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Will of George Washington Parke
Custis
In the name of God, amen. I, George
Washington Parke Custis, of Arlington House, in the county of
Alexandria and State of Virginia, being sound in body and mind,
do make and ordain this instrument of writing as my last will
and testament, revoking all other wills and testament whatever,
I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved daughter and only
child, Mary Ann Randolph Lee, my Arlington House estate, in the
county of Alexandria and State of Virginia, eleven hundred
acres, more or less, and my mill on Four-Mile Run, in the county
of Alexandria, and the lands of mine adjacent to said mill, in
the counties of Alexandria and Fairfax, in the State of
Virginia, the use and benefit of all just mentioned during the
term of her natural life, together with my horses and carriages,
furniture, pictures, and plate, during the term of her natural
life.
On the death of my daughter, Mary Ann
Randolph Lee, all the property left to her during the term of
her natural life I give and bequeath to my eldest grandson,
George Washington Custis Lee, to him and his heirs forever, he,
my said eldest grandson, taking my name and arms.
I leave and bequeath to my four
granddaughters, Mary, Ann, Agnes, and Mildred Lee, to each ten
thousand dollars. I give and bequeath to my second grandson,
William Henry Fitzhugh Lee, when he shall be of age, my estate,
called the White House, in the county of New Kent and State of
Virginia, containing four thousand acres, more or less, to him
and his heirs forever.
I give and bequeath to my third and youngest
grandson, Robert Edward Lee, when he is of age, my estate in the
bounty of King William and State of Virginia, called Romancock,
containing four thousand acres, more or less, to him and his
heirs forever.
My estate of Smith Island, at the Capes of
Virginia, and in the county of Northampton, I leave to be sold
to assist in paying my granddaughter's legacies, to be sold in
such manner as will be deemed by my executors most expedient.
And and all lands that I may possess in the
counties of Stafford, Richmond, and Westmoreland, I leave to be
sold to aid in paying my granddaughter's legacies.
I give and bequeath my lot and square No. 21,
Washington City to my son-in law, Lieut. Col. Robert E. Lee, to
him and his heirs forever. My daughter, Mary A.R. Lee, has the
privilege, by this will, of dividing my family plate among my
grandchildren, but the Mt. Vernon altogether, and every article
I possess relating to Washington and that came from Mt. Vernon
is to remain with my granddaughter at Arlington House during
said daughter's life, and at her death to go to my eldest
grandson, George Washington Custis Lee, and to descend from him
entire and unchanged to my last posterity.
My estate of the White House, in the county of New Kent, and
Romancock, in the county of King William, both being in the
state of Virginia, together with Smith's Island, and the lands I
may possess in the counties of Stafford, Richmond, and the
Westmoreland counties are charged with the payment of the
legacies of my granddaughters.
And upon the legacies to my four granddaughters being paid,
and my estates that are required to pay the said legacies, 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.
And I do constitute and appoint as my executor Lieut. Col.
Robert Edward Lee, Robert Lee Randolph, of Eaton View, Rt. Rev.
Bishop Meade, and George Washington Peter.
This will written by my hand, is signed, sealed, and executed
the twenty-sixth day of March, eighteen hundred and fifty-five.
George Washington Parke Custis (Seal)
26th March, 1855
Witnesses:
Martha Custis Williams
M. Eugene Webster Source: Historic Arlington, By Karl Decker and Angus McSween,
pages 80-81 / Leslie S. Smyth, Contributor* *
* * *
posted 29 June 2008 |
