• General Notes

  Hancock Lee b. 1653, Ditchley, Northumberland Co., VA, d. 25 May 1709, Hancock’s Neck, Northumberland Co., VA, m. (1) 1675, Northampton Co., VA, Mary Kendall b. Newport House, Northampton Co., VA, (daughter of William and Susannah (Baker) Kendall). M. (2) bef 1707, Sarah Allerton, b. 1656, "Narrow's Plantation", Westmoreland Co., VA, (daughter of Isaac Allerton, Col. and Elizabeth Willoughby) d. 17 May 1731, "Hancock's Neck", Northumberland Co., VA. Hancock was buried at Ditchley, where his tombstone is still seen. This burying ground was used by this branch of the family for several generations, probably until the estate was sold in 1789, to Col. James Ball, Jr., whose descendants own it today. The inscription reads as follows:
  
  “Here Lyeth the Body of Hancock Lee, Seventh son of the Honourable Richard Lee, Who departed this Life the 25th May, Anno Domo 1729, Aeta. 56 years. Also Mary his first Wife, only Daughter of William Kendall, Gent., Who departed this life the 24th December, Anno Domo 1694, Aeta. 33 years. And Sarah, his last Wife, Daughter of Isaac Allerton, Esq., Who departed this Life 17th May, Anno Domo, 1731, Aeta. 60 years.” Although this inscription states that he died in 1729, there can be no doubt that Hancock Lee died in 1709; for these reasons, : The certificate of probate of his will reads: “Die July 20: 1709. This will was proved in Northumberland County Court to be the last Will and Testament of Mr. Hancock Lee, dec’d by ye oaths of Thomas Knight and Mary Knight, two of ye witnesses thereto admitted to Record. (Signed) Tho: Hobson C. Cur. Northumberland. The Clerk’s office of Northumberland was burned the 25th of October 1710; later all the records that could be found were recorded a second time to replace those destroyed. So, on Hancock’s will there is this second note of record: “Die Martii 21, 1711, This Coppie of Mr. Hancock Lee’s Will and the Codicils thereto annexed were approved by ye Court and upon motion of Capt. John Howson were admitted to Record. (signed) Tho: Hobson C. Cur. Northumberland.” Again, an inventory of Hancock’s property was filed the 21st of Mar, 1710, and moreover in an application for a land patent, made the 6th of March, 1709-10, it was stated that the patent was for “Hancock Lee son of Hancock Lee dec’d.” These records clearly prove that Hancock was deceased in 1709. If the inscription on his tombstone were correct in that died in 1728, aged 56 years, then he would have been born in 1673, about nine years after the death of his father. Whilst, if the record of his first marriage, in 1675, be correct, then he married at the early age of two or three years! Hancock is supposed to have settled in Northampton at the time of his first marriage and to have returned to Northumberland about 1686. He was a Justice for Northampton County in 1677, and held similar positions in Northumberland in 1687, 1699; was also a Burgess from Northumberland in 1688. A list of civil officers, dated 3 Jun 1699, names him as the “Naval Officer and Collector of Virginia Dutys in Northumberland County;” another list of the date of 1702, mentions him as Justice, showing him to have been in commission at the time of his death. The Northern Neck land records show that Hancock patented land as follows: 1,100 acres in Richmond County, the 18th Apr 1704; 570 acres on both sides of Rappahannock Horsepen Run and adjoining his own land, 21st May 1705; 1,353 acres in Richmond County, 6th Jun 1704; 460 acres on north side of the Occoquan in Stafford County, 2nd Nov 1707; 1,750 acres at the heads of the branches of Chapowamsic in Stafford, adjoining the land of Capt. Thomas Harrison, 10th Feb 1707. Hancock Lee, son of Hancock dec’d, patented 1,025 acres on Wolf Run in Stafford, for which Hancock Lee the elder had obtained a warrant, 1708, and by codicil to his will, 21st Dec 1706, gave to his son the said Hancock, 6th Mar 1709-10. In 1678, Hancock Lee, gent., obtained a patent for 268 acres in Accomac County. The land formerly included in the Ditchley estate was patented the 21st May 1651. It has usually been stated that Hancock built Ditchley mansion about 1687, but there is no evidence to substantiate this tradition. The present house was built by Kendall Lee, grandson of Hancock, and was completed about 1765-70, as estimated by James Flexmer Ball. Hancock’s will was made 31st Dec 1706; one codicil was added 1st Jan 1706/07; a second the 18th May, and a third the 20th of May, 1709. It was probated at Northumberland County Courthouse the20th Jul 1709.
  

Details of Hancock's family with Sarah Allerton