Who Wore a Fancier Uniform than George Washington

Why do historians hide the fact that Mr. Billy Lee was not a slave.
image copyrighted by Lorraine Strieby

Slaves could not wear uniforms and carry carbines.  Mr. Lee saved Washington's life
several times.  And, why don't we know what color Mr. Lee's horse is since
he was almost as famous as Washington's horse, Nelson?

Sometimes Mr. Lee's uniform was fancier than Commander-in-Chief's uniform which
Washington applauded.

Here Mr. Billy Lee is celebrating the British Surrender at Yorktown.

Mr. Billy Lee was NOT a slave. He Carried a carbine and wore a fancier uniform than Commander Washington

As a children book's author with a business degree and wrote the book,
WHY IS A SPY CALLED A MOLE, I had to do a lot of research.  Thank you, Ron Chernow,
who wrote WASHINGTON A LIFE,  and THE BALLAD OF BILLY LEE,  by Len
Lamensdorf.  I also kept running across a video by James Thompson GEORGE
WASHINGTON'S MULATTO MAN.

What is the true story?  Mr. Lee was a hero in every respect and outlived Washington
by many years, living on a stipend given him by Washington in his will and a small house on the
Mount Vernon estate.  Lee was so famous that even French Major General Marquis de Lafayette
visited him after Washington's death.

Whatever story is true, I believe he and Washington were related.  Probably by his
half brother, Lawrence Custis.  Lawrence made George Washington take responsibility
for Billy and Frank Lee.  Lawrence was married to Ann Fairfax.

Everyone  knew that Mr. Billy Lee was Washington's aide
and a better horseman than Washington and they were together for the whole Revolution
and even when Washington was President of the USA.

One story--he was bought by Washington from Col John Lee with his brother Frank
when Billy Lee was 15 years old.

Other story, "Lawrence had pledged to care for the children of his brother-in-law, George William Fairfax. Fairfax’s father was Lawrence’s benefactor, and his son was Lawrence’s best friend. On the eve of his premature death, Thompson theorizes that Lawrence explained his secret to his idolizing younger half-brother and that he commanded George to fulfill his commitment when he (Lawrence) was gone. In his narrative, which he describes as a “constructive interpretation,” Thompson effectively defends this implausible thesis. quoted from
James Thompson, GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MULATTO MAN."

Why is this important? Mr. Billy Lee had a uniform, carbine, was Commander-in-Chief Washington's
personal aide for 30 years including the Revolutionary War in which he saved Washington's life
more than once; therefore, he 
should be designated a FOUNDING FATHER AND HAVE A STATUE
WITH HIS FAMOUS HORSE CHINKLING.  Slaves could not wear uniforms or carry guns.

The Mystery of Mr. Billy Lee

Today I feel patriotic.  Since I am the author of WHY IS A SPY CALLED A MOLE, 
my job was to read history books such as WASHINGTON A LIFE, by Ron Chernow
and an author who received the Pulitzer Prize for THE BALLAD OF BILLY LEE.
by Joseph Ellis

Hey, I'm just an author, illustrator and teacher with a business degree, so I had to do
a lot of research.  Just for fun, look up the images of the famous artists who did
portraits of President Washington.  You will find an African American in the
background, one with a red turban and one with a uniform--same man.  He was
the son of Colonel John Lee-- Mr. Lee the historians called "a slave,"

This "slave" happened to be the best horseman in the colonies, did Washington's
finances, was with him during the Revolutionary War, spoke two languages,
and saved Washington's life.  HE WAS A FOUNDING FATHER.

After the war, people not only came to see Washington and his famous War Horse,
Nelson, but Mr. Billy Lee and to see him ride his horse, Chinkling.

Shame on the historians who erased him from our history, a man who
Washington depended on more than Alexander Hamilton.  Well thank you
so I can inform people in my book WHY IS A SPY CALLED A MOLE.

Perhaps the mystery lies in that President Washington and Mr. Bill Lee were related?

Since I am a portrait painter,why did President Washington insist on Mr. Lee
be in the portraits.  Please look up these portraits.

He was buried on the Mount Vernon Estate.  Maybe a DNA would erase all questions
regarding the genetic relationship.

Maybe, history can bend facts to suit their bias. 

Does Your Student Know Why We Americans Celebrate the Fourth of July?.

painting copyrighted by

            Lorraine Strieby

On the news lately, the moderators are asking why do we celebrate the 4th of July?

No one knew, maybe one girl.  Unfortunately the schools delete our history out

of their curriculum.  

Lorraine Strieby realized that this happened to her.  Not enough American History

was taught to her.  She downloaded a couple of history books from Kindle and

looked up some facts on the internet and became a fan of President George

Washington and Mr. Billy Lee, who is a founding father.  What?  You don't know who he

was?

If you don't know Mr. Billy Lee or what happened to Benedict Arnold then you

need to read her book, WHY IS A SPY CALLED A MOLE.  In one-half an hour

you will learn enough history to be the smartest person in the room when it comes

to why we celebrate THE FOURTH OF JULY.  AND you too will be a fan

of President Washington and Mr. Billy Lee.

Well, here she comes, so have to go.  I hope you like her picture of the American

Flag, a Salute to the Marine Corps Oceanside, California.