Noah Webster began introducing his reforms of American language and
spelling in the 1780s, so it seems plausible that Lee had that patriotic
programme/program in mind. . . .


On Thu, Aug 11, 2022 at 9:50 AM Meyers, Terry L <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Some years ago I came across an article about W&M's possibly overseeing a
> free school in James City County (Earl G. Swem, “The Lee Free School and
> the College of William and Mary, “ William and Mary Quarterly, 16:2[1959],
> 207-213). Though that never came to pass, the charge for such a school had
> come from the July 1802 will of William Ludwell Lee (1775-1803); see below.
>
> For a long while, I thought that Lee might have had in mind a school for
> Black children, a kind of successor to the Bray School.   I was wrong.
>
> My query today is why he would have had the pupils, presumably all native
> speakers, instructed in “the American language.”
>
> Any ideas as to what Lee was getting at?  (I don’t suppose he was trying
> to wean speakers away from a British accent.)
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>
>
> Transcribed from a copy of Lee’s will at Rockefeller Library, Colonial
> Williamsburg:
> Item: my will and desire is that all my Negro Slaves may on the first day
> of January next be emancipated, that those who have arrived at the age of
> puberty and who desire it may be allowed to settle on such part of my hot
> water Lands as my executors may designate, where I wish comfortable Houses
> to be built for them at the expense of my estate with a sufficiency of
> Indian Corn to be allowed from the same for their support for one year, and
> that they be allowed to retain such tenements and settlements for ten years
> free from any rent or charge whatsoever.   I give to Joe  a Blacksmith  all
> the tools in my Blacksmith’s shop with the use of the shop free from rent
> for his natural life—  all those under the age of eighteen years I request
> my executors to remove to some one of the united States north of the
> Potomac where they may receive such an Education as may be suited to their
> several capacities at the expense of my estate—by which they may be enabled
> to acquire an honest and comfortable support.  convinced of the importance
> of education and of the advantages which may be derived from a general
> diffusal of useful information among the mass of Society in
> Governments—depending on their support on popular opinion and being
> desirous of affording some assistance  towards the attainment of so
> desirable an end, I give, devise, and bequeath to the President, Masters,
> and Professors of William and Mary College and their successors office
> forever five hundred winchester bushels of Indian corn, which is to be paid
> them annually on the twenty fifth day of December for the use and benefit
> of a free school to be established in the centre of James City County
> regard being had to its present limits where the American language with the
> elements of Mathematics and Geography are to be taught and such other
> branches of useful knowledge as a majority of the Trustees of the time
> being may think proper. This institution is intended solely for the benefit
> of such persons whose indigent situation forbids their acquiring even the
> rudiments of an education—  One thousand acres of the Hot water tract of
> Land is by my desire to stand pledged forever, for the full and complete
> execution of this cause [?]  the bounds of which are to be designated by
> clear and obvious marks [?] within twelve callendar [sic] months after my
> decease.
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Terry L.. Meyers, Chancellor Professor of English, Emeritus, The College
> of William and Mary, in Virginia, Williamsburg  23187
>
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