[mission9]

Due to debts of the Washington estate, creditors demanded that the slaves continue to work AFTER Washington died, and left them their freedom. General Robert E. Lee, became the executor of Washington’s will, when he married into the Washington Family. After fighting a protracted legal battle, Lee freed Washington’s slaves during the war on Virginia.

[j.havenfarm]

Wow. We’re going to put you to work for CNN. George Washington Parke Custis was the step grandson and adopted son of George Washington. He died in 1857, 58 years after Washington died. Lee was the son in law of Custis, and it was Custis’ will of which Lee was executor, not Washintgon’s. Per the terms of the will, Lee freed Custis’ slaves in 1862

[robowombat]

This is hosed up. R E Lee was the executor of the will of George Washington Parke Custis who was a Virginia plantation owner, antiquarian, author, and playwright. The grandson of Martha Washington and step-grandson and adopted son of George Washington and R E Lee's Father-in-law. His daughter, Mary Anna Randolph Custis, married Robert E. Lee. They inherited Arlington House and the plantation surrounding it.
The terms of the will were confusing to say the least. While Custis’s slaves, numbered around 200, were to be freed once the legacies and debts from his estate were paid, but no later than five years after his death. (Fulfilled by Robert E. Lee, executor, in the winter of 1862.) the exact wording of the will is “being clear of debts, then I give freedom to my slaves, the said slaves to be emancipated by my executors
in such manner as to my executors may seem most expedient and proper, the said emancipation to be
accomplished in not exceeding five years from the time of my decease.”

R E Lee took a two year leave of absence from the Army to sort the will out. It was during this period that the John Brown Raid took place. After getting things on track R E Lee returned to duty with his cavalry regiment in Texas. His eldest son R E Lee, Jr. a Captain in the US Army obtained a position in Washington so he could keep watch on Arlington and keep the provisions of the will being carried out.

R E Lee and his Father -in-law’s will is a monument to Lee's iron determination to carry out duties assigned him.