County Cavan
Contae an Chabháin; An Cabháin - the hollow Irish AN CABHÁN (The Hollow Place), one of the three counties of the old province of Ulster, but now part of the Irish republic. With an area of 730 square miles (1,891 square km), it is bounded by Counties Monaghan (northeast), Meath, Westmeath, and Longford (south), and Leitrim (northwest). Northern Ireland lies to the north. Northwestern Cavan comprises uplands, intersected by valleys, declining toward the main valley of the River Erne, where the main features are the drumlins (long, oval mounds) that alternate with lakes, rivers, peat bogs, and pastures. East of the Erne Valley is a line of slate and shale hills.
Early records of the Lee family in Co Cavan
In the Muster Rolls from about 1630, there was listed a Mrs Waldron, widow of Richard Waldron, who had acquired the undertaker's portion granted to Sir John Davies, in the barony of Loughtee, in or about the area of the parish of Castleterra, in the centre of the county of Cavan. One of the men mustered for this property was a Thomas Lea, who had as weapons a sword and a pike, for defence. There is no other record of him.
The roll of Freemen of Cavan town includes one John Lee who swore an oath of allegiance on 25 May 1707.
These two are possibly connected, but there is insufficient information to say so with any certainty.
Members of the Monaghan Ley family are recorded firstly in Cootehill, in the north of the county, from about 1730 onwards, where the spelling Lee is used, primarily by the Tyrone branch, it seems, and about forty years later, some members moved southwards to the parish of Lavey, near Ballyjamesduff.The Lee family sometimes married well, and their links were to some wealthy families, such as the Dawsons of Castledawson, the Moores, linked to the Moores of Mellifont, and the Eccles family of Ecclesville.
In Cavan the family in Cootehill had Moore neighbours. The most prominent branch of the Moore family was descended from Edward Moore, who was given the land and abbey of Mellifont in 1566, and this was the seat of the family until the late 1700's. The treaty signed by Hugh O'Neill in 1603, was at the Moore house in Mellifont. Edward's son was Sir Garret Moore, and Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, the uncrowned King of Ireland, stayed with him at Mellifont on 8th of September, 1607, just before his flight from Ireland. O'Neill's eldest son by Catherine Magennis, his fourth wife, was John, born in 1599, who had been placed with Moore to be educated.
Sir Garrett Moore knight, and Member of Parliament, was created Baron Moore of Mellefont co Louth in 1616, and Viscount Moore of Drogheda in 1621. He died 1627, and was succeeded by his son Henry, who was killed in 1643, and succeeded by his son, another Henry, the 3rd Viscount, who was created Earl of Drogheda in 1661. The lineage recorded in Lodges Peerage, part VII pages 88/89, is linked to Moore of Tullyvin. The connection is recorded by by the genealogist Swanzy, and is in his notebooks held in the Representative Church Body Library, in Churchtown, Dublin.
The Lees were very impressed with their connection, and named sons Edward, Garret, and Moore.Wills;
1713 James Lea, of Corlurgan (Annagelliffe);
1761 Francis Lea, of Ballyhaise, an Apothecary;
1773 Luke Lea, of Tullamore, sometimes written Pullamore; later records from this region use the spelling LEE. This area is actually the townland of Pollamore, subsequently divided by the Ordnance Survey into Pollamore Near and Pollamore Far, close to land owned by one Lady Tullamore in Annagelliffe.
1778 Garrett Lee, Cootehill, co. Cavan, gent, will dated 10.9.1778, and proved 23.11.1778, eldest son Edward, a son Thomas, and daughter Catherine Butterworth. Garrett Lee and Rev Michael Lee were contemporaneous and both lived in Cootehill, so it seems probable that they were brothers, so that the father of Michael, Richard Lee/Ley of Tyrone, gent, is also the father of Garrett.
1779 Moore Lee, Cootehill son of Michael, who is next;
1791 Michael Lee, Cootehill, co. Cavan. Michael was born in 1704, in Tyrone, the son of Richard Lee of Tyrone, according to biographical notes held by the Church of Ireland, and also the record of his admission to Trinity College, where he enrolled as Ley, and graduated with a BA as Leigh in 1726. His will is dated 28.2.1782, and proved 13.5.1791. Rev Michael had these children by his wife Catherine Moore, only daughter of William Moore of Cootehill and his wife Margaret daughter of Edward Davenport of Edwardstown co Cavan, and his wife Anne, daughter and heiress of Major Humphrey Parrott of Drumlane county Cavan, High Sheriff 1660 and 1661by his wife Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Broskill Taylor of Ballyhaise, MP Cavan Borough 1634-36 and will dated 2 May 1745, proved Prerogative Court 1748. [see Preg Will of Wm Moore 1748, and Swanzy papers re Moore of Tullyvin]; [1] Rev William Lee, vicar of Inniscagra (sic) Co Leitrim; [2] Richard Lee, who had three children, [probably born in the period 1760-1770] Michael, William and Ann, wife of Mr Porteous; [3] Catherine, who married a Mr William Giles, a merchant, of Cootehill, and had three children, William, Richard, and Sara; [4] Moore and [5] James; these two are not mentioned in his will; Moore died about 1779, and James possibly predeceased him also. Kildrumferton graveyard, north west of Kilnaleck contains one James Lea 'who departed this life February 11th 1772, aged 69'.
