[FLT-bird]

They were not Lee’s slaves. They were the property of G.W.P. Custus, Lee’s father in-law. Lee was one of the executors listed the Custus will. The will authorized the executors to free the slaves once the debts and legacies’ were paid in full. But under no circumstance were they to be kept in bondage longer than five years after Custus’s death. Lee kept some of the Custus slaves for the entire five years, freeing the last of them in Dec 1862.

that is true. Lee was the Executor of Custis' will and kept some of the slaves for the term allowed in the will until the debts Custis incurred were paid off.

Of course Lee had owned a handful of slaves earlier in his life and had manumitted them.

[Bull Snipe]

Lee was one of the executors of the Custus estate. There were 4 other executors named in the will.