COPY of the MARRIAGE RECORD of 
CHRIST CHURCH in PHILADELPHIA
for the year 1774

showing the marriage of WILLIAM LEA to DOROTHY NELSON

marriage record copy and photo of painting of Christ Church in Philadelphia courtesy
Historic Christ Church and Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

On the occasion of the 230th Anniversary of the Marriage of
William Lea and Dorothy Nelson, 1774 - 2004

In 1770 William Lea received a parcel of land for his services in the French and Indian War.  In 1774 Lea married Dorothy Nelson in Philadelphia's Christ Church, the church being part of the Church of England at that time.  The record above shows an entry for the 2nd of February, 1774.  Note that the "y" in the word February loops down next to the "2" of the date, which at first blush looks like the 20th.  

An interesting item of note is the one above the Lea - Nelson entry.  On the 30th of January "Pompey & Peggy, Negroes," were married.  Whether Pompey and Peggy were slaves is not known, although it should be noted that slavery was still legal in Pennsylvania at the time.

In 1790 Lea sequestered "10 rods square" of his land for the erection of a church - St. Luke's.  Upon his death in 1802 a provision in Lea's will gave the use of his land to the church, a legal provision known as Fee Tail.  Technically the land is still that of the Lea descendents.