James Lea (1816-1857) was the son of Elizabeth (Ellicott) Lea (daughter of George Ellicott), and Thomas Lea, of the
Lea Brandywine mills.
James was born in Delaware but raised south west of Ellicott's mills at
the family farm "Walnut Hill" near Sandy Spring, Md. He and his brothers took produce and livestock into Ellicott's mills, then visited his grandmother Elizabeth (Brooke) Ellicott who lived by their mill, across the river from the station.
James fought during the Mexican War (1846-48), went overland to
California for the 1849 gold rush then ran a hotel until he became ill and returned
home. A further reason, when his
grandmother Elizabeth (Brooke) Ellicott died in 1853 she left him a portion of
her Brooke lands near Sandy Spring, MD if he returned to live in Maryland. He died, unmarried, in 1857.
George Ellicott (1760-1832) was the son of one of the founders of Ellicott City - Andrew - and left Bucks County, Pa. to help start the new mill complex. At 17, he surveyed the road from Baltimore, and when 29 he built the impressive granite home, across from the flour mill, which included an observatory. "He was in the habit of giving gratuitous lessons on astronomy to any..." and lent his friend Benjamin Banniker several books on astronomy and surveying. As a member of the Quaker Indian affairs committee he went by horse into the Ohio territory (Indiana) in 1799 and 1804. When a delegation of chiefs went to Washington City (DC) they stopped and were entertained in the home.
Elizabeth (Ellicott) Lea (1793-1858) was born and raised in the George
Ellicott home. After George died, his wife Elizabeth
(Brooke) Ellicott remained in the house. Her granddaughter Martha Lea lived
there from age nine, for thirty years.
Elizabeth married Thomas Lea (1789-1829) at the Elkridge Meeting House
on Quaker Hill above Ellicott City in 1812, then moved with him to Delaware.
Thomas Lea was born into the family that developed the large Tatnall & Lea flour
mills on the Brandywine River (Wilmington, Del) which supplied the Colonial troops
during the Revolutionary War. Gen.
George Washington and Lafayette visited his grandfather Joseph Tatnall.
Elizabeth and Thomas started their family in their home in Brandywine,
Del (now part of Wilmington). James, the third son, was
born May 21, 1816, the year Elizabeth's older brother James B. Ellicott died while in
England.
They moved to "Walnut Hill" in 1823 and Thomas died six years later at 39, leaving Elizabeth to raise their eight children. The farm had a variety of animals and crops. Butter was taken to DC to be sold. Daughter Mary married Henry Stabler, son of the owner of Stabler Apothecary in Alexandria, VA. where they lived until they moved to "Roslyn" near "Walnut Hill." Elizabeth sent a recipe manuscript to Mary in Va., and Domestic Cookery was published in 1845. Enlarged in the next two editions - 1846 and 1851- and reprinted many times for the next forty years.
The B&O railroad, incorporated in 1827, ran from Baltimore to Ellicott mills. The station was built in 1831 initially for freight, with the passengers getting off on the balcony of the hotel across the Frederick turnpike. The second floor of the station was at track level. James Lea carved his name next to the door to the tracks on the second floor.
James Lea died on Dec. 29, 1857 and was buried in the Lea family cemetery - Woodside Cemetery - Haviland Mill Road, Ashton (Brinklow), Md., started by his year-older brother James Lea who married a Brooke cousin Deborah Peirce. His parents and siblings were also buried there.
Lea is pronounced Lee, like sea.
Lea is pronounced Lee, like sea.
Where did you get the information on Lea's life out west, the Mexican War and the hotel operation?
ReplyDeleteI won't be able to get into my Ellicott/Lea box for a while, but I believe it was from family letters at Swarthmore.
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