Stephen Lee and Mercy Bentley

Citing this biography: Boyd, Michelle, "Stephen Lee and Mercy Bentley," article, Olive and Eliza, last accessed [current date]."

Stephen Lee was born 19 December 1700 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut to Stephen Lee and Elizabeth Woodward.

Stephen married first Mercy Bentley 20 May 1725 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut. Mercy was christened 5 June 1704 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, on the same day that her parents, William Bentley and Mary Elliot, owned the covenant.

Mercy died 25 November 1755 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut. It is interesting to note that between September 1755 and March 1756, four members of the family died (10-year-old daughter Anne, 54-year-old Mercy, 23-year-old daughter Lois, and 22-year-old son William). I do not know at this time why so many died in such a short period of time (one possible explanation being that this was the time period of the French and Indian War, which could have easily occasioned deprivation and danger for the family).

Stephen married second Mary Walker (who married first Samuel Gay, Jr. 27 June 1737 in Connecticut) 22 February 1759 at Goshen Church, Lebanon, New London, Connecticut.

Stephen and Mercy’s children are:

1 Deborah Lee, born 8 Mar 1726 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, married Aaron Walters 19 Jan 1748/9 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut.

Husband: Aaron Walters.
 
2
 Elizabeth Lee, born 31 Dec 1727 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut.
 
3 Stephen Lee, born 2 Mar 1729/30 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, married Lydia Metcalf 3 Sep 1754 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, lived in Canaan, Columbia, New York in 1790 and Otsego, Otsego, New York in 1800. According to census data, he probably had at least three daughters.

Wife: Lydia Metcalf, born 30 Mar 1734 in Lebanon to Benjamin and Sarah (Abell) Metcalf, sister of Sarah Metcalf below.
 
4 Lois Lee, born 7 Mar 1731/2 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, died 18 Dec 1755 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut.
 
5 William Lee, born 22 Feb 1734/5 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, died 2 Mar 1756 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut.
 
6 Nathan Lee, born 23 Aug 1738 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut. Nathan married Sarah Metcalf 6 Oct 1763 in Bozrah, New London, Connecticut (they also appear in Norwich, New London, Connecticut records marrying 7 Oct 1763).

Wife: Sarah Metcalf, born 10 Dec 1738 in Lebanon to Benjamin and Sarah (Abell) Metcalf, sister of Lydia Metcalf above.
 
7 Ezra Lee, born 9 May 1743 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, married Sarah Hackley 15 Nov 1769 at Goshen Congregational Church, Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, served as a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War, was listed on a tax list on 27 Dec 1779 in King's District, Albany, New York, living in Granville, Washington, New York in 1790, 1800, and 1810, died 12 Mar 1820, buried with Sarah at Hill Cemetery, Granville, Washington, New York. The 29 Oct 1821 death date mentioned in Sons of the American Revolution papers for Herbert Powell Lee seems to be incorrect as this is the death date of another Ezra Lee, born in Lyme to Abner and Elizabeth Lee, who served as the operator of the experimental Revolutionary War submarine, the Turtle. According to census data, he probably had at least three sons and two daughters.

Wife: Sarah Hackley, born 19 Mar 1645/6 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, with twin Betty, to Marshall and Hannah Hackley, died 26 Mar 1812.
 
8 Anne Lee, born 12 Jun 1745 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, died 20 Sep 1755 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut.
 

Stephen and Mary's child is:

9 Zadoc Lee, born 27 Jul 1762 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, lived in Granville, Washington, New York in 1790. According to census data, he probably was married and had at least two sons and three daughters.
 

