NancyLee

Nancy Lee, one of the four children of William and Rebecca Lee, was born in England about 1820. She married James Barlow about 1842 and they had two daughters, Rebecca born about 1842 and Elizabeth about 1844. There are records indicating that both Rebecca and Elizabeth were christened in Warrington, Lancashire, England during the year 1844 [01]. Nancy, James and their two children immigrated to America about 1845 and settled in the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania.

Nancy’s family appears on two different 1850 censuses dated September 11th and 22nd, and they have probably relocated within this period. Jim Barlow is listed as working in manufacturing on one and as a spinner on the other, and by 1850, they have had two other children, Mary and David. Also living with the family on the first census as a boarder is another James Barlow, also about 30 years old and possibly a cousin, and there is another Barlow family living next door on the second census, an older couple and possibly related [02][03].

By 1860, Nancy and Jim have had two more sons, James and Thomas, and daughter Rebecca doesn’t appear on the census and has probably married. Also living with the family is Nancy’s father, William Lee, 68 years old and working as a carpenter [04]. Their seventh and last child, Sarah was born about 1861 and their daughter Mary was married to William Henry Brooks in 1864 [05][06]. On the 1870 census, James Barlow is listed as an agent for machinery and only two of their children, David and Sarah are still at home [07]. By the 1880 census they are living alone [08] and no later records have been found for either except for a hand written receipt handed down through the family with James Barlow’s name on it and dated March 1883. The location written on the receipt is Limerick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania [09].

Not much is known about Nancy Lee and her family other than what is found on the few documents mentioned. In Nancy’s sister-in-law Sara Jane’s remembrance of the Lee family transcribed in 1907, much of the Lee family’s early history in England came from Nancy. Sara Jane also mentions that, in her words, “Aunt Nancy fought for her rights and received a considerable amount of money”, apparently relating to the settlement of an estate, possibly that of Rebecca Hartley Lee’s father [10].

SOURCES / CITATIONS

[01] England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906, Warrington,Lancashire, England; Collection:St.Paul; Data Range: 1836-1856; Film Number: 1469047

[02] 1850 U.S.Census, Upper Ward Manayunk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sept.11, 1850

[03] 1850 U.S.Census, Lower Dublin Township, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sept.22, 1850

[04] 1860 U.S.Census, 11th & 12th Precinct, 23rd Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 26, 1860

[05] Newspaper clipping from 1864, newspaper unidentified

Married Brooks-Barlow – May 2d, at the parsonage, 1803 North Fifth street, by the Rev.John Shields, Mr.William Henry Brooks to Miss Mary Hannah Barlow, both of Phila. 1864

[06] 1870 U.S.Census, 51st District, 17th Ward, Third St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Nov 19, 1870 (Mary)

[07] 1870 U.S.Census, 83rd District, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 11, 1870

[08] 1880 U.S.Census, Sup. Dist. No. 1, Enum. Dist. No. 311, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1880

[09] Hand written receipt:

March 8, 1883 Received James Barlow one dollar and ninety two cent owed(?) for the expense of 1881 for James Borlin It(?) in Limerick Township, Mont. Co $1.92 John Yost

[10] Sara Jane Lee’s account of the Lee & Armstrong families, transcribed by Jessie Lee, 1907

Both photographs: Cabinet Cards - Santman, 3rd & Girard, Phila, undated (circa 1880)