Alexandria 9h augt 1803
Dear Sir,
At the request of those concerned I have undertaken to attend to the collection of the debts which were due to Mrs Ann Lee’s estate of chantilly at the time of your brother’s death. I find upon enquiry that all the debts were paid except one from Mr Thomas Gaskins,1 whose bond he held for £138.16.0 the amount of the value of three negroes belonging to Mrs Lee’s estate which he bought. This bond was taken by your brother for these negroes.
I have a letter from young Mr Gaskins in which he states that since his father’s death, he has paid you 600 $ the amount of the principal & In turn one on said bond & the costs of suit which you brought upon the bond.
Mrs Lee died owing very little therefore all the property or debt which went un collected at the death of your brother belong to the children of Mrs Lee. I must therefore request the [torn] of you to say when it will [be] convenient for you to say to me for the use of the other representatives the above six hundred dollars.
Be pleased to offer Mrs Lee best regards to your good lady & account of my respect & esteem for yourself I am your &c
Edm. J Lee
(Verso)
Gawen Corbin Turberville Esqr
Doge2 near
King George Count House.
Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, Box 6, M2009.109
Transcribed by Caitlin Connelly, 2016 June 2
1. Thomas Gaskins (d. 1785) served as a colonel in the American Revolutionary War. His son Thomas Gaskins, Jr. served as Lieutenant-Colonel in the Fourth Virginia Regiment. His daughter Anne (Gaskins) Packard was the second wife of Richard Henry Lee of Stratford Hall.
2. Dogue, VA
