by: demuha63
For as far back as I can remember, I have been told the story of my maternal GreatGreat-Grandmother, SARAH DOYLE. Her story has been shared Through out my family. Many years ago, this picture was reproduced and given to many family members. Sarah was born about 1840 in Virginia. According to the family story, She was the daughter of an Cherokee Indian woman and a white Englishman, with the surname Cooper.
Sarah, was a slave to the LEE family in Pittsylvania County Virginia. As were her parents and siblings. She had six children, rumored to have been fathered by Robert LEE. Her children were; Paris, Emmerson, Mildred, Eliza, Peter and Mary Elizabeth. I've always heard of them referred to as the "White Children" It is said that she married an African-American man after the war and had her last child Mattie, born in 1879. According to family story, he adopted her children and they all took the name Doyle.
Sarah lived on the LEE plantation in the "Corner of the yard" in a Red Brick house built especially for her. She was brought to the plantation as a child. Her parents and grandparents who were native american, were brought there sometime later to be with her. Sarah attended Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Pittsylvania Co. With her family. Sarah is shown in the 1870 and 1880 U.S. federal census living on the plantation/Farm of Burwell Lee. in Pittsylvania co, Va. It appears that he may have been Sarah's owner. About 188, Sarah became the caretaker of her grandchildren Samuel and Bertia. Her daughter Mildred and her husband, Osborne Anderson died leaving Sarah to care for the children.
It is said that Sarah stayed on the LEE farm with her grandchildren for years after the civil war and slavery had ended. After the elder "Mrs. LEE" died, Sarah moved to a house on the farm of her brother, who had an new house and an old house. Sarah lived on a tabacco farm in the old house until her death. She is buried on the DOYLE family cemetery in Gretna, Virginia.