Robert E. Lee's Wife Writes Her Pastor About Confirmation for Daughter; Mentions His Slave Daniel

In this letter written from Arlington House, Mary Custis Lee writes to her pastor regarding the rite of confirmation for her daughter Anne Carter Lee (1839-1862) and possibly for her older daughter Mary Custis Lee (1835-1918). According to the Book of Common Prayer, Confirmation was a rite in which candidates "express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop." Lee asks about a copy of Sermon on Confirmation, by William Meade, D.D. Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, Preached in Winchester, On Sunday, Dec. 12, 1830, which appeared in at least three editions by 1833. By 1841, William Meade (1789-1862) was the Bishop of Virginia.

Near the end of the letter, she refers to "Daniel," who was likely the Lees' enslaved African American man, "Old Daniel," whom Mary Custis Lee had inherited from her father and one of the slaves whom Robert E. Lee emancipated in late-December 1862, as the executor of his father-in-law's estate. Daniel seems to have been a trusted courier, whom Mary C. Lee sent to Alexandria to deliver letters and perform other tasks.

MARY CUSTIS LEE, Autograph Letter Signed, to Charles B. Dana, ca. 1850s, Arlington, Virginia. 1 p., 8" x 10". Expected folds; hole in upper right corner from opening wax seal; some discoloration from wax; very good.

Complete Transcript
My dear sir
I have the satisfaction of announcing to you that my dear little Annie is anxious to partake of the rite of confirmation & I believe her to be truly impressed with its solemnity & importance I have also some hope that Mary who will be here on Saturday or Friday will also wish to unite with her If you wish to see them previously I will endeavour to bring them in I should be glad to hear from you on the subject & will direct Daniel the first time he goes to town to call at your house and will remain here until the first of August & hope to see here during that time
In haste most truly your friend
M C Lee
Have you a copy of Meade on Confirmation We have one but I cannot find it. I will send for your answer on Tuesday

[Address:] Revd C B Dana / Alexandria

Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee (1807-1873) was born in Virginia as the great-granddaughter of Martha Custis Washington and therefore step-great-granddaughter of George Washington. The only surviving child of her parents, she was pampered and well-educated. Like her mother, she taught enslaved people how to read and write, and she supported gradual emancipation and colonization in Africa but opposed abolitionism and racial equality. In 1831, she married her third cousin, Lt. Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) of the U.S. Army, and they had seven children. After the death of her father George Washington Parke Custis in 1857, she edited and published his writings in 1859. She also inherited Arlington House from him, which she only evacuated on May 15, 1861. When trapped behind Union lines at her son's plantation east of Richmond in May 1862, Union Major General George B. McClellan allowed her to pass through the lines into Richmond. After the war, she lived with her husband in Lexington, where he was president of Washington College from October 1865 until his death.

Charles B. Dana (1806-1873) was born in New Hampshire and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1828. He graduated from Andover Theological Seminary in 1833, became a clergyman in the Protestant Episcopal Church, and briefly taught rhetoric at Mount Hope College, from which he received the degree of D.D. He served as rector of Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, from 1834 to 1860. While there, he presented Robert E. Lee to his bishop for confirmation. In 1860, he married his parishioner Elvira Rosebell Close (1833-1886), and they had two sons. Later in 1860, Dana moved to Port Gibson, Mississippi, where he was rector of St. James's Church. In 1866, he moved to Natchez as rector of Trinity Church, where he remained until his death.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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