I believe the terms of the will said the slaves were to be freed within five years of his father-in-law's death. Lee did free the slaves, although the last of them were not freed until a few months after the fifth anniversary of date his father-in-law died.
Re: “I believe the terms of the will said the slaves were to be freed within five years of his father-in-law’s death. Lee did free the slaves, although the last of them were not freed until a few months after the fifth anniversary of date his father-in-law died. “
That’s very close to what I’ve read, too. Apparantly the Will said to free the slaves two years after the father-in-law’s death, unless it was financially impractical, at which case the slaves were to be freed no later than five years from the date of his death.
There was a large amount of debt the father-in-law owed and Lee had to try to satisfy all the creditors. This is why Lee asked the court for an extension to the five year date for freeing the slaves as opposed to the two year date. The court granted his request.
There was unrest among some of the slaves at having to wait for their freedom until the fifth year. Three escaped and supposedly, at Lee’s order, they were whipped severely, including a woman. How accurate this all is I don’t know.