Martha Dandridge Custis Washington
1st First Lady of the United States
In office April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Abigail Adams
Born	June 2, 1731(1731-06-02) Williamsburg, Virginia, British America
Died	May 22, 1802 (aged 70) Mount Vernon, Virginia, United States
Spouse	Daniel Parke Custis (1749-1757) George Washington (1759-1799)
Relations	John Dandridge and Frances Jones
Children	Daniel Parke Custis, Jr. First Lady of the United States is the unofficial title of the hostess of the White House. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule Year 1789 ( MDCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Year 1797 ( MDCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Abigail Adams (née Smith (November 11 1744 &ndash October 28 1818 was the wife of John Adams, the second President of the United States, and mother of John Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks Year 1731 ( MDCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Williamsburg is a city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region in southeastern Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state For American people of British descent see British American. British America consisted of the British Empire in continental North America Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 1802 ( MDCCCII) was a Common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting on Wednesday of the This is about the George Washington residence For other uses see Mount Vernon (disambiguation. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Daniel Parke Custis ( 15 October 1711 &ndash 8 July 1757) was a wealthy Virginia planter George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the Frances Jones ( August 6, 1710 - July 9, 1785) was born in New Kent County Virginia and married John Dandridge on July 22 , Frances Custis, John Parke "Jacky" Custis, Martha Parke "Patsy Custis
Occupation	First Lady of the United States
Religion	Baptists

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (June 2, 1731 – May 22, 1802) was the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States. John Parke Custis ( 27 November 1754 – 5 November 1781) was a Virginia planter and stepson of George Washington. First Lady of the United States is the unofficial title of the hostess of the White House. Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks Year 1731 ( MDCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 1802 ( MDCCCII) was a Common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting on Wednesday of the George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Although the title was not coined until after her death, Martha Washington is considered to be the first First Lady of the United States. First Lady of the United States is the unofficial title of the hostess of the White House. During her lifetime, she was simply known as "Lady Washington".

Biography

Born on her parents' Chestnut Grove Plantation on June 2, 1731 at 10:29 a. Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks Year 1731 ( MDCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year m. , she was the eldest daughter of Virginia planter John Dandridge (1700–1756) and Frances Jones (1710-1785). She was a Baptist. ^{[1] [2]} At the age of 18, she married Daniel Parke Custis, a rich bachelor two decades her senior. Daniel Parke Custis ( 15 October 1711 &ndash 8 July 1757) was a wealthy Virginia planter They lived together at White House Plantation on the south shore of the Pamunkey River, a few miles upriver from Chestnut Grove. White House is an unincorporated community in New Kent County, Virginia, United States, on the south shore of the Pamunkey River. The Pamunkey River is a Tributary of the York River, about 90 mi (145 km long in eastern Virginia in the United States. She had four children by Custis. A son and a daughter, Daniel (1751-1754) and Frances (1753-1757), died in childhood, but two other children, John (Jacky) Parke Custis (1754-1781) and Martha ("Patsy") Parke Custis (1756-1773) survived to young adulthood. John Parke Custis ( 27 November 1754 – 5 November 1781) was a Virginia planter and stepson of George Washington. Year 1754 ( MDCCLIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Year 1781 ( MDCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Custis' death in 1757 left Martha a rich widow, with independent control over a dower inheritance for her lifetime and trustee control over the inheritance of her minor children.

Martha Dandridge Custis in 1757.

Martha D. Custis married Colonel George Washington on January 6, 1759. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Year 1759 ( MDCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year There is now speculation that Washington was actually in love with the wife of one of his friends (Sally Fairfax) at the time that he and Martha became engaged. Sally Cary Fairfax (died 1811 is remembered for being the woman George Washington was apparently in love with at the time of his marriage to Martha Dandridge Custis However, regardless of his feelings before the marriage, it is widely agreed that the partnership was mutually beneficial. Shortly after they were married, he left the colonial arm of the British military due to the British policy denying colonials command opportunities with the regular British army. They lived a prosperous and apparently happy life at Washington's Mount Vernon estate. This is about the George Washington residence For other uses see Mount Vernon (disambiguation.