Summary of Sources

  1. Stonington, CT: Index to the Records of the First Church of Stonington. Manuscript. R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. (Online database:AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003).
  2. Stonington, CT: First Congregational Church Records, 1674-1874. (Online Database. AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008), Originally published as: History of the First Congregational Church, Stonington, Conn., 1674-1874 with the Report of the Bi-centennial Proceedings, June 3, 1874. Richard A. Wheeler, T. A. David and Co., Norwich, CT, 1875.
  3. Marriages from First Congregational Church, Lebanon, New London Co., CT; Early Connecticut Marriages As Found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800, Vol 2, Rev. Frederick W. Bailey, 1896, http://dunhamwilcox.net/ct/lebanon_marr_g.htm
  4. Norwich [Bozrah], CT: Records of the First Church, 1739-1824. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Abstracted by Jennie Tefft Gallup, typescript. "Records of Baptisms, marriages, deaths, and church admissions of the First Church of Norwich, Conn. from 1739 to 1829." Date unknown; acquired 1929).
  5. Ancestry.com. Early Connecticut Marriages [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Bailey, Frederic W. Early Connecticut Marriages as Found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997.
  6. Goshen Congregational Church Records, Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, FHL US/CAN Film No. 4726.
  7. Ancestry.com. Early Connecticut Marriages [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Bailey, Frederick W. Early Connecticut Marriages. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997.
  8. Schott, Nancy E. (comp.), The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Records Vital Records, Lebanon, vol. 1 & 2, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1999.
  9. Barbour, Lucius Barnes, Williston Walker, & Winslow Tracy Williams, Vital Records of Norwich 1659 - 1848, http://dunhamwilcox.net/ct/norwich9.htm, Part II - Pages 61 to 117, Hartford, Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut, 1913, transcribed by Coralynn Brown.
  10. Ancestry.com. Landholders of Northeastern New York, 1739-1802 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Bowman, Fred Q. Landholders of Northeastern New York, 1739-1802. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987.
  11. Rolls of Connecticut Men in the French and Indian War, 1755-1762, Vol. 9, Connecticut Historical Society, 1903, pgs. 256-7.
  12. Daughters of the American Revolution Genealogical Service, http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A068536
  13. Bunce, Bonnie (bmbunce@juno.com), TAX LIST KING'S DISTRICT (1779), ALBANY CO., NY, transcribed 1999, retrieved Oct 2012 from http://files.usgwarchives.net/ny/columbia/taxlists/albanytax.txt
  14. Ancestry.com. 1790 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
  15. Second Census of the United States, 1800. NARA microfilm publication M32 (52 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  16. Ancestry.com. 1810 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
  17. Tombstones of Ezra and Sarah (Hackley) Lee, Hill Cemetery, Granville, Washington, New York.


Source Materials

Click on each category below to expand and see the copies of sources used to create the biography above (copyrighted and other restricted items are listed in the summary of sources above but not included below). Click again to close.

Images of the church records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each of the thumbnails to view a larger version of the records in another tab.

Goshen Congregational Church, Lebanon, New London, Connecticut

Marriage record of Stephen Lee and Mrs. Mary Gay
Marriage,
Stephen Lee and
Mary Gay,
22 Feb 1759***
Marriage record of Ezra Lee and Sarah Hackley
Marriage,
Ezra Lee and
Sarah Hackley,
15 Nov 1769

Source: Goshen Congregational Church (Lebanon, Connecticut), Church records, 1728-1895, FHL Microfilm 4726 Items 4-5.

***Note: Mary was the widow of Samuel Gay. “Samuel Gay, Jr., & Mary Walker,        June 27, 1737”
Source for Mary's first marriage: Ancestry.com. Early Connecticut Marriages [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Bailey, Frederick W. Early Connecticut Marriages. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997.



Index to the Records of the First Church of Stonington, Connecticut

BENTLEY
1704 June 5    William and wf Mary and dr Mary bapt.
1704 June 5    Mary  dr William bapt.

Source: Stonington, CT: Index to the Records of the First Church of Stonington. Manuscript. R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. (Online database:AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003).
(Note: The names Mary and Mercy were sometimes interchangeable at this period of time.)


Stonington, CT: First Congregational Church Records

The same day, William Bently and his wife Mary owned the Covenant, and their daughter Mary baptized.