1792 rev. William Lee, vicar of Innismagree, co. Leitrim will dated 24.7.1791, and proved 20.9.1792, the text, (according to a document in a collection belonging to Rev George Cumin Dawson - indexed in R Hayes, as 439A - of Cloghran, county Dublin, deceased, William had a daughter, Eleanor, who married Robert Cumin Dawson, and this family lived in Swords, in Dublin) is as follows:
Innismagree, Leitrim 1792, I give and bequeath to my sister Catherine Giles (mother of Eleanor Giles, who married Robert Cuming Dawson,) the land of Carnamucla, Drumhurst Rakene under the see of Kilmore and after her decease I bequeath the same lands as above mentioned to her eldest son William Giles upon the consideration that the sum of £40 be paid yearly to my brother Richard Lee during his life in two equal payments and in failure to distrain for same. I bequeath my lease of the house and tenement and parks in the town of Cootehill assessed by my late father under the present Earl of Bellamont to my sister Catherine Giles during her life and after her decease I give and bequeath said lease to her second son Richard Giles in consideration of £20 to be paid annually to my nephew Michael Lee during his life. I give to my nephew William Lee the house and tenements and parks now in the possession of James McEnally. I give to my nephew William Lee the lands of Lehen in the county of Cavan of which I have the lease for ever ...in case he dies without heirs I bequeath the same to my niece Ann Porteus alias Lee and her heirs for ever. I will bequeath my lease of the lands of Muniel near Rockcorry in the county Monaghan to my niece Catherine Giles. I will my lease of Listrumgran in the county of Leitrim to my niece Ann Porteus. I bequeath to my niece Catherine Giles £50 same to my niece Sarah Giles also Ann Porteus and to the poor of this parish £10. Lastly I give all the residue of my personal estate to my sister Catherine Giles - 1792 July.Catherine married William Giles in 9 Dec 1770 (his mother Eleanor Giles died 27 Dec 1770, buried Drumgoon), her first son, William, second son Richard, and niece Sarah Giles, his brother Richard Lee, and nephew William Lee, and niece Ann Porteus alias Lee. He was the son of Rev Michael Lee, and was born in 1737, in Co Cavan, entered TCD in 1753, and was awarded a BA in 1758. He was ordained in 1761, and was a curate in Knockbride firstly in 1761, and again from 1766 onwards. The will of William Perrott Newburgh, of Ballyhaise, dated 12 July 1783, had as executors his cousin, Alexander Saunderson, and Rev William Lee.
1795 Thomas Lee, Lattagloghan this is the man who moved to Lattagloghan in 1763, second son of Garrett Lee, and possibly father of Luke Lea, who is a witness to a deed of one of Garret's children. Witnesses were often close relatives. The name Luke arises again in the family in later generations.
1798 Elenor Lee, Lisgannon, co Cavan to Fergus Lee, her brother 24.4.1798.
1799 Bryan Lee, Killenure
1801 Ann Lee, Lismacratty
1804 Phillip Lee, Lattaglochan, co. Cavan, gent. Unfortunately, the genealogists who collected the notes from other wills had ceased their work by 1800, so nothing survives from this man's will. This is the final prerogative will in the family; all subsequent wills are diocesan, which may be the result of the loss of the property in Tyrone in 1817.
1806 Thomas Lee, Ouldtown
1814 John Lee,
1820 John Lee, Ranrena, (farmer) probate 1826.
1820 Ann Lee, Currhoo, widow;
1823 Hugh Lee, Mullymagavin; proved 1830; Kilmore Diocese, Lee, Margaret, Lavay NA Reference: IWR/1830/F/85 Document ID: 38306
1847 Michael Lee, Monneacke
1853 Peter Lee, executor John Lee, of Balaghan, value £100.
.....Lee, Edmund, no date or details.
Manuscript index;
1831 Charles Ley, Parsonage, Parish of Drung, Co CavanCastlerahan graveyard has a stone engraved as follows: Pray for ye soul of 'Oner Reily alias Lea who died August 21 1763 age 51 erectd by Owen Reilly.'
There are records in 1817 of 40 shilling freeholders, who were franchised to vote, named;
Edward Lee, leasing land at Liscloughan, Clankee, Cootehill from Mr Nesbit, and an
Edward Lee leasing from J M Boyle, Esq at Drumreegran, (Drumkeenan, Annagh) and Drumnagran, in Kildrumsheridan for the lives of Edward Lee, Edward (junior) and Garret Lee.Edward is a frequent name in the family, and it is impossible to distinguish between all of them, however, Richard Ley/Lee of Dubhall/Dukattin had an eldest son, Edward, then Daniel and a daughter Mary.
In 1745 Edward married Jane Cranston, and by 1755 had moved to Cootehill, with lands at Rakain and Drumgoon. In 1781 he entered a contract with his eldest son, also Edward, who was married to Margaret Talbot, daughter of Ephriam Talbot (Kilmore wills index includes Ephraim Talbot of Lislea, Gent 1793-1796; there are three places called Lislea in Cavan, presumably this one is near Cootehill); and Edward's son, his grandson, also Edward.
He had sons as follows; Ephriam born 1777, Edward, born 1780, and possibly Garrett.
Edward senior was dead by 1801.
Edward and Jane had a daughter Elizabeth, who married EphriamYoung.Garrett Lee, born about 1730, dead by 1778, had a son Edward, who had sons Edward and Garrett (this is probably the Garrett Lee born about 1758, to Edward Lee and his wife, a Miss Dawson, in the IGI index, probably sourced in the Registry of Deeds).
James, John and Thomas (junior) Lee of Lacken leasing from Lord Farnham, Killeshandra;
Thomas Lee of Faulaught, Mount Nugent, from Col Barry;
John Lee Gortin, Tullygarvey for the lives of Owen Lee and James Martin;
James Lee, Castlerahan, Virginia, leasing from Lord Bective; and
Stephen Lee, at Eighter.
In 1819, Patrick Lee, eldest son of Laurence Lee and Catherine Brady, of 'near Cootehill', attended Trinity College, Dublin.
The town of Cootehill was at the centre of a Poor Law Union.
In 1802, Edward Lee, Senior, entered into a contract which included his wife, Margaret, daughter of Ephriam Talbot, and a witness was the son, Ephriam Lee.Two passengers on the passenger list of the snow brig (a brig, having a main and fore mast both square-rigged, and a supplementary trysail mast [a gaff sail, called the snow mast] close behind the mainmast) 'George' leaving Belfast for Philadelphia on 22 September 1803, were Ephriam Lee, 26, and Edward Lee, 23, both farmers, of Killeshandra, Co Cavan.
Ron Lee, a decendant of Edward junior has supplied the following history.
Ephraim Lee, born 1777, may have gone to Canada.
Edward Lee, born 1780, occupation Farmer/Merchant, religion Church of Ireland, died 20 Sept 1859, Morpeth, Ontario, buried Anglican Church Cemetery.
Moore Lee, born 1789, Cavan, occupation Merchant, emigrated 1808. Died by the 1820's in New York.
Garret Lee, born 1790, Lee's Green, Cavan, Ireland, occupation Merchant, religion Anglican.
Died 3 Apr 1865, Morpeth, Ontario. Buried Anglican Church Cemetery.
Both brothers moved to the New York City area. Ephraim found a home in the County of Monmouth, New Jersey. Edward apparently found farmland while Ephraim went into the mercantile business. Moore came to the new country in 1808 and married Martha Tyler. Together with his wife Martha they operated a mercantile business. It is not known when Garrett emigrated.
