Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

sachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia and
New York.
John Lee, founder of the Massachusetts
branch of the family, was born about 1600,
in England, and appears to have been the
son of a Londoner, probably a merchant.
Records show that in 1634 John Lee was
living in Agawam (Ipswich), Massachu-
setts. He was a farmer and a soldier,
perhaps with some military rank, as the
inventory of his estate includes a buff
coat, fire-arms, such as pistols and hol-
sters, a musket and a sword and belt.
That he was not illiterate is shown by the
fact that his "bookes" were of sufficient
importance to be named and valued in the
inventory, and that he was a man of
means is evident from the same inventory
of his estate amounting to £928 I2s. 2d.,
a handsome sum for the times. The seal
he used on his will bore the device of a
bird (not a martlet) somewhat similar to
the one used on the will of Thomas Leigh,
of Ipswich, 1661, and similar to that used
by his son, John Lee, with the omission,
on the son's seal, of the motto, "Sola."
(I) Daniel Lee, Jr.. probably a descend-
ant of John Lee, the immigrant, and greatgrandfather
of Mortimer Montgomery
Lee, enlisted in the Revolutionary army
from the neighborhood of Worcester,
Massachusetts. He afterward lived for
many years as a farmer in Oneonta, New
York, and for a time served as tax col-
lector for the town.
(II) Barnes Lee, son of Daniel Lee,
Jr., was born in Milford, New York, where
he engaged in mercantile business. He
married Azubah Sargent. Mr. Lee was
a handsome man, and of such great
strength that he never found his equal in
a wrestling match, being able to throw
any man in the vicinity. His mental abil-
ities were not inferior to his physical
prowess. His death took place in Mil-
ford.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
293
(HI) Alonzo Lee, son of Barnes and
Azubah (Sargent) Lee, was born in Mil-
ford, New York, which was the original
part of Oneonta. He was educated in the
district school, and even as a boy helped
to take care of his widowed mother and
three sisters. While still a young man
he removed to Farmington, Pennsylvania,
where he conducted a store and also dealt
in wool. He married Almira A. Wright,
born in Greene county. New York, daughter
of Ashel Wright, of Farmington,
Pennsylvania, and their children were:
Minnie, married Daniel Lee ; Mortimer
Montgomery, mentioned below ; and
Charles H., of Detroit. Minnie Lee, after
her marriage, lived in Knoxville, Pennsylvania,
and both she and her husband
are now deceased. For some years before
his death, Alonzo Lee, the father of the
family, lived in Elmira, New York. His
wife was a member of the Christian
church.
(IV) Mortimer Montgomery Lee, son
of Alonzo and Almira A. (Wright) Lee,
was born May 28, 1846, in Farmington,
Pennsylvania, where he attended school
for a time, afterward passing successively
to Troopsburg Academy and Union Academy,
Knoxville, Pennsylvania. He was
then for some years associated with his
father in the latter's business in Farmington
and also in Elmira. In 1880 Mr. Lee
went to New York City, where he formed
a partnership with William Atwood
Haughton under the firm name of Haughton
& Lee. He has since engaged very
successfully in the business of importing
and handling fine lace and silk goods at
wholesale, keeping many salesmen on the
road and covering every State in the
Union.
Since becoming a resident of South
Norwalk, Mr. Lee has identified himself
actively with the leading interests of his
home community. He is vice-president