J South,

Robert E. Lee is not more a "worthy subject" for Virginia History than Sally 
Hemmings or any other slave. Without slave labor, you probably would not 
have a building to work in. Most historical public buildings in Virginia 
were built with the labor of the illegitimate children of slaves who were 
forbidden by law to marry. The father/s of Sally's children may well have 
wanted to make her a honest woman, but was constrained by the law or the 
whims of her owner, or both.

But if you want to discuss another slaveowner, Robert E. Lee, go right 
ahead. How did he treat his slaves? Did he give them permission to marry? 
Did he purchase "breeders", or sell same? How did he provision his slaves? 
How much meat was his weekly alotment? And how did Mrs. Robert E. Lee treat 
those of their joint slaves which were purported to be hers?

Anne

Anne Pemberton
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http://www.erols.com/apembert
http://www.educationalsynthesis.org 

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