Source: Stonington, CT: First Congregational Church Records, 1674-1874. (Online Database. AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008), Originally published as: History of the First Congregational Church, Stonington, Conn., 1674-1874 with the Report of the Bi-centennial Proceedings, June 3, 1874. Richard A. Wheeler, T. A. David and Co., Norwich, CT, 1875.


Marriages from First Congregational Church, Lebanon, Connecticut

Groom & Bride                                    Date of Marriage
Stephen Lee & Mercy Bently             m. 20 May 1725

Source: Marriages from First Congregational Church, Lebanon, New London Co., CT; Early Connecticut Marriages As Found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800, Vol 2, Rev. Frederick W. Bailey, 1896, http://dunhamwilcox.net/ct/lebanon_marr_g.htm



Norwich [Bozrah], CT: Records of the First Church

Original Text              Start Date           Record Type
Stephen Lee              Sep 3, 1754        Marriage
Lydia Metcalf

Hathan [sic] Lee        Oct 7, 1763        Marriage
Sarah Metcalf

Source: Norwich [Bozrah], CT: Records of the First Church, 1739-1824. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Abstracted by Jennie Tefft Gallup, typescript. "Records of Baptisms, marriages, deaths, and church admissions of the First Church of Norwich, Conn. from 1739 to 1829." Date unknown; acquired 1929).



Early Connecticut Marriages

Norwich-Bozrah.
New London County.
Nathan Lee & Sarah Metcalf,            Oct. 7, 1763

Source: Ancestry.com. Early Connecticut Marriages [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Bailey, Frederic W. Early Connecticut Marriages as Found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997.


The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Records Vital Records

                                                                                                     Vol.    Page
LEE
Anne, [d. Stephen & Mercy], b. July 12, 1745                         1        171
Anne, d. [Stephen], d. Sept. 20, 1755                                       1        167
Deborah, [d. Stephen & Mercy], b. Mar. 8, 1726                    1        171
Deborah, m. Aaron WALTERS, Jan. 19, 1748/9                        1        344
Elizabeth, [d. Stephen & Mercy], b. Dec. 31, 1827 [1727?]    1        171
Ezra, [s. Stephen & Mercy], b. May 9, 1743                              1        171
Lois, [d. Stephen & Mercy], b. Mar. 7, 1731/2                          1        171
Lois, d. [Stephen], d. Dec. 18, 1755                                           1        167
Mercy, w. Stephen, d. Nov. 25, 1755                                        1        167
Nathan, [s. Stephen & Mercy], b. Aug. 23, 1738                     1        171
Nathan, m. Sarah METCALF, b. of Lebanon, Oct. 6, 1763,
by Rev. Mr. B. Throope                                                               1        190
Stephen, [s. Stephen & Elisabeth], b. Dec. 19, 1700               1        176
Stephen, m. Mercy BENTLEY, May 20, 1725                             1        171
Stephen, [s. Stephen & Mercy], b. Mar. 2, 1729/30                1        171
William, [s. Stephen & Mercy], b. Feb. 22, 1734/5                  1        171
W[illia]m, s. [Stephen], d. Mar. 2, 1756                                     1        167
Zadoc, s. [Stephen & 2d w.], b. July 27, 1762                         1        167

METCALF, METCALFE
Sarah, d. [Benjamin & Sarah], b. Dec. 10, 1747                      1        197
Lydia, [d. Benjamin & Sarah], b. Mar. 30, 1734                       1        197

Source: Schott, Nancy E. (comp.), The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Records Vital Records, Lebanon, vol. 1 & 2, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1999.


Vital Records of Norwich

Betty & Sarah Hackley, twins, were born March 19, 1745/46.

Source: Barbour, Lucius Barnes, Williston Walker, & Winslow Tracy Williams, Vital Records of Norwich 1659 - 1848, http://dunhamwilcox.net/ct/norwich9.htm, Part II - Pages 61 to 117, Hartford, Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut, 1913, transcribed by Coralynn Brown.
(Note: Listed with information on the family of Marshall and Hannah Hackley.)


