After a particularly violent episode on June 19, 1773, Patsy died at age seventeen. Martha was devastated, but told Jacky to remain in school. She lent her name to support a formal effort to enlist women of the colonies to volunteer on behalf of the Continental Army. Vernon. https://www.biography.com/us-first-lady/martha-washington. Daughter of farmers John and Frances Jones Dandridge, Martha grew up among the wealthy plantation families of the Tidewater region of eastern Virginia, and she received an education traditional for young women of her class and time, one in which domestic skills and the arts far outweighed science and mathematics. Only supposition can be made about the true nature of her relationship with George Washington since she burned as much as she could find of the correspondence she had which had been exchanged between them, just prior to her death. From mother to First Lady, Martha Washington had many important roles throughout her life. Discover what made Washington "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen". Rather, hundreds of American citizens as well as visiting foreign dignitaries, such as Frances Marquis de Lafayette, came to visit the former President at Mount Vernon. Courtesy National Center for the American Revolution/Valley Forge Historical Society. The Constitutional Convention was convening and George traveled to take part. Thomas Jefferson was a Founding Father of the United States who wrote the Declaration of Independence. While George Washington oversaw all financial transactions related to the plantation, Martha Washington was responsible for the not insubstantial process of harvesting, preparing, and preserving herbs, vegetables, fruits, meats, and dairy for medicines, household products and foods needed for those who lived at Mount Vernon, relatives, slaves and servants - as well as long-staying visitors. Occupation after Marriage: Updates? This young colonel fought for the British in the French and Indian War. She wouldn't see him again until March of 1777, where the army was encamped at Morristown for the winter. March 4, 1797 was the day that George Washington gave his farewell to Congress and the Washingtons soon returned home to Mt. Who was the original Edsel? George arrived first and his inaugural ball was held before Martha could be with him. Jacky was three and Patsy was less than a year old. She was generally strong-willed, though also charming, sincere, warm, and socially adept. Before she could make the first trip, however, Martha had to undergo her own ordeal. As U.S. president, he completed the Louisiana Purchase. Martha Washington's eight years as the first First Lady were extremely unpleasant to her personally, but she viewed it as duty to her husband and her country. There was a fear that these slaves could revolt and kill Martha in order to gain their freedom. Each of Marthas four grandchildren received substantial amounts of land and money that been held in trust for them for years. Sundays were family days, first going to church at St. Paul's and various outings with the grandchildren in the afternoons. In appreciation, American servicemen addressed her as "Lady Washington.". "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. The average height for European women in early Colonial America was around 52. Washington later resented suggestions, which were undoubtedly true, that his wifes considerable property had eased his life in the early years of their marriage. Every year she made the arduous journey to his camp, whether it was at Cambridge, Valley Forge, Philadelphia, Morristown, Newburgh, or elsewhere. They fell into a pattern of routine with the President holding open receptions to any clean respectable males on Tuesday afternoons. Marthas health, always somewhat precarious, declined precipitously after the passing of George Washington. After Washington left Mount Vernon in 1775, he would not return again for over six years. Marthas first child was a son, named Daniel Parke Custis, born on November 19, 1751, followed in April 1753 by a daughter, Frances Parke Custis. She was entombed next to her husband at Mt. By this time, Jacky and Nelly had six children: Eliza Parke Custis, Martha Parke Custis, Eleanor Parke Custis, a set of twins who died and George Washington Parke Custis. In colonial Virginia, most women of Marthas social class met their potential mates through friends and family, or at church, court day, or a ball held at a neighbors house. Due to some confusion in guardianship and Martha's own distress at losing her grandchildren, the children ended up staying at Mt. The couple would have four children, though only two, Jack and Patsy, lived past childhood. When word of his sons interest in Martha surfaced, John Custis IV initially opposed the match. The Washingtons relocated to Philadelphia, which was the nation's next capital, in 1790. He insisted that the Dandridges lacked sufficient wealth and status to marry into his family and threatened to disinherit his son. Upon his death on December 14, 1799, the slaves owned by the Washingtons