Martha Washington
1789-1797

Martha was born June 2, 1731in Kent County, Virginia.

Her father Colonel John Dandridge was a wealthy plantation owner.

She liked to ride horses and was reported to once ride her horse right into her uncle's home.

She married Colonel Daniel Parke Custis when she was only seventeen. They had four children. Two of the children died when they were babies. Daniel Curtis died in 1757.

Her husband died when Martha was 25.

She married George Washington three years later in 1759.

Martha had two children from a previous marriage: John Parke Custis and Martha Park Curtis.

George and Martha lived on a plantation called Mount Vernon which is located in Virginia. They didn't have any children together.

During the Revolutionary War she would join her husband in camp during the winter months. She was in Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78. She helped take care of the sick soldiers during those times.

When George became President, Martha moved to New York which was the first capital of the U.S. and then on to Philadelphia the second capital. She didn't like either of those cities.

At receptions and social events in her home, she did not allow politics to be discussed.

Martha Washington was sometimes referred to as "Lady Washington." The term First Lady wasn't used until much later.

It is reported that she ended the social events at 9 p.m. so President Washington could get his rest.

When George Washington's term of office ended in 1797, they returned to Mount Vernon.

She died of a fever May 22, 1802, at the age of 80.

Presidents of the United States

Books and Websites

Books

Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladiesby James Barber and Amy Pastan.
First Ladies: Women Who Called The White House Home (First Ladies) by Beatrice Gormeley.

Websites

http://www.firstladies.org/ National First Ladies Library
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/058_flal.htmlLibrary of Congress, Images of the First Ladies

Comments and/or corrections should be sent to Jim at jim@anewadventure.org.