Hi Denise, Gail, Art, Paul and Everyone,
It's been a while since I've posted on the forums. I can truly say I missed each and everyone, including reading the posts.
So this Arthur Lee is my gggggg-grandfather on my father's side.
It's so amazing where the research will lead you.
I believe that Arthur bought his freedom in 1835. His wife is Anna Massie, another prominent name of the era. Notice that both slaves had their own surnames?
I also noticed that Hamilton Brown owned Arthur for about 20 years. Arthur was born sometime between 1790 and 1797. I think prior to Hamilton Brown, Arthur was owned by A Dr. McDowell, John perhaps. Dr. McDowell's sister married Hamilton Brown. Dr. McDowell died around 1830 or so. Lee and the other slaves were part of the estate and no one wanted to break up these slave families by selling them to different parties.
Arthur shows up free in the 1840 census and he and his family are listed in every census until the 1880 census. Arthur died sometime between 1880 and 1886.
Over the years I've come to realize this is a very prominent family in Tidewater Virginia history.
I'd very much like to go beyond Arthur and possibly find his parents. Arthur states on the census that he and his parents were born in Virginia, they've been around along time.
Any advice would be highly prized and thanks again to all!!
Also, McDowell and Hamilton were from Ireland.
Toria