Mayflower Descendant 8th Generation

Elizabeth LEE was born on 4 April 1793 at New York. She married William D. Mudge, son of Aaron A. Mudge and Wealthy Deming, on 11 October 1809 at Unadilla, Otsego County, New York. She died on 5 November 1879 at Coventry, Chenango County, New York (all information from Mudge Memorials by Alfred Mudge).

Elizabeth Lee was the daughter of Philemon Lee and Priscilla Sprague. She was born in the wilderness of New York after the Revolutionary War. The War opened up lands that formerly belonged to the Iroquois Indians. The Iroquois sided with the British during the War and subsequently lost their dominion over their lands in New York State. The population pressure in New England created a demand for new lands to be settled. The parents of Elizabeth and Elizabeth herself were true pioneers. They suffered the diverse hardships and pleasures of opening up new lands.

Elizabeth and her husband William D. Mudge settled on a farm in the wilderness on the east banks of the Unadilla River. William's primary occupation was lumberman. The couples first tragedy occurred where their first three children, Lucy, Priscilla and Morris Jackson died of diphtheria during a two week period in September-October of 1815. A family story does mention the deaths of these three children and that it affected their mother mentally for the rest of her days. The next three children born between 1816 and 1820 were given the same names as the deceased children. The children's grave may be found in a farmers pasture at Spencer Cemetery in Unadilla, New York. Today only the name of Lucy is readable.

The second tragedy struck when William D. suffered economic hardship during a depression after the War of 1812. A war in which he fought (military records - NARA). He lost his lands (land records - Otsego County). The family moved to Coventry, Chenango County, New York. Many of their children settled in Chenango County when they married (1800-1880 US Census Records). William worked as a farmer on rented lands in Chenango County until his death.

Children of Elizabeth Lee and William D. Mudge all born at Unadilla, Otsego County, New York:

1. Lucy b. 10 September 1810 d. 8 October 1815 at age 5.

2. Priscilla b. 27 November 1812 d. 23 September 1815 at age 2.

3. Morris Jackson b. 3 February 1814 d. 3 October 1815 at age 1.

4. Morris Jackson b. 13 July 1816 d. 1899. He married Emily W. Green 13 Jan 1839.

5. Lucy b. 26 April 1818 d. 18 Aug 1848. She married E.C. Matteson on 18 March 1841.

6. Priscilla b. 1 May 1820 d. unknown. She married Wilson Wedge.

7. William Lee b. 28 August 1822 d. unknown. He married Esther E. Green on 13 August 1850.

8. Mary Elizabeth b. 18 October 1824 d. 1918. She married William S. Grannis on 25 September 1844.

9. Unknown b. 1826 d. 1826.

10. Martha Emily b. 2 January 1828 d. 1922. She married H. N. Morenus.

11 Sarah b. 20 April d. 11 April 1836 at age 4.

12. Franklin Israel b. 20 May 1833 d. 13 February 1911. He married Almira Waters.

13. Schuyler Dewaine b. 13 June 1836 d. unknown. He married Phebe Augusta Hancock.

14. Sally Marie b. 25 May 1841 d. 17 February 1844 at age 2.