Sixth Grade Writing/History Essay

Martha Dandridge was born June 2, 1731 in the town of Chestnut Grove,
Virginia. Her parents were Mr. John Dandridge and Mrs. Frances Jones Dandridge.
Martha was the oldest of nine children, three males and six females. At an unknown
age, Dandridge began her education. She studied the required skills that young girls
learned to care for a home and family when they are older and married. Martha also
studied mathematics, reading, and writing, subjects that young girls would not usually
learn at the time.

At the age of eighteen, Martha Dandridge became Martha Dandridge Custis, as

she married her first husband, Daniel Parke Custis. She gave birth to four children;
however, two children did not survive, and died in infancy. The two remaining were
named John and Martha, except Martha called them Jacky and Patsy. In 1757, Daniel
passed away from an unknown illness. Years later, Patsy suffered an epileptic seizure
and died at the age of seventeen.

Martha remarried and married George Washington on January 6, 1759. They

moved to Mount Vernon. Later, George went off to serve as commander in chief of the
Continental Army. He would not return until March of 1778. A few years later, Jacky, the
only child who was still alive, married a girl named Nellie. They had six children, Eliza,
Martha, a set of twins who passed away, Eleanor, George and Nellie. Nellie fell ill after
Nellie’s birth, so she and George were sent to Mt. Vernon to be taken care of. Jacky
died November 5,1781. He was the last child left. Eighteen years later, George died
December 14, 1799. Martha was too grief-stricken to attend her husband’s funeral.
Three years after his death, Martha Dandridge Custis Washington passed away May
22, 1802, and was buried next to her beloved husband at Mount Vernon.

Sources
Valley Forge.org Martha Washington Biography
First Ladies Library, Martha Washington Juvenile Childhood