In a pension application filed in Gonzales County, 10 October 1870 he stated, "that he was a soldier in the army of Texas from 25th day of July AD 1835, to the 13th day of September A. D. 1835, in Captain William M. Eastland's company and Colonel J. H. Moore's Regiment; that he served afterwards in different capacities in said Army, was a Q. M. during the year 1836; that he participated in the Battle of Gonzales, Grass Fight, Battle of Concepcion and was at the siege and taking of San Jacinto on 21st April, 1836, being then detached from any command, under special orders of Gen. Sam Houston at which battle he was wounded by receiving a Sword cut in the left hand, having said hand seriously injured and disabled thereby, and that he received said wound while in the military service of the Republic of Texas and while she was engaged in the war with Mexico which separated Texas from Mexico, and that he continued in said service until he resigned as Quarter Master of said army, which resignation was accepted by William S. Fisher, Secretary of War for said Republic, on January 12th, 1837."

Although some historians claim he was assigned as a camp guard and did not participate in the actual battle of San Jacinto sufficient records exist to prove his active participation in the ongoing fight for Texas Independence. We, the descendants of Theodore S. Lee, can be very proud of this courageous volunteer fighting for freedom and independence.

According to 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 census for Gonzales Co., Texas Theodore was born in New York.

Taken from the above census records, Theodore and Hester's children were: Mary, Julia, George W., Henrietta, Emma, Theodore, Louisa, Thomas, Hector, Abby, and Alma.

Obit-Gonzales Inquirer Mar. 21, 1885

Wells, Gonzales Co., March 15, 1885

Died, near this place, at his home, on March 14, at 5 p.m., T. S. Lee.

Major Lee, as he was commonly called, arose from his bed on Friday morning, apparently well. In trying to turn around one of his limbs gave way and broke near his thigh. He suffered considerable pain until the Sunday following when death relieved him of his suffering. The subject of this sketch moved from the state of New York, and settled in Texas in 1835. He leaves an aged wife, besides fourteen grown children and fifty-six grandchildren, all living. Thus goes one more of Texas brace old veterans who valiantly fought for Texas Independence, and was of untold worth to his countrymen. With his last words he called his aged wife to his bedside and asked her for the parting kiss What a picture of life! Those of younger years may well consider how this old pair were once young and loved one another, and how they toiled to bring up a so large a family.

(Thanks to Cindi S Munson for this obituary)

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Theodore Stanton Lee went to La Grange, Texas in 1834 after his first wife died. He participated in the Seige of Bexar, the Battle of Concepcion and the Grass Fight in October and November, 1835. T.S. fought at San Jacinto; during the battle he was wounded in the hand warding off a blow from a mounted Mexican cavalry colonel's saber. This colonel was killed and later identified as the brother of General Cos. It was found on his pension record that he was on detached service for Houston the night before, returning the morning of April 21, an hour before the battle. Afterwards he served as a major in the quartermaster corps under A. Huston as buyer of "beeves," accountant of ship stores and special courier for Borden and Edward Griften to President David Burnet in September, 1836.

Theodore Stanton Lee had spent his boyhood in Vermont; however, T.S.'s father, the Reverend Chauncy Lee, moved to New York. When his mother Abigail died in 1805, T.S. was left with her parents, Captain Joshua of the Green Mountain Boys and his wife Abigail Sackett Stanton of Burlington. In 1814 T.S. was with Smith's Company from Albany in the Battle of Plattsburg. T.S. was a third corporal in the military of 1819 and a selectman of Albany in 1825. T.S. returned to Vermont in 1837 to collect his family, but they refused to go to Texas. He then met and married Esther Ann Sessions, daughter of Daniel Loomis and Esther Champlain Sessions of Middlebury, Vermont in 1840. T.S.'s first family went to Texas later but did not stay. One son T.S. Jr. died there in 1850. His other two sons moved to Kane County, Illinois and the two daughters stayed in the Northeast. His second family by Esther were: Mary Louisa who married Samuel Houston Eldridge; Julia Ann married Alonzo Marcee in 1861; George William; Emma Jane married William Wallace West in 1870; Theodore S. married Martha C. Matthews in 1888; Lucia C. married John Nation Cobb in 1876; Henrietta A. married Robert George Whitehead in 1875; William Wesley married Sarah Lamkin in 1882; Abley married Horace F. Gay in 1876; Alma M. married James Lindsey Cochran in 1882; and Thomas who died in 1922. All of Esther's children outlived her and T.S. T.S. died in December, 1884 and was buried in Harwood, Gonzales County, Texas. Esther lived only five years longer and was buried beside T.S. June 4, 1888. In 1936 the State of Texas marked their graves. Information found and used with permission from Sons of DeWitt Colony.  Wallace L. McKeehan.