In 1816 the brothers purchased a little over 1000 acres of land in Ontario Canada. In 1822, Edward Lee established a store near the junction of Talbot Street and the Howard-Harwich line which is near what is now known as Morpeth, Canada. Garrett moved with Edward and together they operated a trading post. Edward had married a Francis, and her tombstone states she was born at Lee's Green, Co Cavan, Ireland. Garrett never married. Edward and Francis (Fanny was her nickname) had sons Henry and Edward and a daughter Anne.
All hawkers, peddlers, and petty chapmen as they were called, had to have licenses. The cost of a license varied according to whether they traveled on foot, with the price varying by business. In 1831 Penuil Stevens was summoned to appear at the Court of General Quarter Sessions in Sandwich, to give evidence against Garrett Lee and a Company of Howard residences for selling liquor without a license. But a group of sixteen men of the neighborhood seized him, tarred and feathered him and threatened him with great bodily harm if he appeared. A grand jury indicted these men for aggravated assault and riot, but only four were tried and only one convicted and punished. Bench warrants were issued against the twelve others, and a reward offered for the apprehension of each by the court. None was taken, although, as Charles Eliot wrote in 1833 to the lieutenant governor's secretary, two were then resident of the county. Eliot blamed this condition on the aged sheriff, William Hands.
"Senile imbecility in the sheriff subserves to embolden transgressors to bring disrepute upon a police".
This episode was further documented in Sandwich Newspaper, Sandwich, Nov 12th, 1831
Whereas Bench Warrants have issued against:
Wm, Fish of Howard Carpenter
Jame Brown of Howard Yeoman
Wm. Smith of Howard Yeoman
John Shippey of Howard Yeoman
Rufus Hubble of Howard Yeoman
Sam Brundage of Howard Yeoman
Peter Stover of Howard Yeoman
Andree Hers of Howard Blacksmith
Ames Simklins of Howard Yeoman
Edward Lee of Howard Merchant
Norman Hopkins of Orford CarpenterFor a very aggravated assault and riot committed upon Penuil Stevens, on 5th April last, at Howard and they have hitherto eluded the officers; notice is hereby given that a reward of 5 pounds upon the conviction of each and every one of the above individuals will be given to any persons who will apprehend them. Warrants for their apprehension can be had by applying at any office at Sandwich. By Order Charles Asrin Clerk, F.W. Tris.
In 1836 Edward and the family moved to Iowa Territory where they are documented as one of the early families to settle in the area. There they homesteaded and proved their claim. In 1846 Edward and Francis and son Henry moved back to Morpeth.
Anne and Edward R had married and stayed in Iowa.Mary Jane, Henry's wife, passed away on the 16th of April, 1860 at the age of 35 years, 4 months and 5 days leaving behind a young family. Candidly her tombstone inscription reads, "We cannot tell who next may fall beneath thy chastening rod. One must be first but let us all prepare to meet our God".
Henry followed Mary Jane into eternity on Jan 17, 1866 at the age of 45 years and 8 months. His epithet reads, "Looking onto Jesus, Rest in Peace dear friend."
Edward died on September 20, 1859 at the age of 79 years, leaving behind his wife Frances. Edward's tombstone records, "A Native of Ireland". Frances passed away on July 16, 1872 at the age of 84 year 2 months and 26 days. According to an internet bulletin board which has an inactive e-mail address, Frances was a daughter of Henry Leadbeater (born Cootehill, Cavan, and was an apothecary), who married Ann Lee in 1772, and had these children: Frances Leadbeater born 1788 Lee's Green, Cavan married Edward Lee (born 1780 in Cornemahair, Tullyvin, Dromnegran, son of Edward Lee and Margaret Talbott). Both are buried in Howard Twp, Kent Co, Ontario, Canada. An Ephraim Leadbeater married Elizabeth.
On her tombstone is recorded these words;
"Born at Lee's Green Co Cavan Ireland". There is no location now known as Lee's Green; but the village of Tullyvin has a "green" as its centre.Tullyvin village, Cavan
Garrett, it appears, never married and died in 1865. The Chatham Weekly Planet on April 27, 1865 carried the following obituary:
At Morpeth, on the 3rd last, Garrett Lee, Esq. In the 75th year of his age. In the year 1800, Mr. Lee emigrated from Lee's Green, Co, Cavan, Ireland, to the city of New York, where he became engaged in the mercantile business until the year 1815, when he moved into Howard, where he erected the first frame building on the Talbot Street (Known as the Red Store). At that time the principle trade was with the Indians from whom large quantities of furs were traded in exchange for goods. For nearly forty years Mr. Lee had been engaged in the merchantile business and up to a short time before his death was very active and a careful adviser in general merchantile affairs. He died as he lived, in peace with all men.
Garrett is buried in a common grave at the Holy Trinity Parish Church.Photo of Edward Clark Lee
The picture is a tin-type photo taken of Edward Clark Lee and his wife Manerva. The infant is Samuel Noah Lee. The log cabin was built at what is now Perkins and Stillwater Oklahoma. Edward R who stayed in Iowa had a son Edward Clark and in 1865 moved to Kansas. Edward Clark moved to Oklahoma during the Oklahoma Land Run and his son Samuel had a son Josh, whose son Ron supplied the data on the USA families.Catholic Irish did not emigrate in significant numbers until the time of the Great Famine.
The landlord of the parish of Lavey
There is a townland with the same name as the parish: Lavey, which was usually called Laveystrand because of its proximity to the lake which shares its name with the parish and townland.The Lee family which we are concerned with lived in the parish of Lavey, also spelt Lavay or Lowey (Leamhach, a place producing elm trees) between Stradone (Strath-doimhin, deep srath or river holm) and Ballyjamesduff (town of James Duff).
Their landlord was Col Alex Saunderson, who lived at Castle Saunderson, Redhills, Co Cavan.
The Saunderson/Sandersons were from Scotland, and had a holding of 1000 acres in 1619, which had been granted them as undertakers some years previously. The holding was increased to 8,716 acres in September 1654, after the family assisted in putting down the 1641 rebellion of Owen Roe O'Neill.
In 1666 the holding was increased to 10,214 acres in Cavan, and 900 acres in Monaghan, after their efforts to assist Cromwell.
Alex Saunderson held a seat in Parliament until 1829, when, according to the family history, he voted for Catholic Emancipation, and this action lost him his seat. In fact, they were staunch Unionists, and Orangemen, and hardly likely to support the Catholic cause.
One descendant went to the US, and fought under Robert E Lee in the American Civil War.
Another, who married a Catholic tenant's daughter, was disowned, and all traces of him removed from the family records.
A book describing the family history attempts to find humour in the claims of the 'Reillys' that the Cavan land was rightly theirs, and also expresses the family's sense of grievance at the rights given to the tenants under the Land Acts of 1890, to buy out their holdings against the landlord's wishes, and the final insult, the appalling surrender by Britain of the twenty-six counties in 1922.
Otherwise there is no mention of tenants.Genealogy.com - Lee forum - posted this in Dec 2003
The following are tombstone inscriptions from a small 'mixed' cemetery called Kilsherdany a/k/a Kill, in the Parish of Kildrumsherdan, Co. Cavan, Ireland.
Erected by Patrick
Lee of Dignvay in
memory of his father
John Lee who departed
August ye 12th 1766 aged
65 years. Also his wife
Judith Lee who departed
March ye 18th 17.. Aged 73
I.H.S.
This stone was erect[ed]
by Hugh
Lee in
memory of his father
John Lee who dep.
this life Agt. 12th 1766
aged 85 years
May his soul rest in peace
The Church of Ireland marriage licence bonds for the Diocese of Kilmore contains the following record:Anne Brady to Richard Lee 1773
The Lees of Lattagloghan townland, in the parish of Lavey
Parts of Lavey parish had been granted to William Allen of Allanstown in 1617, for leasing to natives, as the land was unprofitable and unsuitable for planters. Among the townlands included were Lattagloghan, Mullamagau, Drumanduff, Killygrogan and Carricknamadoo.
In 1666, under the Act of Settlement, these townlands were granted to the Saundersons.
Colonel Robert Saunderson removed some families of native Irish from the area around Belturbet and transplanted them to Lavey, so as to leave the better quality lands for himself, and his planter tenants.
The Saunderson holdings were, in reality, far greater than the official figures suggest, as the measurements were always conservative estimates, and included only good land, as woodland or bog were not counted. In 1779, the Saundersons put the size of their holding in Lattagloghan at about 200 Irish acres. The townland measures 604 acres.Lavey Old Graveyard inscriptions - Transcribed by Gerard Tierney
God be merciful to the soul of Andrew Lee who departed this life August 14 1807 (or 1801) aged 18 years.
Pray for the soul of Catherine Lea alias Brady who died May 16 1747 age 42.
In loving memory of Patrick Lee died 1911 his wife Jenny died 1931 RIP.
Pray for the soul of James Lea who died April 19th (or 14th) 1751 aged 50 years.
This stone was erected by Matthew Bell in memory of his father Walter Bell who died June 15 1773 aged 65. His mother Sicily Lee died 8th 10th 1768 aged --8.
IHS Pray for the soul of Mary Lea who died March 25 1765 aged 20.
Here lyeth the body of Tho: Lea who died December 31st as also the body of his son Luke Lea who died May 7th 1773 aged 7-. Requescant in pace Amen.
The first Lees in the townland
of Lattagloghan (also spelt Lattaglohan; Leachta gclochán - the grave-mound
of the flagstones) are the children of Garret Lee who was probably born in Tyrone
sometime about 1710, and died about 1778, in Cootehill.
Garrett Lee's will named three children, Thomas, Catherine and Edward. Edward,
the eldest, lived in the parish of Annagh, Redhills, and had sons called Edward
and Garrett.
The son Garret is recorded in the IGI as having been born about 1758, to Edward
Lee and a Miss Dawson, who may or may not have been his wife, in Cootehill.
She was probably the daughter of John Dawson, whose will, regarding freehold
land at Donore, co Monaghan on 19 Dec 1754, (Reg of Deeds 189/531/126483) was
witnessed by Edward Lee, (who must have been at least 21) of Cootehill, and
another Edward, presumably, 63 years later, and his sons are included in the
1817 freeholders, as Edward Lee, Edward (junior) and Garret Lee.
In 1833, Edward Lee is recorded as having registered a gun and a bayonet, as
required by law.
In 1861, land at Greaghgibney, Larah South, [ie Stradone] and Tullyunshin, Larah
North, Cootehill, was the estate of Mrs Lee and a Miss Wright. This Mrs Lee
is probably the widow of Edward (junior).
There is a tradition that the Lattagloghan Lees had family in Redhills, and
visited there.
Catherine married a Mr Butterworth. There is a deed for two Lees for the townland
of Curraghoe in the parish of Lavey in 232/434/153374 14.8.1759 Luther to Lee,
Simon Lee, Mark Lee, Currahoe, Lavey; and another, 3.5.1798 Christopher Lee
and Hugh Lee, his son, of Mullamagavin, lease for 999 years. Registered 9.5.1809.
There are references to sons of Thomas Lee at Currahoe, or Curraghoe, although
these are not the same sons. They are certainly kinfolk, and are most likely
other sons of Thomas Lee. The townland of Curraghoe produced Fergus Lee, who
married Catherine Reilly of Crosserlough, and had Hugh Lee, born 1851, who was
ordained a priest in June 1876, and died tragically in September of the same
year; Michael Lee, b. 1848, whose sister/wife? Mrs Susan Lee was mother of Hugh
Lee who was to become Mayor of Manchester in the 1940's, and his son, also Hugh,
apparently was also Mayor.
Thomas Lee, born circa 1735 d. 1795
In 1763 Thomas and Catherine Lee entered into a 21-year lease agreement with
James Sanderson, from Crosserlough. Their address was given as Lattagloghan,
which means that they were already in residence, probably for a few years, as
the sons of Thoams had been in the nearby townland of Curraghoe since 1759.
