Washington Winter Show 2014

45 This page is sponsored by Susie and Paul Van Nice and Marilyn and John Montgomery and christenings marked the calendar of the Lees during their time at Stratford. The main house served as the focus of these familial events and some of the objects in the exhibit help tell the intimate stories of the family, both within the walls of the main house at Stratford and beyond – in the family homes of the Lee children and the larger Lee family. Peckatone was the family home of Hannah Lee Corbin, the eldest daughter of Thomas and Hannah Lee of Stratford. Hannah raised her own children near Stratford and this cradle [Figure 2] was used for generations of Corbin and Hall children. Philip Ludwell Lee, the eldest son of Thomas and Hannah, inherited Stratford and continued to build upon Thomas’ legacy. He and his wife Elizabeth Steptoe reared two daughters, Matilda and Flora. Elizabeth Jackson, housekeeper at Stratford, wrote about Matilda Lee’s baptism and the extended circle of friends and family that served as godparents: “Matilda was made a cristan the 25 or September the gotmothers was Mrs. Washington miss becy taloe miss molly Washington miss Nancy Lawson stod proxse for miss nelly lee and I for Mrs. Facquer, godfathers was col. Taloe mr Robert Carter…” 2 Matilda Lee later married her cousin Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee III of Leesylvania, Virginia, and they reared three children (the eldest, Philip, died around the age of 10) at her family home of Stratford. During this time, Elizabeth Steptoe Lee and younger daughter Flora are also living at Stratford along with Elizabeth’s new husband Philip Fendall prior to their move to Alexandria, Virginia. George Washington, writing to Henry Lee III on Christmas Day 1785 offers greetings to the extended family at Stratford: “Mrs. Washington joins me in offering the compliments of the season to Mrs. Lee, yourself, & Mr. Fendall’s family…” 3 Following Matilda’s early death at the age of 26, Henry married Ann Hill Carter of Shirley, and they Figure 2: Cradle. Southeastern America, Possibly Virginia. Mahogany and pine, ca. 1770– 1780. Gift of Mahlon H. Janney. [1938.038]