Martha and George Washington had no children together, but they raised Martha's two surviving children. Martha's daughter, also named Martha, died during an epileptic seizure, which led John to return home from college to comfort his mother. John Parke Custis later served as an aide to Washington during the siege of Yorktown in 1781. Jack died during this military service, probably of typhus. Typhus is any of several similar diseases caused by Louse -borne bacteria After his death, the Washingtons raised two of his children, Martha's youngest grandchildren, Eleanor Parke Custis (March 31, 1779 - July 15, 1852), and George Washington Parke Custis (April 30, 1781 - October 10, 1857). Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis ( March 31, 1779 – July 15, 1852) known as Nelly, was the granddaughter of Martha Washington Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final Year 1852 ( MDCCCLII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year George Washington Parke Custis ( April 30, 1781 &ndash October 10, 1857) the adopted son (and also stepgrandson of United States Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule Year 1781 ( MDCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Click here for Indian Rebellion of 1857 Year 1857 ( MDCCCLVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the They also provided personal and financial support to nieces, nephews and other family members in both the Dandridge and Washington families.

Content to live a private life at Mount Vernon and her homes from the Custis estate, Martha Washington nevertheless followed Washington into the battlefield when he served as Commander in Chief of the American Army. A commander-in-chief is the Commander of a nation's Military forces or significant element of those forces She spent the infamous winter at Valley Forge with the General, and was instrumental in maintaining some level of morale among officers and enlisted troops. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania was the site of the camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777&ndash1778 in the American Revolutionary War. She opposed his election as President of the newly formed United States of America, and refused to attend the inauguration (April 30, 1789), but gracefully fulfilled her duties as the official state hostess during their two terms. An inauguration is a ceremony of formal Investiture whereby an individual assumes an office or position of authority or power Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule Year 1789 ( MDCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

Martha Washington and her husband both died at Mount Vernon, with Martha dying on May 22, 1802, slightly over two years after her husband. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 1802 ( MDCCCII) was a Common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting on Wednesday of the In 1831, her remains were moved from their original burial site a few hundred feet to a brick tomb that overlooks the Potomac River. Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid- Atlantic coast of the United States.

Martha Washington and slavery

Martha Washington was raised in a time when chattel slavery was an economic reality for elite southern white families. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another No record exists of her questioning the ethical and moral foundations of the "southern institution. " Under English common law, Martha received the use of and income from one third of Daniel Parke Custis' extensive estate during her lifetime. Common law refers to law and the corresponding legal system developed through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive Daniel Parke Custis ( 15 October 1711 &ndash 8 July 1757) was a wealthy Virginia planter The estate contained a number of plantations and farms, and many enslaved men, women, and children attached to those holdings. Upon his marriage to Martha, George Washington became the legal manager of the Custis estate, under court oversight. In actuality, estate records indicate Martha Washington continued to purchase supplies, manage paid staff and make many other decisions. Although the Washingtons wielded managerial control and received income from the estate, they could not sell Custis land or slaves, which were entailed to Martha's son, John ("Jacky") Custis.

Martha Washington was personally upset when her personal lady's maid Oney Judge, a slave girl of the Custis estate, fled the first family's Philadelphia household during President Washington's second term. Oney (Ona Judge, born about 1773 was a slave at George Washington 's plantation Mount Vernon, in Virginia Oney Judge hid with free black friends in the city, and then traveled to the north. Patricia Brady, in her 2005 biography of Martha Washington, writes:

"Martha felt a responsibility for the unsophisticated girl under her care, especially since her mother and sister were expecting to see her back at Mount Vernon. What she could never understand was that (Oney had). . . a simple desire to be free. Ona, as she preferred to call herself, wanted to live where she pleased, do what work she pleased, and learn to read and write . . . Ona Judge professed a great regard for Martha and the way she had been treated, but she couldn't face a future as a slave for herself and her children. " (Brady, p. 209)

"Washington's Family" by Edward Savage, painted between 1789 and 1796, shows (from left to right): George Washington Parke Custis, George Washington, Eleanor Parke Custis, Martha, and an enslaved servant, probably William Lee. George Washington Parke Custis ( April 30, 1781 &ndash October 10, 1857) the adopted son (and also stepgrandson of United States Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis ( March 31, 1779 – July 15, 1852) known as Nelly, was the granddaughter of Martha Washington William Lee (c 1750–1828 also known as Billy Lee or Will Lee, was George Washington 's personal servant and the only one of Washington's slaves

During the Washington family's last week in Philadelphia, their chief cook Hercules also fled slavery, leaving a daughter at Mount Vernon who told a visitor that she was glad her father was free.

