The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-09-17
DER1CKsBURe, VA, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER II 1907.
STRATFoRO, HOME OF THE LEES
Mr. hsSander's Proposition TO Purchase and Pre-.
serve Il.


serve H.
The follow ing j. the preamble and re-
solutions ui Mr.. + " Alexander. ufOak
'roNe. lppNing 10 fh. purch..s,, aud i'm
li"N'nent ui tLe home of thc Lees, ia
Nrsimor,laud county. known a. STRAIT
lord. which were adopted b, the Stat.
/ b"dy, Patriotic SONS of America. in ,.s-
sion IA Richmond last week
Recognizing the Importance of pTeserv-
ing Tor the t~rnciit oi po~terity thp~.. his
tore and patriotic laulmai H. winch are
ID lund 10 i'tNe q whOl.-ome and ever
lasting iniilence on our futur, genera
tons. ami a. there is situated IN tin.
county of Mesttn)reland. .State of Virgin
IA, an old homestead known ~ STRAIT
iord, the ancestral home of the "Iees."
the birthplace oi at least five by that
name, whCse fame became great in our
cOuntry's history. viz:
Thomas l.sc, the grandson of the found
er oil the family in this country, lived
here and died in this house in 1889. lust
alter being commissioned as Colonial Gov
ernor oi Virginia 10y the English Crown.
Ills body now lies Inferred On the prem
i-es
Richard Henry Lee WAS born here Jan.
~, I''t3, and WAS a signer of the D,cla-
the House cot Burgess: was in Cunpress
from l11i -. 1854 ~. aud 1877. tie
was IA" author of the famous motion.
june &, ! tt6 that these United Colonies
are ana "i right ought Ia b-. free and in
/ dependent states In 1850 he was in
the heii at the head of the Westmore-
iand county militia. Senator from Vir-
ginia IN 1892.
OTHER FAMOUS NAMES
Francis Lightfoot Lee was born here
October II. 1854 Was in the House of
burecs-. 100 TO lt12, and delegate to
/ me Continental Congress from I175 to
| 90. was -igner of the Declaration of
Independence. ana helped frame the ar
tices OF Confederation. insisting as con
dtions Oi peace with England our right
90 the navigation Of the Mississippi and
the Newfoundland iiSheries; aud later
served hriei term in the Virginia Sen
ate.
Arthur lee was born here December
20, 40; practiccd medicine in Williams
burg, studied law in England. aud was
admitted To the bar in 1910: did much
for the colonies by his writing and as "A
member OF a society called supporters
oi the Bill Of Rights; was appointed by
| the Assembly of Massachusetts as agent
ior the COLONY tin association with Ben
ltmin Franz linz in l114: presented the
address OF COngr ~ 10 the King and the
people of England. Ia 1915 he was agent
IN London for the Congressional Com
mittee ui Secret Correspondence. In I77G
he went to Paris where with Frank
I'm and Silas DEAN he secured a treaty
oi alliance with France. In 1777 he visit
ed Madrid and Berlin as acOmmissioner
/ from the uited States, and in 1852
] fsn al.
ing commissioned To Prussia I'm l7Sl he
was elected To the State Assembly of
| Nrginia, and IN l1S2 to Congress In
recited, aud believing a. members of the
Patriotic Order. Sons of America. that
patriotism Il one of the highest and no
blest affections OF the human soul. and
that by disseminating sentiments of
PATRIOTISM and creating afeeling fde-
/ Votion 10 country, we make the better
citizens oi our people, and believing that
tls our duty - Americans TO perpetuate
the memory of these great men, who by
their sacrifices contributed so largely TO
the blessings and privileges which we
now enjoy; therefore, be il
Resolved, That this State camp au-
thorize the executive committee To ap-
point IA committee, to be known as the
Lee birthplace memorial COMMITTEES" "
/
der such conditions as the executive com
mittee may elect for the purpose of pur-
chasing the homestead known as Strat-
lord, and raising money to pay for the
same; be- il further
pROPEETN OF PEOPLE.
Resolved, That it is the purpose of this
committee to have Stratford purchased
by the people, and remain forever the
| fsf h4 4. b.. Il =.
the style of the period when these great
men were born; to build wharf, and
make IL place where patriotic citizens
may gather and refresh their memory
with the great deeds performed by these
heroes OF the past. Re il further
Resolved, That we invite the people of
this country, and all organizations inter
ested, to subscribe any amount up to
500 (small subscriptions being pre-
ierred IN order that more mny have the
opportunity To conJribute). The name
oi eve ~ contributor (whether person or
organization) shall be permanently and
publicly preserved. All giving 500 to
constitute the roll of honor, the name to
be recorded IN the order in which the
contribution Is received. The names Of
Oil contributors to be so arranged that
al visitors may know the Individuals
and organizations to whom the country
Is indebted for the preservation of this
most historic spot.
1t is learned that the camp has an
option on the property.
INDoRsED BY NATIONAL CAMP.
Stratford, rs il now stands. includes
twenty-five acres of land surrounding
the old burying ground in which lie the
ashes oi many of the Lee family. The
camp will also acquire the right of way
to the Potomac River, with all the
riparian rights, which will give the par-
chasers the privilege OF building wharves
and making the place boat landing.
IL is likely that the National Camp will
take decided action in the matter.
For Over Sixty Years.
III rs WinslcNria Sonfhinnr a.....