The following are transcripts of two leases, with the original spellings (the spellings for the surname of Luke Lea are as given);
No. 151131 To the Reg. appointed by Act of Parliament etc
A memorial of an indenture of lease dated the sixteenth day of July one thousand seven hundred and sixty three & made between James Saunderson Esq. of Drumcassidy in the County of Cavan of the one part and Thomas Lee and Catherine Lee of Latagloghan in the parish of Lavy of said county of the other part whereby the said James Sanderson granted and settled and lett unto the said Thomas Lee and Catherine Lee all parts of Lattaghlochan now known in the possession of the said Thomas & Catrien in consideration of the yearly rent of nineteen pounds payable half yearly on every first day of November & first day of May to hold from the first day of May then last for & during the term of twenty nine years thence next ensuing fully to be complete & ended. In which indenture of lease are contained clauses of re-entry & distraints and other usual covenants and clauses between landlord & tenant which said indenture of lease is witnessed by Edward Tuite of Drumkeen and Luke Lea of Pullamore both in the county of Cavan Gents & this memorial is also witnessed by the said Luke Lee and James Castles of Carrick in said county of Cavan Gentm. (Signed:) Thomas Lee
Signed & sealed in presence of Luke Lea James CastlesThe above named Luke Lee maketh oath that he saw the indenture of lease of which the above writing is a memorial duly executed by the parties thereto and also saith he saw the above named Thomas Lee sign & seal this memorial & that the name Luke Lee subscribed as witness to the said indenture of lease and this memorial is this deponents name & proper handwriting. (Signed:) Luke Lea
Sworn before me at Cavan on Circuit this 29th day of March 1764 Will ScottSaunderson and Lee and Others} Reg the 14th day of June 1764 at 12 oclock at Noon
...........................................................................
No 151132
To the Reg appointed by Act of Parliament etc
A mem of an indenture of lease dated the seventeenth day of January one thousand seven hundred & sixty four & made between James Sanderson of Drumcassidy in the county of Cavan Esq of the one part and Thomas Lee of Lattygloghan in the parish of Lavy and said county of the other part whereby the said James Sanderson for and in consideration of the sum of twenty three pounds ster payable half yearly on every first day of May and first day of November devise and lett all that part of the lands of upper Lattygloghan known by the name Tartanglear and Greaghnagee then in possession of said Thomas Lee to hold unto the said Thomas Lee his estate administrations from the first day of Nov then last past for and during to the full end and term of thirty one years from thenceforth next ensuing & fully to be complete & entire. In which said indenture of lease is contained covenants of re-entry & distress and other usual covenants and clauses between landlord & tenant which said indenture of lease is witnessed by Luke Lea of Pullamore & Edward Bambridge of Drumkeen both in the county of Cavan Gents & this memorial is also witnessed by the said Luke Lea & by James Castles of Carrick in the county of Cavan Gent. (Signed:) Thomas Lee
Signed and sealed in the presence of Luke Lea James CastlesThe above named Luke Lea maketh oath that he saw the indenture of lease of which the above writing is a memorial duly executed by the parties thereto & also sayth he saw the above named Thomas Lee sign & seal this memorial & that the name Luke Lee subscribed as witness to the indenture & this memorial is deponents name & proper handwriting.
(Signed:) Luke Lea
Sworn before me at Cavan on circuit this 29th day of March 1764 Will Scott
Sanderson & Lee } Regd the 14th day of June 1764 at 12 o'clock noon.
James Castles was an Attorney in Cavan town.
Thomas and his wife Mary, had children when they came to Lattagloghan, or soon afterwards, and as far as it is possible to tell, these were;
Philip, his heir, who lived in Lattagloghan, whose will is dated 1804, and is probably the father of James Lee, born in 1789, who built Lattagloghan mill, and died in 1870,
John, who moved to Ranrenagh, and is the ancestor of my branch of the family,
Thomas, living in Curragho, along with his next brother,
Loughlin who was born in 1761, and
Mary who married a Patrick Fitzpatrick from Killeshandra.
There may have been other children.
Thomas senior died intestate prior to 1795, and no details exist of the Prerogative Administration of his estate, except the date. He is not among the Prerogative wills, although his father Garrett, and eldest son, Philip, are in the index.
There follows a transcript of a deed describing the size of the estate, and mentioning some of the children, and settling some of his property on a daughter, Mary, who was a widow. This was carried out by Thomas's widow, also Mary, in 1803;
No 367612 To the Publick Registrar appointed by Act of Parliament for Registering Deeds Wills and so forth
A memorial of a deed bearing date the twenty fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three made between Mary Lee of Lattaglochan in the county of Cavan the widow and Administration of Thomas Lee the late of Lattaglochan aforesaid decd of the one part and Mary Lee otherwise Fitzpatrick of Lattaglochan aforesaid the widow of Pat Fitzpatrick late of Killeshandra in said county decd of the other part. Whereby after reciting that the said Thomas Lee died intestate seized and possessed of several freehold and other chattle properties to a considerable amount and also that the said Mary Lee in consequence of a family compact entered into stood seized and possessed of the following townlands & properties therein mentioned to wit the towns and lands of Lattagloghan Lisnaglea Cutternagh Grellagh, and Mullagavin and Aughadreenagh or a certain part thereof in said county of Cavan together with the household furniture in her dwelling house, cattle and several movable chattles - the said Mary Lee did as well for the considerations therin mentioned as for and in consideration of ten shillings then in hands and paid assign convey and absolutely make over unto the said Mary Lee otherwise Fitzpatrick her heirs Executors administrators and assigns all her rights title and interests of in and to the towns and lands of Lattagloghan Lisnaglea Cutternagh Grellagh, and Mullagavin and Aughadreenagh and the tythes of Lavy and Annagelliff in the said county of Cavan together with all her household furniture stock of cattle and all other movable properties of which she stood possessed to hold the said lands and possessions unto the said Mary Lee otherwise Fitzpatrick her heirs executors administrations and for and during all the rest residue remaining of the several titles thereof and also the said household furniture cattle other properties hereunder proper goods and chattles for ever upon trust to pay herself a balance of two hundred and twenty pounds ster the remainder of a certain bond due to her with all reversions thereof to the use of her younger children which deed and this memorial thereof are witnessed by Laughlin Lee and Thomas Lee both of Corragho in said county of Cavan. (Signed:) Mary Lee
The above named Laughlin Lee maketh oath and saith that he saw the deed of which the above writing is actual & duly executed by the parties thereto and also that he saw Mary Lee sign this memo and that this deponent is a subscribing witness to said deed and memo and that the name Laughlin Lee signed as a witness to said deed and memo is the depnt name and handwriting.
Signed and Sealed in the presence of Laughlin Lee Thos LeeSworn before me at Ballyhaise in the county of Cavan on the 22 day of March 1803 by virtue of a commission to me for the taking of affidavits in the county and I know the deponents (Signed:) James Mullin Comm
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The size of the holding described here amounts to about 2,000 acres, and presumably
was increased to that size when the family inherited under the will of Garrett
Lee. 'Ster' is sterling.
The religion of the family is uncertain.