Historian Henry Wiencek, in his 2004 book "An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America", writes that Martha Washington owned her own mulatto half-sister, a slave named Ann Dandridge, who had a child by Martha's son (and therefore Ann's nephew), John Parke "Jack" Custis. Henry Wiencek (1952—) is a prominent American historian and editor whose work has encompased the Founding Fathers, various topics relating to slavery and the Lego "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " He bases his assertion on original documents he discovered in the files of Mount Vernon and the Virginia Historical Society, and states that previous historians ignored the documentary evidence that this sister existed. According to Wiencek, this incident was among several that led George Washington to call slavery repugnant, and probably influenced Washington's decision late in life to free all his slaves. The existence of a slave named Ann Dandridge is recognized in Helen Bryan's 2001 "Martha Washington: First Lady of Liberty. " However this book draws upon Wiencek's research. Bryan stated that the "shadow sister" was close to Martha's age and had been with her since they were children.

Brady, in a brief bibliographical note at the end of her book (page 256), denies the existence of Martha Washington's half sister and asserts that Wiencek and Bryan accepted "family mythology" and "lore" as fact. Brady does not offer a review of the documentary evidence discovered by Wiencek in the Virginia Historical Society and in the Washington, D. C. , archives where Ann Dandridge's manumission is recorded--Land Records, Liber H. , #8, p. 382; Liber R, #17, p. 288. In assessing the documents that have survived on this question, Wiencek notes that Ann Dandridge was omitted from the Custis estate records and the records of slaves at Mt. Vernon. Having studied plantation families for many years, Wiencek observes that family ties between slaves and slave owners were often kept hidden.

An 1878 portrait by Eliphalet Frazer Andrews.

USS Lady Washington

Mrs. Washington had a row galley named in her honor, the USS Lady Washington. See also Lady Washington, an 18th century merchant sloop and it's 1989 namesake replica It holds the distinction of being the first U. S. military ship to be named in honor of a woman and for a vessel named while the person was still alive (see also List of U.S. military vessels named after living Americans). The United States Navy has a long tradition that no vessel be named for a living person and an equally long tradition stretching back to the Continental Navy, of breaking It has a number of other distinctions as well, as the first ship named after a (future) First Lady and one of the few active vessels in the U.S. Navy named in honor of a woman (see also USS Hopper (DDG-70)). First Lady is a term used in the United States to describe the wife of an elected male Head of state. Deployments Hopper has participated in multiple deployments to East Asia and the Persian Gulf including RIMPAC 98 three individual PACMEF deployments an Expeditionary

U. S. Postage Stamp

In 1902 Martha Washington became the first American woman to be commemorated by a U. Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting S. postage stamp. It was an 8 cent stamp. In 1923, a second stamp was issued in her honor, a 4 cent. The third Martha Washington 1 1/2 cent stamp was issued in 1938.

Appearance on U. S. Currency

Martha Washington is the only woman whose portrait has appeared on a U. S. currency note. It appeared on the face of the $1 Silver Certificate of 1886 and 1891, and the back of the $1 Silver Certificate of 1896.

First Spouse Coin

The First Spouse Program under the Presidential $1 Coin Act authorizes the United States Mint to issue 1/2 ounce $10 gold coins to honor the first spouses of the United States. The Presidential $1 Coin Program is part of an Act of Congress,, which directs the United States Mint to produce $1 coins with The Presidential $1 Coin Program is part of an Act of Congress,, which directs the United States Mint to produce $1 coins with The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its Trade and Commerce. Martha Washington's coin was released on June 19, 2007, and sold in just hours. Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Obverse

Reverse

References

• Brady, Patricia. "Martha Washington: An American Life. " Viking/Penguin Group, New York, New York, 2005. ISBN 0-670-03430-4.
• Wiencek, Henry. "An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America. " Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, hardbound edition 2003, paperback edition 2004. ISBN 0-374-52951-5.

External links

• Martha Washington at findagrave
• White House biography
• Biography from National First Ladies Library