Thomas Sim Lee Papers

Collection — Box: GTM Shared Box 43, Folder: 18

Identifier: GTM-GAMMS286

Request

Scope and Contents

The Thomas Sim Lee Papers consist of five letters dated 1778 to 1844, four of which were sent to Thomas Sim Lee (1745-1819), the governor of Maryland from 1779 to 1783. Sent by Reverend John Bowie, Reverend John Ashton, and Reverend John B. David, the letters to Lee touch on life in Maryland during the American Revolution as well as church and state relations. The only letter not addressed to Lee was sent from Bishop John Joseph Chance of Maryland to Thomas' son John at the Lee estate, Needwood.

Dates

Creation: 1778 - 1844

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials in this collection are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required.

Biographical Note

Thomas Sim Lee (1745-1819) was born in Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, Maryland, the son of Thomas (d. 1749) and Christiana (Sim) Lee. In July 1775 he represented Prince George's County at the provincial convention held in Annapolis, signing the Association of the Freemen of Maryland, and was also clerk of the county between 1767 and 1777. From 1777 to 1779 he was a member of the Governor's Council until he was elected governor himself by the Maryland legislature. He held that position until 1782 and from 1783 to 1784 he served as a delegate to the Continental Congress. Lee was once more governor of Maryland from 1792 to 1794. After retiring from political life he focused on his estate at Needwood, Frederick County, where he had become a planter some time between 1775 and 1790. In 1771 he had married Mary Digges (1745-1805), whose father was a prominent Maryland landownder, with whom he had eight children.