History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond and ...

114 DESCENDANTS OF PETER MONTAGUE.
his descendants returned to Va. Francis died unmarried. From
Thomas was descended Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lightfoot Lee,
and others renowned in the Revolution. Henry Lee married a Miss
Bland, and from him were descended many who were bright orna-
ments in the church, the state and the army." It may be added that
from this last-mentioned Henry Lee and Miss Bland was descended
Gen'l Robert E. Lee.
" Ditchley " the Lee seat in Va. seems to have passed to the Ball
family. In 189 1, James F. Ball resided there, aged 75 and infirm.
His father, Joseph Ball who d. 185 1, was the same Joseph Ball who
visited William Montague, near Richmond, in his old-fashioned gig
in Dec, 1826. Joseph was son of James Ball and grandson of Col.
James Ball of Bewdley. Col. Richard Lee, in his will describes
himself as of Virginia but late of Stratford, Langdon, Essex. This
place was on the east bank of the Lee river, and was a suburb of the
city of London. There were a number of places called Leigh in
Essex, including a Leigh Priory. There were Lee families seated in
that Co. and Col. Richard undoubtedly owned property at Stratford,
but his ancestry should be sought for in the Co. of Salop.
On a list of Baronets, printed 1738, is the name of Sir Humphrey
Lee of Langley in Shropshire, title extinct May 3, 1620. His arms
were the same as those of Col. Richard Lee of Va. which proves that
he belonged to a branch of the same family. Sir Humphrey Lee was
the son of Richard Lee of Langley, Shropshire. [See Burke's Royal
Fam. ped. CLXV.] Mary Lee, dau. of Richard Lee of Langley and
sister of Sir Humphrey Lee, married Sir Henry Viner, Kt, who died
1627. Their dau. Mary Viner married Thomas, son of Sir Thomas
Bromley, Lord Chancellor of England. Sir Henry Viner was of
Montague descent through the Earl of March, son of the Lady
Philippa Montagu.
Effort has been made to connect the Va. Lees with what is sometimes
called the " Quarendon " [Co. Bucks] family of Lees. The
Quarendon family were of the same stock as the Earls of Litchfield,
and derive their descent from the same Sir Walter Lee of Co.
Chester. The first Lee who ever settled at Quarendon was Benedict
Lee and his wife Elizabeth, dau. of John Wood. From his eldest
brother Thomas were descended the Earls of Litchfield, two brothers,
John and Robert, were seated at Aston in Co. Stafford; another