It was illegal for Catholics to own property during this time, due to the penal
laws, however, in 1766, a census of Protestants in Co Cavan found five Protestant
families in Lavey parish, none of whom is called Lee. The two clergymen, Michael
and William, are quite clearly Protestant.
Of two teachers in Cavan with the name Lee from 1825 and 1826, one, Mary, is
a Catholic, and the other, Catherine, is a Protestant.
The premium to encourage the growing of flax was paid to these in 1796
Lee, Bryan, Kilbride
Lee, Catharine, Ballintemple
Lee, Edward, Killashandra
Lee, Francis, Killashandra
Lee, Hugh, Killashandra
Lee, John, Annagelliff
Lee, John, Killashandra
Lee, John, Lavey
Lee, Laughlin, Lavey
Lee, Mark, Lavey
Lee, Patrick, Crosserlough
Lee, widow Mary, Lavey
Records for Lavey ParishThe graveyard at Lavey Upper was not used before 1920, and the family is apparently buried in the previous graveyard, old Lavey Lower, which is at the junction of the Dublin Road and the road leading to the present Lower Lavey church near Lavey lake. There is an old Protestant church visible behind the trees, and a neglected graveyard, which is nowadays used only by members of the Church of Ireland. The graveyard had previously been shared by both denominations, after the Church of Ireland assumed use of the premises, (this church was built as an Established, or Reformed Church, as it was then called, the semi-derelict Catholic Church formerly on the site was demolished, and the rubble used for the new building. The foundations of the first church are supposed to be discernible). There are old gravestones visible in the adjoining graveyard, but it is severely overgrown. Lee records are listed above.
There are no church records for this Church of Ireland parish.In the census returns of 1821 (which exist for only a few parishes; no other census returns have survived, prior to 1901), there are seventeen families in fifteen households - 95 persons - with the Lee surname in the parish of Lavey.
They are;
Lavey parish;
Luke 40, Mary 35, Jam(es) or Tom? 9, Ellen 14, Mary 12, Bridget 10, Rose 2.
Fergus 36, Mgt 22, Thos 4, Rhoda 2, Anne 1.
Francis 30, Annie 30, Joseph 5, John 2.
Patrick 40, Bgt 40, Francis 17, Fergus 14, John 10, Philip 7, Patk 6, Peter 3, Mich 1, Rose 11.
Mark or Math? 55, (his son) John 24, (John's wife) Cath 23, Andrew? 10, Owen 15, Thos 13, Mark 7.
John 40, Rose 32, Phil 8, Ann 5, Cath 2.
Laughlin 45, Mary 50, Luke 19, Sylvester 16, Loughlin 12, Rose 8.
Patrick 31, Mgt.
Matt 46, Annie 40, Mich 22, Eliz 11, Mary 9.
Peter, Bgt 36, Patk 7, Anne 4, Mary 3.
Simon 40, Honora? 35, Thos 13, Mich 11, Patk 9, John 3, Mary 14, Ellen 17, Bgt 1.
Math 50, (his son) Peter 26, (Peter's wife) Mary 20, (and Matthew's mother) Mich? 70.
Mary 70, (her son) James 20, (daughters) Donna 20, Bgt 18. [these ages are biologically impossible]
Philip 34, Margth 30, Rose or Luce? 10, John 9, Terence 6, Alice 4, Ellen 2. (a labourer, lodging with a Smith family in a single storey house)
Hugh 60, a teacher, of Mullymagavin (whose will is dated 1823), Mgrt 40, Thos 14, Mich 12, Fergus 11, Christopher 4, Mgt 19, Annie 18, Mary 16, Cath 7, Bgt 1.The townland of Curracho [Curraghoe] had nine Lee families, Drumhillagh had one, Lavy townland had two, Drumhirk one, Mullaghneegavin (Mullymagavin) one, and Lattagloghan had three. Their circumstances appear to be the same as the Catholic tenants living around them.
Excepting those mentioned earlier, most have gone by 1856, that is, after the famine. There are no records to indicate how many died, or emigrated.
The existence of the corn-mill would have meant that there was less dependence on the potato crop, as corn was obviously being grown locally, and that may have saved lives.
The neighbouring parish of Denn has two families, one, which concerns us, in Ranrenagh, and the other, in Lislea, the connection with which remains to be discovered. They are:
Denn parish; townland of Ranrenagh
Mary widow 50, Thos 22, Patk 20, Anne 18, Peter 16, John 14, Cath 12, Mary 10, Phil 6, Mgt 2. These have been mentioned earlier.
Denn parish; townland of Lislea
Math 35, Cath 30, Luke 10, John 8, Phil 5, Matt 2, Mary 8, Margrt 20.
No members of the family had gravestones in Denn parish graveyard.
The Anglo-Celt newspaper was first published in 1846, and at that time, did not carry death notices. State registration of births, marriages and deaths began in 1864, and the parish records commenced in 1867 (remarkably, later than the state records), so no help is available here.The Tithe Applotment Books, from 1834, list four Lee households in Lattagloghan, with land used for tillage as follows (grazing land was excluded from Church of Ireland Tithes, which put the burden of payment almost exclusively on to the poor, who were virtually all Catholic):
Peter, with 11 acres of 2nd quality land;
Thomas Lee, with 9 acres of 2nd quality land;
James Lee with 35 acres of 2nd quality land; and
Thomas Lee with 12 acres 2nd quality land (it is not clear whether this is the same Thomas as the one with 9 acres).
The mill is not mentioned in the 1821 census, and is first described in the Ordnance Survey Name Books from 1836, so that it was built between the 1821 census and 1836.The undated (but probably from prior to about 1850) field books for Griffiths Valuation describe Lattagloghan as having only three houses with a valuation in excess of £5 (and liable for Poor Law Rates), all Lees; James, £5.0.0, Peter, £8.5.0, and Thomas, £5.4.0. No other people are named.
The Mill Book for county Cavan describes the Lattagloghan mill as having one pair of stones for shelling and grinding, and as having 4 months work per year, at 12 hours per day. The owner is given as James Lee, then James has been crossed out, and Peter entered. Later, when the valuation was published, the owner is given as Thomas. The book is undated, but is part of the fieldwork for Griffith's Valuation, and is also from about 1850.
By the standards of other mills this was neither very large nor busy.
All properties were leased from Col Alex Saunderson.
The Lee family had 250 acres of the townland of 604 acres.
