Magazine article
Unlocking the Past: William Lee and The Rodenbostel Horn at Mount Vernon
The Horn Call, Vol.51(2), pp.49-52
02/01/2021
Abstract
Washington's records indicate that he purchased Lee from Mary Smith Ball Lee, and that Lee was mixed race.4 Lee likely had a white father from the influential Lee family which includes both Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794), and Robert E. Lee (1807-1870).5 It was so common for enslaved women to endure power-based sexual assault that William's parents could have been any of a huge number of white men and enslaved African American women..6 Washington purchased Lee for £61.15.0, a high price for an enslaved person at the time, and it is likely that Washington was interested in Lee because of his reputation as a great horse rider.7 Washington needed a "body servant," someone to act as both his valet and huntsman and quickly promoted William to this position. Will had but one order, which was to keep with the hounds; and, mounted on Chinkling, a French horn at his back, throwing himself almost at length on the animal, with his spur in flank, this fearless horseman would rush, at full speed, through brake or tangled wood, in a style which modern huntsmen would stand aghast.9 In the sport of foxhunting, the role of the Huntsman is second only to the Hunt Master. None of the purchase orders or invoices indicate instrument makers, or any information beyond the London cutlery shop that sup-plied the horns in addition to many other items. [...]in October of 1771 Washington had one of William Lee's teeth extracted, likely for his own use.13 This was a common occurrence for enslavers who needed dentures.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Unlocking the Past: William Lee and The Rodenbostel Horn at Mount Vernon
- Creators
- Katy Ambrose
- Resource Type
- Magazine article
- Publication Details
- The Horn Call, Vol.51(2), pp.49-52
- Publisher
- International Horn Society; Durant
- ISSN
- 0046-7928
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/01/2021
- Academic Unit
- Music
- Record Identifier
- 9984446721202771
Metrics
15 Record Views