Pennsylvania, USA

James Gillespie, b. 21 Sep 1844 Ireland to John Gillespie and Jane Lees, d. 13 Aug 1914 Catasauqua, Lehigh, Pennsylvania, USA. According to Ancestry Family Tree this family is from Castelrock, Coleraine, Londonderry.

Also in Catasauqua was Robert W. Lees b. 5 Jan 1843 Co. Londonderry, Ireland (to John Lees) married Jane Nevins, died 23 May 1928. Was a member of Bridge Street Presbyterian church. Surived by three daughters, Mrs. Charles W. Goodman; Mrs. Margaret Warmkessel; and Mrs John Trimble of Allentown. “five sisters and a brother living in Ireland also remain” (1928). Could Robert W. have been a cousin of James Gillespie?

Robert Lees, b. abt 1855 Ireland, m. Elizabeth McDermott or Dermott 25 March 1884 at Philadelphia Presbyterian Monthly Meeting. She was born 1859 Philadelphia, daughter of Thomas McDermott and Eliza Graham, natives of Ireland. He died 28 December 1892 and was interred at Cumberland M.E. Vault, Philadelphia. She died 1925. The couple had five children, of which three were alive in 1900:

Margaret Lees was born in Ireland abt 1835 to Thomas Lees and Catherine Barnaivall. She first married John Handley, and later Timothy Burns. She died 6 Nov 1908 aged 73 and was buried 10 Nov 1908 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143081585

Robert Lees, son of Andrew Lees and Helen Nimmo was born 30 Oct 1837 Ireland, migrated to Scotland with his family where he married Mary Bell 10 Dec 1860 Bo’Ness, West Lothian. The couple emigrated to Pennsylvania, USA where Robert died 25 Oct 1910 North Fayette, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192383818

Samuel Lees and Elizabeth Watt had several children who emigrated:

  • William Lees b. 8 Aug 1881 Ireland, m. Marion Telfer d. 30 Dec 1938 North Huntingdon, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Samuel Lees b. 3 Nov 1884 Ireland, m. Letitia Stewart 1908, d. 20 Apr 1966 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Joseph Lees b. 5 Nov 1887 Ireland, m. Marie Walley, d. 8 Aug 1952 Bellevue, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Matthew Lees b. 6 Aug 1896 Ireland, m. Jennie Stranaghan d. Aug 1962 Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA

Sarah Lees b. 28 Mar 1839 to William Lees and Fanny or Frances Marshall, m. Stephen E. Burke 26 May 1858 Williams, Ohio, USA, d. 30 Jan 1917 Otsego, Steuben, Indiana, USA https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/144149238 There is an Ancestry Family tree for those parents, with more children.

Catherine Reynolds, b. abt 1824 Ireland, Seamstress, 54 years in the US, died 1 Apr 1904 St Joseph’s Hospital, Bronx, New York, buried 2 Apr 1904 Calvery Cemetery, daughter of Samuel Lees and Catherine

Thomas Lees, Fireman, b. 11 Feb 1867 Glebe, Articlave, Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland to James Lees, Farmer, and Anne Andrews, d. 2 Mar 1899 Bronx, New York, USA

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David Lynn (c.1812-1889) was married to a Mary Jane Lees (c.1815-1889). They had at least 2 children in Ireland before emigrating to Pennsylvania, USA where they had more children. They attended the 1st Presbyterian Church of Panther Valley, Summit Hill, Carbon County.

James Lees (c.1817-1893) & Margaret Polk/Poll/Polls of Ireland were also members of the First Presbyterian of Panther Valley, Summit Hill, Carbon County, Pennsylvania. James and Mary Jane were possibly siblings.

1870: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZG3-WCL

1880: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWXZ-JFF

1893 burial: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/180700496/james-lees

1900: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M39X-FWY

1910: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MG4W-N22

1911 Martha Lees https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7FSX-XJPZ

1930: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH8T-66K

1931 Margaret McCready https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/180524337/margaret-mccready

cemetery records: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DTB9-V43?i=30&cc=1447492

  • Margaret Lees, b. Abt 1846 Ireland, m. ? McCready, d. 1931

  • Martha Lees, b. Abt 1848 Ireland, d. 27 Oct 1911

  • James Lees, b. 30 Aug 1849 Ireland, m. Mary Jane ?, d. 3 Dec 1924

  • John Lees, b. Abt 1854 Pennsylvania, d. 1902

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James Lees b. abt 1803 Ireland m. Margaret ? b. abt 1806 Ireland

emigrated aboard the Clutha from Glasgow, settling in Warsaw, Kosciusko, Indiana

James Lees 40 Male Workman   Ireland Glasgow New York Clutha 8 Jun 1850
Margaret Lees 38 Female Wife   Ireland Glasgow New York Clutha 8 Jun 1850
James Lees 15 Male Rel[ation]   Ireland Glasgow New York Clutha 8 Jun 1850
William Lees 12 Male Rel[ation]   Ireland Glasgow New York Clutha 8 Jun 1850
Maryann Lees 9 Female Child   Ireland Glasgow New York Clutha 8 Jun 1850
John Lees 8 Male Child   Ireland Glasgow New York Clutha 8 Jun 1850
Hannah Lees 4 Female Child   Ireland Glasgow New York Clutha 8 Jun 1850
Thomas Lees 10mo Male Infant   Ireland Glasgow New York Clutha 8 Jun 1850

James Lees jnr.

Mary Anne Lee

Hannah Lees

A John Lees was also connected with Carbon County. His naturalization records him as born County Derry, aged 25, Irish, emigrated from Liverpool, arriving in the U.S. on 9 May 1838, settled in Carbon County, Pennslyvania, and naturalized on 25 March 1845. No further record found of him.

James Lees, Carpet Weaver, Residence Philadelphia, born Ireland, aged 24 (b. Abt 1839) & Margret Jane Ross, Residence Philadelphia, born Ireland, aged 23 (b. Abt 1840) married on 20 Feb 1863 by Rev. Alexander G. McAuley, Reformed Presbyterian, Residence 1446 Columbia Avenue.

Scotland

James LEES or LEE, married Susan EWAN or EWING on 22 June 1855 at High Church, Glasgow, Lanarkshire. James was recorded as being born in Magherafelt, County Derry, Ireland, the son of John LEE or LEES, recorded as Labourer, Farmer and General Dealer & Jane HUTCHISON, both deceased. Susan was also recorded as being born in Magherafelt, the daughter of William EWING & Mary LAFFERTY. They were residing at 116 Castle Street, Glasgow at the time of marriage. In contradiction to this record however, the 1855 birth record of their daughter Jane, states that the couple was married in November 1847, Glasgow and records mother Susan as being born in County Tyrone.
Susan LEE or EWAN died 1870 at High Church, Glasgow, mother’s maiden name recorded as LAVERTY. James then remarried to Ellen or Helen WILSON on 11 April 1871 at Springburn, Lanarkshire. James died 11 August 1880.

Children born to James LEES and Susan EWING:

  • William LEES, born abt 1848, d. 1855
  • James LEES, born 01 February 1851, baptised at Glasgow Christ Church Bridgeton (Episcopal)
  • unknown girl LEES, born and died before 1855
  • Jane LEES, born 15 May 1855 Glasgow
  • William John LEES, born 18 Jan 1860 Glasgow, died 1864 Glasgow
  • Mary LEES, born 28 Sep 1861 Glasgow, died 1864 Glasgow