Philip Lee, died about 1804
The fact that this man's will, dated 1804, in the name of Philip Lee, 'Gent', Lattagloghan, Co Cavan, was proven in the prerogative court, indicates that some of his property was outside the diocese of Kilmore, probably in Monaghan or Tyrone, both of which are in Clogher diocese. Like all of the family wills, it was destroyed in the fire in the Four Courts in 1922, and no further information is available.
Based on the inheritance of property, the next man, James Lee, is probably his son.
James Lee 1789 - 1870
James Lee is the one who built the mill in the 1820's. He later sold it to his cousin, Peter Lee, from Ranrenagh.
James Lee is mentioned in one of the primary schools folklore essays from 1938, in UCD, (Vol 979, p. 376), where he is described as having got land in Lattagloghan by a 'back-hand' to the Saunderson landlord after the eviction of tenants, whose rent was in arrears, which James Lee then paid; this was seen as an unsavoury means of gaining possession of land, and people who got their land in this way were 'grabbers'.
In 1856, he had a house, offices (ie outhouses), and land (part bog) of 109 acres, 2 roods and 8 perches, and two cottiers houses, one of which was a school.
James's obituary, published in the Anglo-Celt of 12 Nov 1870, described him as having died aged 81, on 21 October 1870. He was described as a very devoutly religious man.
He is recorded in the Meath People of 19 Oct 1861, as having attended the opening of the new Lavey church in 1861, and with having donated £1.
Another person mentioned was Mrs O'Reilly, from Ballyjamesduff, with her daughter, who is not named. This was Annie (nee Duffy) and the daughter was probably the future Sr Gita.
His attendance means that James was almost certainly a Catholic. The publication of an obituary notice makes him a very significant person, as death notices were not published then in the manner of to-day's newspapers.
His widow, Mary, was granted probate in 1871, and his estate was worth £600. In today's terms, this would be about £60,000.
There was a son, John, who married Anne Soden in 1888. She was a sister of Fr Patrick Soden, Parish Priest of Manorhamilton. John was killed in a cart-accident at Carrigan on the night of 19 Jan 1890, leaving his wife with two children. Anne died in 1897, and left £376 to Michael Soden. One of the children, also John, is recorded in the census of 1901, as a nephew to Patrick Soden of Pottlesoden.
We have no further information regarding this branch of the family.
John Lee of Ranrenagh
John Lee was probably born about 1760, and his will is dated 1820 (this was a consistorial, or diocesan will). He left a widow with a young family. She was Mary, with 10 acres of land, and these children; Thomas, 21, Patrick, 19, Anne, 17, Peter, 15, John, 13, Catherine, 11, Mary, 9, Philip, 5, and Margaret, 1.
This is the family to which we are related.
We have information on three sons only; Thomas, Peter, and John, and we know that Patrick lived in the townland in his adult life.
The daughter Anne, married a publican, Terence Carroll, of Virginia, in December, 1824.Peter Lee of Ranrenagh
Peter was born in Ranrenagh in 1805. In 1830 he bought the farm and mill in Lattagloghan from his cousin James Lee, probably with the proceeds of his father's will, which was probated in 1826.
Rose McCabe had bought the Broad Road inn in 1826, after the death of her husband Owen in Crosskeys in 1825. Rose had living with her, her husband's two nieces. In the 1830's Peter Lee married one of the nieces.
At this time also, Peter acquired the inn. His wife died in the 1840's and Peter then married Maryanne O'Reilly of Cavan. He died in 1853, and his estate was valued at £100. His executor was John Lee of Balagha, and his property was divided between his son John, who got the Broad Road farm and inn, and Thomas Lee, Peter's brother, (or his nephew?), who got the mill and mill farm.
Peter's son John, born in 1836, married Nancy Smith, from Lishenry, in Denn.The Anglo-Celt newspaper records on June 24, 1852 that at the CAVAN QUARTER SESSIONS of June 21st, 1852, the bench considered the spirit applications. John LEE of Lallaglohan had his application granted.
In 1856, John now had a house, offices and land, (part bog), workman's house and land, two labourers houses with gardens, and a house offices and land, of 75 acres in total. He died in 1890.
John and Nancy had four children:
John, born in 1851.
Mary, who married a Mr Prunty, and lived in Rathmulligan.
Margaret, whose married name was Reilly, and who lived in Cleggan, and
Peter Paul Lee, who lived in Cavan.
The eldest son John 1851 - 1912, married Ann Smith, daughter of Terence, also known as Con Smith, from Drumgora and they had three children;
John Baptist 1888 - 1963, who did not marry,
Ann (who may have died as a child) and
Margaret, who died single.
John Lee of Ranrenagh
John had a son, James, in 1836.
James married Mary McGlynn, who was born in 1838, and had these children;
Mary in 1868,
James in 1869,
Hugh J. in 1870,
Bridget, on 19 May 1872 and
Bedilia in 1876.
Some members of this family went to the USA, and others are still in Ranrenagh.
Patrick Lee of Ranrenagh
Patrick had 23 acres of land in 1856, but we know nothing further about him.
Thomas Lee of Ranrenagh
Thomas inherited or bought from his brother Peter, the mill later owned by his own son, also Thomas. As we do not know the date of his death, it is possible that he pre-deceased Peter, and the son is the one who inherited.
In 1856 he had a house, offices, and land, corn mill, kiln, labourers house and land, another house and land, and two cottiers houses, with 67 acres.
The children of Thomas known to us are four brothers;
Thomas,
Patrick,
Philip and
James.
Thomas Lee d. 1897
Thomas, possibly the eldest, (born about 1830) married Mary Cooke (b. 1851), and they owned the mill, inherited from his father Thomas. They had seven children who survived;
Kate (b. 1880),
Patrick (b. 1882),
John (b. 1884),
Thomas (b. 1886) there may have been an earlier child of this name, who died,
Mary (b. 1888),
Annie (b. 1893) and
Matthew (b.1895).
Thomas died on 24 June, 1897, and his estate, valued at £96.5.0 was administered by Matthew Cooke. His widow was the landowner to a number of families in the 1901 census. The son Thomas became the next owner of the mill.
James Lee
James (b. 1834) was married about 1861, and there was a son, Patrick, born in 1863. His wife, whose name is presently unknown, died shortly thereafter, and James remarried on 30th August 1869, to Anne McCormack of Stravicknabo, Lavey born 1841.
There are two records from Griffith's Valuation of Ireland, 1848-1864, for Stravicknabo; Patrick and Philip Mc Cormick.
James died sometime prior to the 1901 census. His children are listed below. He was my great-grandfather.