Landholders of Northeastern New York

4104.    7/29/91      mor    Lee, Nathan (w. Sarah), yeoman; Westfield, WAS; Provincial Pat., WAS; co-mors 7859, 7860; mee 4092.    (A:307)
4105.    11/14/94    gor     Lee, Nathan, farmer; Granville, WAS; gee 3376.     (B-2:494)
4106.    2/8/98        mor    Lee, Nathan, farmer; Hartford, WAS; mee 1483.    (B:283)
4107.    3/9/98        mor    Lee, Nathan (w. Sarah), farmer; Hartford, WAS; Hartford, WAS; mee 1488.    (B:285)

Source: Ancestry.com. Landholders of Northeastern New York, 1739-1802 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Bowman, Fred Q. Landholders of Northeastern New York, 1739-1802. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987.


Copies of census records are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the record in another tab.

1790

Canaan, Columbia, New York

Households of Stephen Lee and Nathan Lee in 1790
Households:
Stephen Lee,
Nathan Lee;
Year: 1790;
Census Place:
Canaan, Columbia,
New York;
Series: M637;
Roll: 6;
Page: 225;
Image: 258;
FHL Film: 0568146

Name:    Stephen Lee
Home in 1790 (City, County, State):    Canaan, Columbia, New York
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over:    2
Free White Persons - Females:    4
Number of Household Members:    6

Name:    Nathan Lee
Home in 1790 (City, County, State):    Canaan, Columbia, New York
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16:    2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over:    2
Free White Persons - Females:    4
Number of Household Members:    8


Granville, Washington, New York

Households of Ezra Lee and Zadock Lee in 1790
Households:
Ezra Lee,
Zadock Lee;
Year: 1790;
Census Place: Argyle,
Washington, New York;
Series: M637;
Roll: 6;
Page: 195;
Image: 243;
FHL Film: 0568146

Name:    Ezra Lee
Home in 1790 (City, County, State):    Granville, Washington, New York
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16:    4
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over:    3
Free White Persons - Females:    3
Number of Household Members:    10

Name:    Zadock Lee
Home in 1790 (City, County, State):    Granville, Washington, New York
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16:    1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over:    2
Free White Persons - Females:    4
Number of Household Members:    7

Source: First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.


1800

Otsego, Otsego, New York

Households of Nathan Lee, Hill Richardson, and Benjamin M. Lee in 1800
Household:
Nathan Lee;
Year: 1800;
Census Place:
Otsego, Otsego,
New York;
Series: M32;
Roll: 25;
Page: 596;
Image: 38;
FHL Film: 193713
Households of Stephen Lee in 1800
Household:
Stephen Lee;
Year: 1800;
Census Place:
Otsego, Otsego,
New York;
Series: M32;
Roll: 25;
Page: 597;
Image: 39;
FHL Film: 193713

Name:    Nathan Lee
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):    Otsego, Otsego, New York
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:    1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:    1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:    1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over:    1
Number of Household Members Over 25:    3
Number of Household Members:    4

Name:    Stephen Lee
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):    Otsego, Otsego, New York
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:    1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:    1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:    1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over:    1
Number of Household Members Over 25:    3
Number of Household Members:    4


Granville, Washington, New York

Households of Ezra Lee in 1800
Household:
Ezra Lee;
Year: 1800;
Census Place:
Granville, Washington,
New York;
Series: M32;
Roll: 26;
Page: 279;
Image: 272;
FHL Film: 193714

Name:    Ezra Lee
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):    Granville, Washington, New York
Free White Persons - Males -10 thru 15:    1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:    1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:    1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15:    1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:    1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over:    1
Number of Household Members Under 16:    2
Number of Household Members Over 25:    2
Number of Household Members:    6

Source: Second Census of the United States, 1800. NARA microfilm publication M32 (52 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.


