptized for his "mother," Sarah Doyle. In addition they show that he was baptized for his "grandmother," Elizabeth Lee. The information regarding relationships was entered incorrectly. This was not unusual for this period of time and under the circumstances, understandable.
John D. Lee's soon to be published1840 journal gave the information as it should have been recorded. On page 112, John D. Lee listed his deceased relatives for whom he was baptized. "Firstly my mother Elizabeth Lee. Grandfather John Doye (sic) Grandmother Doye (sic) Aunt Sarah Doyle, and Father, R Lee."*3 The information on Ralph was missing in the Nauvoo Records Index.
In some instances of Family Search, Ralph's wife has incorrectly been identified as Sarah Elizabeth. This information probably came from Nauvoo Temple Index records. *2
This card states that John D. Lee is Sarah Doyle's son.
This card states that John D. Lee is Elizabeth Lee's grandson.The temple records show that John D. Lee was baptized for his "mother," Sarah Doyle. In addition they show that he was baptized for his "grandmother," Elizabeth Lee. The information regarding relationships was entered incorrectly. This was not unusual for this period of time and under the circumstances, understandable.
John D. Lee's soon to be published1840 journal gave the information as it should have been recorded. On page 112, John D. Lee listed his deceased relatives for whom he was baptized. "Firstly my mother Elizabeth Lee. Grandfather John Doye (sic) Grandmother Doye (sic) Aunt Sarah Doyle, and Father, R Lee."*3 The information on Ralph was missing in the Nauvoo Records Index.
From this journal account it is evident that Sarah Doyle was John D. Lee's aunt, not his mother. His mother's name is Elizabeth.
*1 Randolph County Illinois Recorder. Marriage Record of Ralph Lee and Eliza Reed.
*2 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. Nauvoo Temple. Baptisms for the Dead 1840-1845. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1958, 1967, 1972. FHL US/CAN film 0,820,153. Index to proxies 1840-1845 FHL US/CAN film 485753 item 2.
*3 Lee, John Doyle. 1840 Diary. Unpublished. Copy in possession of Carmen Smith, PO Box 339, Central, AZ 85531.
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