I think it’s a crap shoot. Norris’s statement and the two anonymous letters published in the New York papers ca 1859 are unsubstantiated. They were also published in avowed abolitionist papers, as such, I would judge them to be suspect.

Further more, Norris states in January, 1863, “we were sent to Richmond, from which place I finally made my escape through the rebel lines to freedom”

However, Lee had publicly announced in December, 1862 that the Custis slaves would very soon be “forever set free from slavery." The deed was recorded on January 2, 1863 in the Henrico County courthouse, located in Richmond, Among the names included in General Lee's deed of manumission are Wesley and Mary Norris and Reuben Bingham and his three brothers.

One would think that Norris was well aware of his freedom soon to become. Hence, the statement he ran away in January would seem to be an exaggeration.

There is one unsourced statement on the net noting that Norris was freed when the other Custis slaves were freed and was given a pass to cross the lines.