were promised their freedom upon Martha Washington's death. Not only Americans, but Europeans responded to Martha Washington as something of an American heroine, sometimes sending her lavish gifts. George, however, felt it was his duty to assume some role of leadership at the urging of some of his fellow patriots. Newspapers of the Anti-Federalist Party criticized the formality of her receptions as evoking the royal court of the British monarchy, against the tyranny of which the American Revolution had been fought. John Dandridge (1701-1756), emigrated from England to Virginiain 1715 with older brother William. He died December 14, 1799. Martha resumed her housekeeping career, as well as entertaining and caring for her grandchildren. Father: After being presented to Mrs. Washington, they enjoyed refreshments, talked with each other, and mingled. They lived at estate "Mount Vernon," initially leased from his half-brother Lawrence's widow, and inherited upon her 1761 death. (The term "first lady" wasn't used at this time, with Martha being called "Lady Washington."). Abigail Adams was the wife of President John Adams and the mother of John Quincy Adams, who became the sixth president of the United States. Martha was seen as a gracious presence and looked to Europe for inspiration in terms of setting standards for official affairs, though it was noted that she often felt trapped and preferred a quieter life. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. His desire was to become a commissioned officer in the Royal Army, but the British never considered it. Interested in using our content? Did you know that Martha Washington is the first and only real woman to grace the primary portrait of U.S. paper currency? We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. While there, he met Eleanor "Nelly" Calvert and they got engaged. On Christmas Eve, he rode into Mt. Marthas death brought the Custis heirs even greater riches. The fifth president of the United States, James Monroe is known for his "Monroe Doctrine," disallowing further European colonization in the Americas. Two generations later, his great-granddaughter, Martha Dandridge was born on June 2, 1731 on a plantation near Williamsburg. 2022 Mount Vernon Ladies Association. No documentation suggesting to the contrary, it has been assumed that Martha Washington's youth was spent much as others of her class and gender were, preparing for management of a plantation, learning various needlework arts, playing a musical instrument and perhaps singing and dancing. Nelly and Wash were raised much like Patsy and Jacky had been, and were similar in temperament to their father and aunt. He was named president of the convention and before ratification of the new Constitution, he was being urged to accept the role of the President of the United States. Ancestry: Martha Washington was relieved when her husband's Administration ended and they retired to Mount Vernon. She died in Mount Vernon, Virginia, on May 22, 1802. At 38, Daniel Parke Custis was nearly twenty years older than his new wife, who was 18. Daniel Parke Custis (17511754), Frances Parke Custis (17531757), John Parke "Jacky" Custis (17541781), Martha Parke "Patsy" Custis (17561773), Raised: Vernon instead of being with him that winter. She enjoyed riding horses, gardening, sewing, playing the spinet and dancing. As a widow, she welcomed visits from President John Adams and her old friend Abigail Adams, whom she befriended when the latter was serving as the Vice Presidents wife. Dramatization of George Washington's pre-Revolutionary life as a Virginia landowner. No evidence suggests what or if she sought to influence any of the President's decisions; later remarks attributed to her imply her to be a strong partisan of his Federalist Party. Vernon. Daniel Parke Custis began courting Martha Dandridge when he was in his late thirties. Martha was also known as a regular and active letter writer, and a collection of her surviving letters are housed in the collections of the Mount Vernon library. Martha herself was considerably torn. George Washington, a Founding Father of the United States, led the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War and was Americas first president. They had four children, two died in infancy. At the time they were married, she was only twenty-seven years old, owned nearly 300 enslaved people and had more than 17,500 acres of land worth more than 40,000. It was all a bit overwhelming for her. Eldest child; three brothers and five sisters, John Dandridge (1733-1749), William Dandridge (1734-1776), Bartholomew Dandridge (1737-1785), Anna Maria "Fanny" Dandridge Bassett (1739-1777), Frances Dandridge (1744-1757), Elizabeth Dandridge Aylett Henley (1749-1800), Mary Dandridge (1756-1763); allegedly her younger illegitimate half-sister (date of birth unrecorded) was a slave;Ann Dandridge Costin, was said to be one-quarter African, one-quarter Cherokee Indian and half-white; there is further evidence of an illegitimate half-brother Ralph Dandridge (date of birth unrecorded), who was probably