Alveley's famous (or infamous) connections with America

I grew up in Alveley, Shropshire, England. When my sister married an American gentleman, I wondered about the oft-mentioned connections between our village and the USA. The connection is through the Lee dynasty who owned nearby Coton Hall, and includes Declaration of Independence signatories Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, plus the Confederate leader General Lee.

Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee

Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee's Great Grandfather, Richard Henry Lee I, came from Alveley.

Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794, Virginia)
and Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734-1797, Virginia)
brothers who signed the American Declaration of Independence

sons of Thomas Lee (c1690-1750, Virginia)
Governor of Virginia

son of Richard Henry Lee II (1647-1715, Virginia)

son of Colonel Richard Henry Lee I (1618-1664, Shropshire/Virginia)
member of the King's Council

son of Sir Richard Lee (1564-1621, Shropshire)
owner of Coton Hall, Alveley, who got married in St Mary's Church, Alveley.

General Robert Lee

General Lee's Great Great Great Grandfather, Richard Henry Lee I, came from Alveley.

General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870, Virginia)
Confederate leader in the American Civil War

son of Major General Henry "Lighthorse Harry" Lee III (1756-1818, Virginia)
American Revolutionary War hero

son of Henry Lee II (1730-1787, Virginia)

son of Captain Henry Lee I (1671-1747, Virginia)
married Mary Bland, distant cousin of President Thomas Jefferson

son of Richard Henry Lee II (1647-1715, Virginia)

son of Colonel Richard Henry Lee I (1618-1664, Shropshire/Virginia)
member of the King's Council

son of Sir Richard Lee (1564-1621, Shropshire)
owner of Coton Hall, Alveley, who got married in St Mary's Church, Alveley.

Coton Hall, Alveley, Shropshire

Google Satellite Map of Coton Hall

Lee family ownership of Coton Hall, Alveley goes back to around 1300AD. Coton Hall was rebuilt around 1800 but ruins of the original chapel remain. The Lee family sold Coton Hall in 1821 after the death of the last Lee to live there, Harry Lancelot Lee.

The roof of the chapel collapsed in 1878 and all Lee family monuments were moved to St Mary's Church, Alveley, where many remain visible to the public. Coton Hall is not open to the public but it is visible from minor roads, and there are public footpaths running through the estate.

Alveley's famous (or infamous) connections with America

Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee

General Robert Lee

Coton Hall, Alveley, Shropshire

Further Reading