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| Lucy was older than Frank when George Washington purchased him and brother William from their deceased father John Lee's estate. At Mount Vernon, Frank aged 13-14 and made to be Washington's butler in the Mansion House for which Lucy, at least 10 years older than him, was likely the cook or assistant cook to the famed Chef/cook Hercules who escaped slavery by emancipating himself.
George Washington's compiled a listing of his slaves in 1786 in which he listed Will as not having a wife at one of his plantations; and listed Frank as having a wife named Lucy. In the listing of slaves six months before his death in 1799. These relationships were determined by cross-reference to the 1810 Virginia census by family name; and making reference to the historical notes that following death of Washington and pursuant fears by Martha Washington that Washington's slaves might poison her to hasten their freedom, her nephew Bushrod Washington sent them away. We suspect that Bushrod was one of the founders or Virginia sponsors of the American Colonization Society or even planners that helped establish "Bushrod Island" in Liberia that received its first colonists (ex-slaves and freemen) in year 1822. Research is still required to determine if any Lee descendents were among the emigrants to Liberia, and if so, were they there as Baptists or Episcopalians as we believe William and Frank were likely identified with? The challenge and issue is significant in understanding the aspects of geography and timelines in understanding the evolvement of African-American families.
Monrovia (Liberia), city in western Liberia, capital of the country, on the Atlantic Ocean, at the mouth of the Saint Paul River. Situated on Bushrod Island and Cape Mesurado, it is the nation's chief port and commercial center. It has extensive docks and is served by nearby Roberts International Airport. Iron ore and rubber are major exports; substantial quantities of imports are transshipped to neighboring countries. Manufactures include processed food, refined petroleum, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and building materials. The University of Liberia (founded in 1862), Cuttington University College (1889), and a college of technology (1978) are here. Monrovia was founded in 1822 by the American Colonization Society as a refuge for freed slaves from North America; it was named in honor of United States president James Monroe. Large numbers of former slaves were resettled here in the 19th century. Monrovia became the scene of widespread looting and violence in the civil war following Liberian leader Samuel K. Doe's assassination in 1990; fighting among factions continued in the mid-1990s, sending many residents from the city. Population (1984) 421,058. "Monrovia (Liberia)," Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 99. It is also a fact the Custis Estate had plantations in and around Richmond where the emancipated Lee men and women could have found employment. Indicators are that Lucy and at least seven (7) of her children, grandchildren or offspring of her brother-in-law William were living free as adult heads of household in and between Fredericksburg and Richmond, Virginia. Below research acquired via searching for George Washington and finding relative data such as:
Free Negro In Virginia: John Henderson Russell, Ph.D Dissertation1913 freeafricanamericans.com/1810VAa.htm
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