Two other James Lees existed at the same time; James Lee of Ranrenagh, born 1836, who was still alive in 1901, and James Lee of Lattagloghan, the first owner of the mill.
Patrick Lee
Patrick (b. 1838) married Bridget McEvoy (b. 1846), in 1870, and had these children;
Thomas, (b. 1870) who went to the USA;
Annie, (b. 1879) who lived in Mountnugent, and returned to Lattagloghan when she was widowed;
John (b. 1874) was a butcher, and lived in the USA;
Patrick (baptised 13 Oct 1875),
Matthew (b. 1879) conscripted in the USA, and killed in France, in WWI; and
Katie (b. 1886), married in USA.Philip Lee
Philip did not marry, and as a consequence, or because he was the youngest (born 1843), he was still alive at the time of the 1911 census. He was called `Phil the grocer', and was a wild man, according to one description. He was godfather to a number of his brothers' children.
The children of James Lee
James's son, Patrick, seems to have been raised by the family of his dead mother, and had very little contact with the other Lees, although he lived nearby, and they knew him. He was a shoemaker, married to Susan Hughes, a dressmaker. There were no children.
There were four children to James's marriage to Anne McCormack,
John (baptised 29 June 1871), Date of Civil Registration: 4 Jul 1871
Philip (baptised 21 April 1873),
Mary (baptised 1 July 1878) and
James (baptised 2 June 1879).
Baptism normally took place within a day or two of birth, so these dates are close to birth dates.John Lee of Lattagloghan
John married Beesie Smith and was living in the family home with his wife and his widowed mother Anne in 1901. He was also listed as the landowner to a number of households at that time, including his uncle Philip, and his half-uncle Patrick, although by the standards of the other Lee farms, his was small.
Philip Lee of Lattagloghan, and Ballyjamesduff
In the 1901 census Philip is recorded in the town of Cavan, living at number 60, Main Street, with a family called Smyth, next door to Cassels public house, where he was serving his apprenticeship as a barman. His father had paid his employer for this training, which he later describer as endlessly weighing sugar from a sack into brown paper bags, to be sold in the shop. He had a pub in Stradone Street, Ballyjamesduff. Philip was married on Sunday, 11 January 1914 to Anne Cecilia O'Reilly, when he was 41, and she was 26. He died of pneumonia on 1 January 1931, ten days short of his seventeenth wedding anniversary, leaving her a widow with no means, as the business, a grocery shop and public house, failed almost immediately. She was 43, and after a few years during which she lived in Ballyjamesduff, she moved to Donnycarney in Dublin, where she lived to be 91. Ann Cecilia Mary (baptised on 3 July 1887; godparents were John J O'Reilly and Margaret O'Reilly), she fell out with her brother-in-law, James, who had been managing the bakery side of the business. They lived at Stradone Street, Ballyjamesduff, until she was widowed on 1st January 1931. She was forced to vacate their pub and shop, and later moved to Dublin where she bought a house in Donnycarney in 1936, not far from her brother-in-law James, with whom there was little contact. She lived there with her son Philip, who died before her, and her daughter Philomena, until her own death in 1978. She had been born into a family of the landlord class, with servants, and status, and she never really adjusted to the fact that their era was passing. There was also an age difference between Cecilia and Philip of 14 years; Cecilia never knew her father, who died when she was two years old, and she may have needed someone older, while Philip had to pretend to be younger than his years, and gave the difference as eleven years. During the War of Independence vehicles belonging to Philip and also to a John Soden, were commandeered and they had to raise the issue of compensation in a Parliamentary Question in the records of Dáil Éireann:Dáil Éireann - Volume 6 - 03 April, 1924
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CAVAN MOTOR OWNERS' CLAIMS.
SEAN MAC GIOLLA 'N RIOGH asked the Minister for Defence if he can say why no settlement has yet been made of the claims by Philip Lee and John Soden, Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, for motors, petrol, etc., obtained by the Military from them in 1922, despite the fact that the account for same has been furnished many times.
The PRESIDENT: A cheque for £9 14s. 0d. in settlement of Mr. Lee's claims, which amounted to £11 15s. 0d., was issued on the 18th ultimo.
No claim appears to have been received at Headquarters from Mr. Soden. If particulars are furnished to the Chief Claims Officer, Portobello Barracks, Dublin, the matter will have attention.There had been an attack on the RIC barracks in Ballyjamesduff, and the constabulary had raked all the windows in the buildings opposite with gunfire, one of which was the pub, smashing bottles and everything else in the process. There was a claim for damages, which was a long time in being paid, leading to a Parliamentary Question in the records of Dáil Éireann - Volume 7 - 27 May, 1924 - CEISTEANNA-QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - BALLYJAMESDUFF PREMISES DESTROYED.
"Mr. DOYLE (for Seán Mac Giolla 'n Riogh) asked the Minister for Finance if he can state what steps are necessary to expedite the hearing of the claim of Mr. Lee, of Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, for compensation for the destruction of his premises in that town by the Irregulars, which premises, having been reconstructed and repaired by Mr. Lee, have been taken over by the Gárda Síochána and are now used by them as a barrack.
Mr. BLYTHE: This claim is at present under investigation by the Board of Works with a view to a settlement. I will see that it is dealt with as expeditiously as possible".
Once, when Cecilia was in a shop in Dublin, in her 80's, she recognised the proprietor as the son of one of the insurgents who had participated in this gun-battle. She called this unfortunate man all the names she could think of, for having had a father whose patriotism caused her such loss.
Philip is buried in Ballyjamesduff, in the same grave plot as an infant son, Stanislaus, and Cecilia is buried in Sutton, Dublin.Mary Lee
Mary was a nurse, and did not marry. She had worked for a time in England, and when she returned, she lived with the family of her niece Mrs Phyllis Duffy, a daughter of James and Sophie Lee, below) in her later years, and died in 1962.James Lee
James married Sophie Meade when he was 25 and she was 22, in 1908. He was a baker, and carried on a business alongside Philip in Ballyjamesduff. In 1914, following a dispute with Philip's wife Cecilia, he moved to Dublin and began to trade on his own, in a dairy in Cuffe Street. He and Sophie returned to Ballyjamesduff for a second attempt at working with Philip, but Cecilia quarrelled with them again, and they returned once more to Dublin.
He then worked for Kennedy's, a large bakery in 127/128 Parnell Street, in Dublin, which had formerly supplied the bakery in Ballyjamesduff.
