Barrett Lee (née Williams)

Married to Michael White Lee (q.v.) and daughter of Martin Williams senior (q.v., previous owner of Old Hope Pen and Seven Rivers estate in Westmoreland, Jamaica). Compensation for the enslaved persons on these estates were awarded to Rev. Henry Mair (q.v.), as mortgagee.

1. Born 02/08/1785 and christened 06/09/1785 in Mary-le-bone, London, to Martin Williams and Elizabeth Barrett Williams nee Waite. Her parents married in St James, Jamaica, 29/12/1771. Barrett was their youngest of their children after Mary Waite (1775), Sarah (1777), Eliza (1778), Henry (1781) [Martin (1782)] and Maria Catharine Green (1783). All the children except Barrett were baptised in Jamaica. Her parents’ marriage broke down and in 1788 Elizabeth Barrett Williams had the first of her 4 children with her new partner Captain Samuel Barrett. Through her mother’s second relationship she is related to Edward Barrett Moulton Barrett (q.v.).

2. Barrett Williams married Michael White Lee 17/01/1805 in Marylebone, London. Michael White Lee had, in 1803, married Judith Barrett nee Goodin (1741-1804), the aunt by marriage of Elizabeth Barrett Waite and thus the great-aunt of Barrett Williams. Judith died in 1804, leaving Michael White Lee free to remarry.

3. By 1851 Barrett Williams was a widow, age 64, occupation “Fundholder”, living at Pittville Lawn Villa, Cheltenham, with her niece Cecilia Pleimner [?Plummer] age 32, born in Jamaica, a visitor Mary Leigh, 3 female servants and 1 male servant. In 1861 she was at the same address, age 75, with 3 female servants and 1 male servant.

4. Barrett Lee died at Cheltenham 22/01/1875 age 88. Her will was proved at Gloucester by her executors Henry Robertson Sandbach (q.v.) of Hafordwnos (near Llanwrest) in Denbighshire Esquire, her niece Katherine Williams of Bryngwyn in Montgomeryshire and her nephew Samuel Goodwin Barrett of Heighinton, County Durham Esquire. Effects under £60,000.

T71/873 St James claim no. 3 (Seven Rivers); T71/871 Westmoreland claim no. 219 (Old Hope Pen).

1.  Baptism record for Barrett Williams: Familysearch.org batch no. C. 03524-2. Baptism records for her siblings: www.familysearch.org batch nos. I03814-1 and I03814-0. For an account of the marriage breakdown and subsequent relationship with Samuel Barrett see http://doncasterhistory.co.uk/local-history-2/park-hill/ [accessed 24/07/2012].

2. Marriage in Marylebone between Michael White Lee and Barrett Williams: Ancestry.com, London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 [database online]. Marriage in Trelawny, Jamaica on 12/03/1803 between Captain Michael White Lee and Judith Barrett: www.familysearch.org batch no. I04099-9.

3. 1851 and 1861 censuses online.

4. England and Wales FreeBMD Index online. National Probate Register 1875. Samuel Goodwin Barrett was the son of her half-brother Samuel Barrett (1812-1876): for more information on this family see http://doncasterhistory.co.uk/local-history-2/park-hill/ [accessed 24/07/2012].

We are grateful to Andrea Creedon for her assistance with compiling this entry.