“I give also to John Hemings the service of his two apprentices Madison and Eston Hemings, until their respective ages of twenty-one years, at which period respectively, I give them their freedom; and I humbly and earnestly request of the legislature of Virginia a confirmation of the bequest of freedom to these servants, with permission to remain in this State, where their families and connections are, as an additional instance of the favor, of which I have received so many other manifestations in the course of my life, and for which I now give them my last solemn, and dutiful thanks.
“In testimony that this is a codicil to my will of yesterday’s date, and that it is to modify so far the provisions of that will, I have written it all with my own hand in two pages, to each of which I subscribe my name, this seventeenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six.
Will of Robert E. Lee
General Robert E. Lee died October 12, 1870. The following is a literal copy of his will, together with a schedule of his property:
“I, Robert E. Lee of the U. S. Army, do make ordain & declare this instrument to be my last will & testament revoking all others.
“1. All my debts, whatever they may be, & of which there are but few, are to be punctually, & speedily paid.
“2. To my dearly beloved wife Mary Custis Lee I give & bequeath the use profit & benefit of my whole Estate real & personal, for the term of her natural life, in full confidence that she will use it to the best advantage in the education & care of my children.
“3. Upon the decease of my wife it is my will & desire that my Estate be divided among my children, in such proportions to each, as their situations & necessities in life may require; and as may be designated by her; & I particularly request that my second daughter Anne Carter, who from an accident she has recd. in one of her eyes, may be more in want of aid than the rest, may if necessary be particularly provided for.
“Lastly I constitute & appoint my dearly beloved wife Mary Custis Lee & my eldest son George Washington Custis Lee (when he shall have arrived at the age of twenty one years) executrix & executor of this my last will & testament, in the construction of which I hope & trust no dispute will arise.