all white. A proposed trip for Jacky was refused by his stepfather because he felt Jacky was too immature, and their finances couldn't handle the expense. Unlike the majority of women in Virginia at this time who were not literate, Martha learned both to read and write at an early age. Discover the Home of George and Martha Washington. Chestnut Grove Plantation, New Kent County, Virginia Only about 60% of children born at this time lived to the age of 20. At the age of twelve, Patsy had an epileptic seizure and as her condition worsened, she could no longer study. She also held slaves in her household and did not favor manumission, though those held as slaves by Washington, who took on an abolitionist stance, would be freed after his death. The General regarded his wifes presence as so essential to the cause that he sought reimbursement from Congress for her traveling expenses. She then burned all her letters she and her husband had written to one another over the years, except for two. He returned to Mt. Frances Jones (1710-1785), born in York County, Virginia, married John Dandridge in 1730. A planter, in 1730, he served as clerk of New Kent County. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Physical Appearance: In 1757, when Martha was twenty-six, Daniel Parke Custis died after a brief illness. Martha was careful and conscientious in running her home, although she and her husband did not pinch pennies when it came to caring for their home. During their life together she bore four children, two of whom died in infancy. The General was feeling ill and his wife was there to nurse him. Tradition holds that Martha met her first husband, Daniel Parke Custis, at their local Anglican church. He was wealthy, handsome and twenty years older than her. 70 years old. Watch the trailer: With the colonies achieving their independence and the U.S. Constitution ratified, Washington was elected to become the country's first president, having his inauguration in April 1789. Although she was reluctant to assume a public role, her willingness to do so contributed to the eventual strength and influence of the position of first lady. She had a number of old friends and acquaintances there with whom she could attend parties and the theater with. He was sent to King's College in New York instead. At Mt. George Washington soon became the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and he took charge of his army at Cambridge, Massachusetts in the winter of 1775. Following Georges death in 1799, Martha continued to reside at Mount Vernon. By December, Jacky wanted to return to Mt. After the war, during which her only surviving son died, Martha virtually adopted two of her grandchildren, and they substituted in many ways for the children she and George never had. Mother: From the mansion to lush gardens and grounds, intriguing museum galleries, immersive programs, and the distillery and gristmill. After riding the grounds of Mt. Bibliography Vernon to be nursed. She stayed with him for months at a time. Martha Washington at Mount Vernon, lithograph by Jacob Rau. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial HighwayMount Vernon, Virginia 22121. Around the same time, the political unrest in the colonies was becoming more vocal. Martha and her two children moved to Washington's Mount Vernon, Virginia plantation, where the family became known for their social events and upscale lifestyle, though they suffered financial setbacks as well. One British engraver even sought to capture her image and sell it to the mass public, creating a picture that looked nothing like her but was labeled " Lady Washington.". Upon taking ill in early 1802, she wrote her will and burned most of the letter correspondences between her and her husband. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Sometime later, Martha met a young colonel (several months younger than her) in the Virginia Militia at a cotillion in Williamsburg. Martha freed them all in 1800. We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. Marthas marriage to Daniel Parke Custis, who died on July 8, 1757, lasted just over seven years. Patsy suffered from repeated seizures, which grew worse over time. Lesson Plans Vernon. She died on May 22, 1802, and was buried with her husband on the estate. They continued their style of living, however, and the constant stream of visitors to entertain did not help their sagging bank account. 19 years old, married 1750 to Daniel Parke Custis (17111757), manager of New Kent County plantation of his father Councilor John Custis of Williamsburg. Martha loved Philadelphia, as did her grandchildren. She was also the first historical woman figure to be depicted by the federal government on postage stamps and currency. Since George Washington was unanimously named President, there was no election campaign. Vernon, and on the way, on February 3, 1774, Jacky and Nelly were wed at Nelly's home Mt. MSS. Mount Vernon Ladies Association. There is the suggestion of a cordial and affectionate marriage, but not one of great passion. Omissions? Post-Presidential Life: She expressed her loneliness for her late husband frequently and her desire to soon join him in death. All Rights Reserved. No extant record but tradition identifies as being less than five feet tall; dark brown hair, Religious Affiliation: Famed 19th century American author Washington Irving is known for his biographical works and such stories as 'Rip Van Winkle' and 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.'