Martha Washington

Ancestor Number

A121970 »

Date of Birth

June 2, 1731

Place of Birth

New Kent County, Virginia

Date of Death

May 22, 1802

Place of Death

Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, Virginia

Spouse(s)

Daniel Parke Custis, George Washington

Children

Daniel, Frances, John “Jacky," Martha “Patsy”

American Revolution Service

Administered to the sick and wounded soldiers at Valley Forge; organized an association to raise money for the troops

State of Service

Virginia

Donor

Lady Washington Chapter, NSDAR. First DAR Chapter in House, fifth in Texas.

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was born on June 2, 1731, at “Chestnut Grove” in New Kent County, Virginia. She was the eldest child (of three brothers and five sisters) born to her parents Colonel John Dandridge and Frances Jones.

She was educated at home in the domestic arts, social skills, and reading and writing. Martha’s first marriage took place on May 15, 1750, to a Virginia planter, Daniel Parke Custis, with whom she had four children: Daniel Parke Custis, Frances Parke Custis, John “Jacky” Parke Custis, and Martha “Patsy” Parke Custis. Her two eldest children passed away as toddlers, and her husband died, possibly of a heart attack, on July 8, 1757.

Martha gave her hand in marriage, on January 6, 1759, to George Washington. They never had any children of their own, but together raised her two youngest children who survived until young adulthood.

After the deaths of her daughter and of her son (while he served as Captain and Aide-de-Campe to General Washington), they raised their son’s youngest children, Eleanor Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis.

During the American Revolution, Martha brought supplies and food to General Washington’s winter encampments. Because of her kindness to the soldiers during the campaign at Cambridge, Massachusetts she was given the affectionate title, “Lady Washington.” Martha organized the other officer’s wives in sewing circles and participated in fundraising campaigns to support the troops. She spent the winter at Valley Forge, and was instrumental in maintaining morale and providing care to the officers and enlisted troops.

In 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States of America and Martha became the First Lady. She hosted many affairs of state in New York City and Philadelphia (the fledgling country’s temporary capitals). After his second term as President, the Washingtons retired back to Mount Vernon in 1797.

George Washington died at Mount Vernon on December 14, 1799. Martha’s health declined after her husband’s death and she died two and a half years later on May 22, 1802, at the age of 70. Martha was interred in the Washington tomb at Mount Vernon.