Today we'll take a look at Martha Dandridge Custis Washington; wife of the first President of the United States of America.
Born on June 2, 1731, Martha was the oldest daughter of John and Frances Dandridge. Her family resided on Chestnut Grove Plantation located in New Kent Co. Virginia on the Pamunkey River. Her education was the same as most girls born during her time and mainly revolved around domestic and social skills. She could read and write and was very adept at managing a household.
When Martha was 18 she married a wealthy man by the name of Daniel Parke Custis. Daniel Custis's father was against the marriage at first; feeling the Dandridge family didn't have the wealth and status to join into his family. Martha herself arranged a meeting with Daniel's father and did much good to promote her marriage to Daniel and consent to marry was granted. Martha and Daniel finally married on May 15, 1750. Daniel was almost 22 years older than his new bride. Together Martha and Daniel had four children; two of which died before they reached the age of five.
On July 8, 1757 Daniel Parke Custis died despite the attendance of the best physicians money could buy; without leaving a will. This put the now 26 year old widow into hard circumstances. Martha became the head of the household which included the business and financial aspect. According to English common law, Martha received a third of her husband's estate for use during her lifetime and the rest went to the children when they reached adulthood. Martha handled her new responsibilities with confidence and success. At the age of 26 Martha now owned nearly 300 slaves and more than 17,500 acres of land in six different counties.
Not long after her first husband died, Martha began to think about remarrying. A certain young military officer by the name of George Washington had heard about Martha's new situation and traveled from Williamsburg to her plantation home to visit her and make himself known. Within months of meeting both were planning a future together. :On January 6, 1759, less than ten months after first meeting and less than two years since her husband's death, Martha and George were wed. Martha must have cared for and trusted Washington a great deal because she married him without a premarital contract and so George was able to use Martha's one-third of her deceased husband's monies, lands and slaves. George also became the legal guardian of Martha's fatherless children. In Aprril of 1759 Martha moved to George's plantation Mount Vernon to begin the next chapter of her life.
One of Martha's surviving children had lived until the age of seventeen when she passed away from a severe epileptic seizure. Martha's last surviving child, a son they called Jacky, married at the age of eighteen and he and his wife produced four children. Eager to join the war and fight for his country, Jacky begged to be allowed to join the army. He ended up becoming a civilian aide de camp for Washington. Shortly after gaining the position he contracted "camp fever" and soon died. The Washingtons took on and raised as their own two of their grandchildren. They would even travel to New York City (the first Capital) and then to Philadelphia with George and Martha during Washington's presidency.
During the War for Independence, Martha became a patriotic symbol. She was not comfortable with such a public life and role but she was determined to be happy in whatever situation she found herself. She would often visit her husband during the winter months of the war when fighting was typically at a standstill. Patriots and dignitaries all around the country would come out to meet her. She began to take part in fund raising efforts in order to support Washington's troops and the war effort in general. Washington felt Martha's presence was so essential to the war effort that he asked Congress for reimbursement for her travel expenses. Martha's presence, along with a few of the other Commanding Generals' wives became important for the morale of the army, and would often times hold social activities that helped make the long winter months more bearable. She also became hostess to innumerable guests including; generals and their wives, foreign dignitaries, other political leaders, and even Indian Chiefs.
When the War for Independence was over and Washington assumed the role of First President, Martha likewise took on the role of First Lady. There was no example already in place that the two could follow. Martha was aware that she just as much as her husband, would be the one to set the example of how the First Lady should act and what duties she must perform. She once wrote to her niece that she felt "more like a state prisoner than anything else."
In March of 1797, after having turned down a third term as President, the Washingtons returned to their beloved Mount Vernon; Martha was then sixty-five years old. She reveled in the daily routine of her home life and took great joy in her grand and great grand children. She had hoped to have many peaceful years at Mount Vernon with her family, but this was not to be. Only two and a half years after leaving the Presidency, George Washington died suddenly on December 14, 1799, after contracting a throat infection. Martha was grief stricken and closed up the bedroom she had shared with George and moved to a room on a different floor. Just two and a half years after her second husband's death, Martha Dandridge Custis Washington passed away on May 22, 1801.
While Martha Washington was never involved in the Nation's politics she still served a very important role as the first First Lady. She set a precedent for every First Lady to come as a gracious hostess and someone that could/should be looked to as a symbol of the Nation.
Here's a little anecdote: Martha never lived in the White House that would become the home of every future President and First Lady, but her first husband's home was called White House.
For more information on The first First Lady check out these resources:
http://marthawashington.us/
Website about all the First Ladies
Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation - Cokie Roberts
(Don't be put off by the fact that Cokie Roberts wrote this book. It is very well researched and well written.)
Martha Washington: An American Life - Patricia Brady
I had never found much information on Martha and found this very interesting, thank you for sharing this.
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