William Lee: George Washington’s Valet
WILLIAM LEE: GEORGE WASHINGTON’S VALET
For many years, William Lee, also known as Will or Billy, worked as General Washington’s valet. He also served as the butler until his brother Frank took over the job. As Washington’s valet, Billy would have looked after the General’s clothes and probably powdered and curled his hair. He often picked up and dropped off mail at the post office in Alexandria. He accompanied Washington on fox hunts. He was described as having a sturdy, athletic build and was a wonderful horseman.
This painting by Edward Savage includes a slave wearing the Washington livery, which was worn by Billy Lee.
During the American Revolution, Billy went to war with Washington and was put in charge of the General’s most important papers. Two years after the war, Billy fell and broke one of his knees which left him disabled. Several years later, he fell again and broke the other knee. The last accident made it impossible for Billy to continue his duties as a valet and he became the shoemaker at Mount Vernon.
During the Revolution, Billy was married to a free black woman named Margaret Thomas, who was hired to help at one of Washington’s military headquarters. After the war, Billy asked the General to bring his wife to Virginia. Although Washington did not like her very well, he arranged for Margaret to live at Mount Vernon. Surviving records do not tell if she ever came, but Billy seems to have been single in 1799.
Although we do not know if Billy’s wife ever lived at Mount Vernon, we do know that he had other family members on the estate. His brother Frank was the Mansion House butler. He was married to Lucy, a cook. They had a least three children named Mike, Phil, and Patty.
George Washington made arrangements to free Billy in his will. He was provided with food and clothing, and $30 dollars a year (a rather large sum at the time) for the rest of his life. As an old man, Billy was quite popular with visitors to Mount Vernon who wanted to meet him because he had known Washington so well.
Billy died about 1828 and was buried in the slave burial ground at Mount Vernon.
