First Generation

1. Reverend William LEA was born on 31 August 1804 in Whitchurch Hans, Hampshire, England.^1,2,3,4 Between about 1831 and 1870 he was a Lay Preacher for the Primitive Methodist Church in England, United Kingdom.^3,5 From the research of Lois James Bartels: "Rev. William Lea was raised by gypsies, parents unknown. As a young man, he was keeper of the kennels of Lord William House, and in that capacity he met Sarah Ann, Lord William's daughter, whom he later married. She was disinherited for her marriage to a commoner.

He became a lay preacher for the Primitive Methodist Church in England, ordained at an early age. He is listed in the Index of Ministers at John Rylands University Library in Manchester, England. His ministry ended in 1870.

He had a large family and came to America (Salvia Springs, NY) in May of 1849. One year later he moved to the Milwaukee-Oconomowoc area in Wisconsin, and in 1870 to Lincoln Township in Monroe County. He was a farmer in Wisconsin after he emigrated to the United States.

William is interred in a vault in the Lincoln Cemetery in Monroe County."

. He appeared in the census in 1841 in Speen, Berkshire, England.⁶ William emigrated in May 1849 from England, United Kingdom.^3,7 to Salvia Springs, New York. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Concord Township, Jefferson County, WI.⁸ His surname was spelled "Lee" and his occupation was "Farmer."

(He and his family cannot be located in the 1860 Census.)

. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.¹ He was living with his daughter Mary Ann and her family and his occupation was not listed. He was listed as Married, but his wife was not listed in the household with him. (His surname was listed as "Lee.")

. William appeared in the census in 1870 in Concord Township, Jefferson County, WI.⁹ He was listed as living next to the farm of his son, Harry. His occupation was "Farmer."

. He died on 19 September 1884 at the age of 80 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.^3,7 (He may have died in Oconomowoc, WI.) He was buried in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴ in the Lincoln-Patterson Cemetery. William has Ancestral File Number 9XNN-3GX.

Reverend William LEA and Sarah Ann HOUSE were married on 21 March 1830 in Burghclere, Hampshire, England.^{3,4,6,7,10,11} Sarah Ann HOUSE, daughter of William HOUSE and Mary ELSON, was born on 30 March 1812 in Hampshire, England.^4,6,8 (Her parents may have been James House and Elizabeth Bailey.) She appeared in the census in 1841 in Speen, Berkshire, England.⁶ She appeared in the census in 1850 in Concord Township, Jefferson County, WI.⁸ Sarah died on 19 September 1850 at the age of 38 in Oconomowoc Township, Waukesha County, WI.^3,4 She has Ancestral File Number LW1T-XPQ.

Reverend William LEA and Sarah Ann HOUSE had the following children:

Reverend William LEA and Elizabeth J. BLAY were married on 17 July 1870 in Concord Township, Jefferson County, WI.^3,4,7 Elizabeth J. BLAY, daughter of William BLAY and Sarah J. UNKNOWN (BLAY), was born on 24 January 1850 in Wisconsin.⁴ She died on 13 September 1904 at the age of 54 in Roaring Creek, Jackson County, WI.⁴

Obituary Notes: "She was the daughter of William and Sarah J. Blay who came to WI from Lincolnshire, England in 1849 and she married Reverend William Lea in Concord, Jefferson County, WI 17 Jul 1870.  They moved to Lincoln, near Kirby in Monroe County. 

They had 3 sons:  Zack, Arthur & Earle.  She lived there until 1887 when she came to Black River Falls, Wis. with her parents.  On 18 Sept 1893, she married William Glidden, in Black River Falls.  

When her health failed in Dec of 1903, she went to the home of her son, Zack in Camden, New Jersey and had treatment at a hospital in Philadelphia.  Aug 8th of 1904, she went to her sister's home in Chicago (Mrs. Annie Freedlander).  She came back to Roaring Creek and died there.

Her youngest son was killed by a falling tree, her husband still lived, 2 sons, 2 sisters (Mrs. Eva Mathews of Kirby).  Mrs. Eva Osgood of Granton and Mrs. Charles Lea of Tomah attended her funeral.

.  She was buried in Black River Falls, Jackson County, WI.⁴ in the Riverside Cemetery.

Reverend William LEA and Elizabeth J. BLAY had the following children: