Thomas Lees or Lee of Toberhead, Maghera, b. abt. 1815 Ireland, d. 26 Dec 1891 Wayne, Passaic, New Jersey, married Jane Lamont (or Lamon), of Leckagh, Magherafelt, b. c1818 Ireland, d. 17 Feb 1896 Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey.
The couple married on 13 May 1842 at Maghera St Lurach’s (Church of Ireland), Co. Londonderry. The family emigrated to the USA around 1845 and settled in Wayne township, Passaic, New Jersey.
Thomas‘ death record reads: “Wayne, 26 Dec 1891, Lee Thomas, Male, Married, 88 years, Native of Ireland, Residing 46 years in USA, parents natives of Ireland, cause of death Senility, duration of disease [blank] mo[nths]” (note that his age is off by a good 10 years compared to censuses)
Jane‘s death record reads: “Paterson, 17 Feb 1896, Lee Jane, Female, Widow, 73 years, Native of Ireland, Residing 50 years in State, parents natives of Ireland, Cause of death Celebral Caem? 36 hours“
Known offspring:
– John Lee, b. abt 1847 New Jersey, likely d. 9 Feb 1853? (gravestone in Pompton Reformed Church Cemetery)
– Mary Ann Lee, b. 13 Sep 1850 Pompton, Passaic, New Jersey, m. Michael W. McKeon 12 April 1866 Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey
– Sarah Jane Lee, b. 1 Dec 1852 Pompton, Passaic, New Jersey, m. William Maskell, d. 1914 buried Pompton
– John Lee, b. 8 Apr 1854 Wayne, Passaic, New Jersey
– Archibald Graham Lee, b. 17 Apr 1856 Wayne, Passaic, New Jersey, m. Anna M. Wyckoff 28 May 1882 Pompton, Passaic, New Jersey, d. aft 1905
– Phebe Catherine Lee, b. 14 May 1858 Wayne, Passaic, New Jersey, m. Demarest, d. 19 May 1879 Wayne, Passaic, New Jersey
David Lees, aged 39, born abt 1822 Co. Londonderry, was an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Royal Navy Ship Hannibal located in the Mediterranean on the 1861 census. I have not succeeded in finding any other record of this David.
James Lee of Caraloon, [Carraloan, Artrea, Co. Londonderry], b. abt 1864 emigrated to the USA c1885 and married Anna Brown and had 3 known children. He died 27 May 1954 New Jersey aged 90, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106941831/james-lee
Thomas LEE & Margaret WARD
Married 22 May 1858 at Magherafelt Parish Church (COI): Thomas LEE, Weaver, Castledawson, son of deceased Robert LEE, Weaver, married Margaret WARD, Castledawson, daughter of John WARD, Labourer. Witnesses: Thomas JUDGE & Margret JUDE
- Margaret Ward LEE, born Castledawson, baptized 11 Nov 1861 Magherafelt Catholic Church, wit. Margaret MULDOON, d. 1943
- Sarah LEE, born abt. 1863.
- Mary LEE, born 11 Nov 1864 Castledawson
- Susan LEE, born 24 Jul 1867 Castledawson
- Thomas LEE, born 28 March 1870 Castledawson
- Kate Frances LEE, b. abt 1874 PA, USA, b. 1898 PA
- Charles LEE, b. abt 1877 PA, USA, d. 1883 PA
- John LEE, b. May 1880 PA, USA, d. 1884 PA
Family appears to have travelled with Margaret, Margaret, Sarah and Thomas jnr aboard the Atlantic from Liverpool, arriving in New York on 20 Feb 1872
Family living at 324 Sargent Street, Philadelphia in the 1880 US census
Thomas LEE, Weaver, 53, born Ireland, residence 2687 Collins Street, died 7 Jan 1890 Philadelphia and was buried North Cedar Hill, no parents’ names were recorded (also a short newspaper announcement with little additional information)
Margaret LEE, Widowed, 54, born Ireland, residence 2671 Collins Street, died 8 Feb 1892, also buried North Cedar Hill
The FindAGrave plot info helps confirm this is the correct family. Buried in plot ‘Section Q Lot 325’ are the above couple as well as children Charles LEE, John LEE, Kate Frances LEE, and Margaret Ward LEE.
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On 27 Mar 1849 at Maghera Parish Church, James Lees, full aged Bachelor, Blacksmith, residing Castledawson, the son of James Lees, Baker, married Anne Hamilton, full aged Spinster, residing Maghera, the daughter of Henry Hamilton Farmer. Witnesses were Henry Crocket and John Milligan.
According to Scottish census records, James Lees / Leas was born abt 1822 in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland. I can find no record of his birth or parents though. His death record lists his parents as the James Lees, Baker, deceased, and Mary Shiell, deceased. He died 8 Feb 1897 Rosehall, Haddington, County of Haddington (East Lothian). The informant was John Knox Irvine, with whom the deceased resided.
Offspring:
– Elizabeth Lowry Lees, b. 26 Nov 1849, baptized 24 Feb 1850, Killowen Church of Ireland, Coleraine (residence: Upper Killowen Street)
– Joseph Hamilton Lees, b. 7 Jan 1852, bapt. 8 Feb 1852 Edinburgh, St. James Place Relief Church
– Mary Ann Lees, b. 20 Nov 1854, bapt. 10 Dec 1854 Edinburgh, St. James Place Relief Church, died 1866 Edinburgh
– Henry James Lees, b. 7 Dec 1860 Edinburgh, died 1870
Note that the above family can be found recorded under the spelling Lees, Leas and possibly also Lea
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In the 1881 census, James Lees, a 77-year-old retired warehouseman, and his wife Agnes Lees, a 79-year-old dressmaker, were recorded living together at 11 Booth Street, Tranmere, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England. Both were born in Derry, Ireland, and were listed as married. James was born around 1804, and Agnes around 1802. Death records suggest that James Lees died in Birkenhead in the second quarter of 1890 at the age of 86, while Agnes Lees likely passed away earlier, in the first quarter of 1882, aged 73.