1810

Ellisburg, Jefferson, New York

Household of Nathan Lee in 1810
Households:
Nathan Lee;
Year: 1810;
Census Place:
Ellisburg, Jefferson,
New York;
Roll: 28;
Page: 549;
Image: 00044;
FHL Film: 0181382

Name:    Nathan Lee
Home in 1810 (City, County, State):    Ellisburg, Jefferson, New York
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:    2
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15:    1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 :    1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:    1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:    2
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over :    1
Number of Household Members Under 16:    3
Number of Household Members Over 25:    5
Number of Household Members:    8


Granville, Washington, New York

Household of Ezra Lee in 1810
Households:
Ezra Lee;
Year: 1810;
Census Place:
Granville, Washington,
New York;
Roll: 30;
Page: 434;
Image: 00339;
FHL Film: 0181384

Name:    Ezra Lee
Home in 1810 (City, County, State):    Granville, Washington, New York
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:    1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:    1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over :    1
Number of Household Members Over 25:    3
Number of Household Members:    3

Source: Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.


Rolls of Connecticut Men in the French and Indian War

CAPT WEST'S RETURN.
To Coll. Jonathan Trumble Coll. of the 12th regiment In the Coloney of Connecticutt     Sir in obediance to your orders of the 8th and 9th instant on the ninth instant I Called together the Company under my Command and have Detached twenty five men out of Sd Company for the service expresed in sd orders which is the fourth part of my sd Company and have them here present armd and acquiped according to Sd orders at the house of Mr obediah Horsford in Hebron the under the officers in my Sd Com are also here present the fourth Part of them armd and acquiped in readiness to march with the Soldiers if thereto required

from your Humble servant at Command
Joshua West Capt of ?e military
Company in Goshen in Lebanon

Dated August ?e 10: 1757


...Nathan Lee...

Source: Rolls of Connecticut Men in the French and Indian War, 1755-1762, Vol. 9, Connecticut Historical Society, 1903, pgs. 256-7.



Records from the Daughters of the American Revolution Genealogical Service

LEE, EZRA
Ancestor #: A068536
Service:     NEW YORK   
Rank:         LIEUTENANT
Birth:         5-9-1743        LEBANON CONNECTICUT
Death:         3-12-1820         GRANVILLE WASHINGTON CO NEW YORK

Service Description:
1) ALSO 2LT, CAPT GIDEON KING'S 4TH CO, 7TH
2) REGT, ALBANY CO, MIL. COL WM. B. WHITING

Residence
1) City: KING'S DIST    County: ALBANY CO        State: NEW YORK
 
Spouse
Number        Name
1)            SARAH HACKLEY

Source: Daughters of the American Revolution Genealogical Service, http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A068536



Dec. 27, 1779 Tax List for King's District Albany Co., New York

A Tax List of Kings District --- Pursuant to an Act of the Legislature of the State of New York ______(?) ________(?) [a word was crossed out and another one written above it] an act for raising the Sum of Two Million and Five Hundred Dollars by Tax within this State passed 23 of October 1779.

[Page 14]
                           Value of Real Estate    Value of Personal Estate     Tax Sum         Tax
Nathan Lee      45.0.0                              8.0.0                                      53.0.0              10.12.0
...
Ezra Lee            30.0.0                              7.0.0                                      37.0.0              7.8.0

Source: Bunce, Bonnie (bmbunce@juno.com), TAX LIST KING'S DISTRICT (1779), ALBANY CO., NY, transcribed 1999, retrieved Oct 2012 from http://files.usgwarchives.net/ny/columbia/taxlists/albanytax.txt

Note: All values in pounds

Photos are shown below as thumbnails. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger version of the photo in another tab.

Hill Cemetery, Granville, Washington, New York

Gravestone of Ezra Lee
Ezra Lee
Photo credit:
Janet Muff
Gravestone of Sarah Lee
Sarah Lee
Photo credit:
Janet Muff


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Author: Michelle A. Boyd
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Last updated 15 October 2021