This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: secclest Surnames: LEE, GRESHAM, WATKINS, HOLCOMBE Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.lee/11870/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Would love someone to post new findings regarding the inter-connections of these families. This is what I have at this time. I am focusing on the puzzle that is Mary Gresham who marries Richard Henry Lee. It would seem that "Old Aunt Rhodey Watkins" of G W Lee Letter fame is likely Mary Gresham's sister. Rhoda Gresham: Rhoda Gresham's mother seems to be Barbara Holcombe - (1) Barbara Gresham gave consent to Rhoda's marriage to Joel Watkins in 1752 and (2) Rhoda's son, Silas Watkins, named his son after his two grandmothers: "Holcombe Pride Watkins" (Nation Builders book - Joel's mother was Elizabeth Pride). Requiring consent for the marriage suggests that Rhoda was young (Rhoda was likely born ca 1735) - and the fact that her mother provided consent suggests that father Gresham was out of the area or had died. If he died, was widow Barbara living in their home or with another relative when Rhoda marries in Amelia County? I haven't come across any reference to a Gresham's will that was proved between 1735 and 1752. So who did Barbara Holcombe marry? Possibly one of the 1704 Greshams. It is also possible that Mary Gresham and Rhoda Gresham had the same father but different mothers. Holcomb(e)s and King & Queen County: The Holcombes are present in the early 1700's in King & Queen County, VA. In 1704 the only Holcombes and Greshams that I can find in the Virginia Quit Rent Rolls are all in King & Queen County, VA. Actually, the only "Holcombe" I find listed is William Holcombe, Barbara's grandfather. By the 1720's, both Richard Holcombe (Barbara's father) and John Holcombe (Richard's brother) are on land near the Mattaponi/Mattapony River which divides King & Queen County and King William County, VA. John Holcombe leases his K&W Co land in 1721 and obtains a 1723 patent for 400 acres in King William Co adjoining brother Richard Holcombe (Barbara's father). One of the Lee letters also stated that Mary Gresham was Welsh - this may be referring to her Holcombe background as the Holcombes appear to have emigrated from Wales. There is debate regarding who Richard Henry Lee's father was - Thomas, Richard, another? It seems Thomas is a leading contender. However, one theory is that his father was the Richard Lee who arrived on ship in Virginia in 1695(along with a Mary Young and 100 others). Edward Hill obtained 5000 acres in King & Queen County for the importation of these individuals. Did these individuals remain in the area? Were they indentured servants for a few years to Edward Hill? Others in the Mattaponi/y area at the time Barbara Holcombe would have been living there with her father: In 1662 Edward Gresham renews a patent (for which he was assignee from Rowland Williams who was in turn assignee of Robert Joanes) for 500 acres on the north side of Mattapony River (New Kent County). In 1687 Richard Gregory receives a patent for 850 acres in New Kent County for 850 acres on the north side of Mattapony adjoining land of Mr Watkins and Richard Davis (formerly granted to Philip Watkins, Thomas Watkins and Wm Ricketts. In 1690 Edward Gresham Sr receives patent for 641 acres on the north side of Mattapony River (and on the Northeast side of "Axel Swamp") in New Kent County. The Name Game: Mary Gresham and Richard Henry Lee often named their children with family names. One child was named Gresham, another Mary, one was Young (perhaps after RH Lee's mother). no child was named Edward or Thomas - both Edward and Thomas have been mentioned as candidates for being Rhoda and/or Mary's father. That doesn't mean their father wasn't named Edward or Thomas but it is interesting. (It is also interesting to me that, to my knowledge, R H Lee did not name a child Thomas). That said, one of Mary and RH Lee's sons was named George and George Gresham was on the 1704 Quit Rent list. Other ties of Rhoda Gresham to the RH Lee family is the witnessing by William and Dolley Lee of Joel Watkins's will. RH Lee's son, Young Lee, named a daughter Rhoda. In addition, RH Lee's grandson named one of his sons Silas Watkins Lee. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.