. Just as her husband realized that his actions would set a precedent for future presidents, so Martha, too, was aware that her behavior as first lady would become the template for the wives of future chief executives. Martha Washington was born Martha Dandridge on June 2, 1731, in New Kent County, Virginia, on the Chestnut Grove plantation. 1731, June 2. It has been asserted by many of George Washington's biographers that these factors made her potential as a wife an attractive and important factor in his courting of her. Martha was charming, attractive, and wealthy. She experienced tremendous loss with the deaths of her two surviving children: Patsy died from epilepsy during her teens and Jack succumbed to "camp fever" while enlisted as a soldier. Vernon and their home, Woodlawn. Martha was described as a lovely and attractive woman with a lively personality. George had his own appeal, standing over six feet two inches tall, he was an imposing figure with a formidable reputation as a military leader. Despite the company of her two grandchildren, she expressed a sense of loneliness in New York, the first capital, where she had fewer personal friends than she would find in the next capital of Philadelphia (1790-1800). At 18 years old, Martha wed Daniel Parke Custis, a rich plantation owner, in 1749. Although most guests addressed Martha as Lady Washington, some referred to her as our Lady Presidentess., Learn More:Martha Washington During the Presidency. Patrick Henry was an attorney, orator and a major figure of the American Revolution who is best known for his words "Give me liberty or give me death!". Fearing for her life, Martha, at the urging of relatives, decided to free her deceased husbands slaves early. Education: Her commitment to the welfare of the American Revolutionary War veterans would remain lifelong. Evidence of her business acumen in the lucrative tobacco trade is found in letters she wrote to the London merchants who handled the exporting of the large Custis crop output. She had to be inoculated for smallpox, one of the most deadly enemies soldiers faced during wartime. The Mount Vernon Ladies Association has been maintaining the Mount Vernon Estate since they acquired it from the Washington family in 1858. Martha had her own receptions on Fridays open to both men and women. The First Family traveled to Mt. She was raised and educated with an emphasis on skills seen as integral to running a household, though also taught reading, writing and mathematics. Martha set up housekeeping on the Custis plantation, while her husband managed the estate which encompassed over 17,000 acres. The Washingtons returned to Mount Vernon once the president's second term was up in 1797. The will of George Washington ordered the freedom of half of his slaves, leaving the old and the young to remain. Washington died in December 1799, with his wife subsequently closing their bedchamber and taking up residence on the third floor of their mansion. Unable to attend his April 30, 1789 inaugural ceremony in the first capital city of New York, Martha Washington followed the route traveled by him a month earlier. One of the first African American college football stars, Kenny Washington was one of two Black athletes to reintegrate the NFL in 1946. Upon his death, she closed the door to their bed chamber and moved herself to a tiny, plain garret chamber on the third floor of the mansion, directly over Nelly's bedroom. She also courteously welcomed the formal calls from future Presidents and their wives, John Quincy Adams and Louisa Adams, and James Madison and Dolley Madison. As a young, attractive, wealthy widow, Martha Dandridge Custis probably enjoyed more freedom to choose her own destiny than at any other point in her life. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martha-Washington, The White House - Biography of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, National Women's History Museum - Biography of Martha Washington, National First Ladies' Library - Biography of Martha Washington, Martha Washington - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Martha Washington - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The colonists were being burdened with an inordinant amount of taxes and levies. Birth Order and Siblings: Some of the friends and acquaintances of Martha and George, people who were visitors to their home, were soon to become the Founding Fathers. Also Available for Martha Washington: Nelly was very pretty, popular and was very close to her grandmother and step-grandfather. Juvenile Biography Occupation before Marriage: Presidential Campaign and Inauguration:
