George Washington's Wife

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Family Background

Martha Dandridge was born on her parents' farm, Chestnut Grove, in the Colony of Virginia, on June 2,
1731. She was the oldest daughter of Frances Jones, an American and John Dandridge, a Virginia
planter. Martha's brothers and sisters were John, William, Bartholomew, Anna Maria "Fanny" Bassett,
Frances Dandridge, Elizabeth Aylett Henley, and Mary Dandridge.

Ann Dandridge Costin, Dandridge's illegitimate half-sister, was born into slavery. According to history,
Costin's enslaved mother has African and Cherokee blood. Her father's name was John Dandridge,
based on their family tree. She had an illegitimate half-brother named Ralph Dandridge, most likely
Caucasian.

Marriage

First Marriage (Daniel Parke Custis)

Dandridge married Daniel Parke Custis, a wealthy planter two decades her senior, on May 15, 1750. She
relocated to his home, White House Plantation, on the Pamunkey River's south shore, a few miles
upstream from Chestnut Grove. Daniel, Frances, John, and Martha were their four children. Frances and
Daniel died as children. John Parke Custis, and Martha ("Patsy") Parke Custis, the other two children,
lived to be young adults.

Martha was a wealthy young widow at the age of 26. She had a solo authority over a dower inheritance
for her lifetime. Aside from this, she had a caretaker responsibility for the fortune of her minor children
when Daniel Parke Custis died in 1757. She took charge of approximately 17,500 acres of land and 300
enslaved people, besides other possessions and income. According to Martha's biographer, Martha
managed the five plantations left after her first husband died and was able to negotiate the best tobacco
rates with London merchants.

Second Marriage (George Washington)

On January 6, 1759, Martha Custis, 27, and George Washington, 26, married at the White House
plantation. Being a resident and landowner in the area, Washington was likely aware of both Martha and
Daniel Parke Custis before Daniel's death. He paid Martha Custis two visits at the White House farm in
March 1758. The second of which resulted in an engagement or at the very least a vow to consider his
proposal.

At the wedding, George wore a blue and silver suit with gold knee buckles and crimson trimming while
Martha wore purple silk shoes with buckles. The newlyweds spent many weeks on their honeymoon at
the Custis family's White House farm.

After their honeymoon, they settled into George's Mount Vernon home. They appeared to have had a
stable relationship. The Washingtons never had children together, although they did raise Martha's two
children. Patsy, her 16-year-old daughter, died in 1773 during an epileptic episode. In 1774, John Parke
"Jacky" Custis graduated from King's College and married Eleanor Calvert.

During the American Revolutionary War's Battle of Yorktown in 1781, John died of "camp sickness" while
serving as a civilian companion to George Washington. The Washingtons raised Eleanor Parke Custis
and George Washington Parke Custis when John died. The older two daughters stayed with their mother.
The Washingtons also helped nieces, nephews, and other relatives. George and Martha provide personal
and financial help both on the side of their families.

Martha Washington was not content to live a solitary life at Mount Vernon and her mansions on the Custis
farm. For the next eight years, she accompanied Washington to his winter encampments, proving to be
essential in maintaining officer morale. Martha became an instant celebrity, with many headlines about
her trips, and villages ringing bells to welcome her.

Revolutionary War

Martha was supportive of George during the Revolutionary War. She found herself going to distant areas
of the country for eight years of the war. She did this to spend time with Washington at his winter
headquarters, despite living most of her life in Virginia.

In 1780, many publications posted her private attempts to improve the welfare of troops. Martha
Washington became the public image of a fundraising campaign to provide needed supplies to the
soldiers. Although her fame was far less than her husband's, Martha Washington became a symbol for
the American people. Many children's names and at least two ships' names were Martha; there were also
many sold etched photographs in her time.

First Lady 1789–1797

Martha Washington disapproved of her husband's decision to become president of the United States after
the war, despite receiving praises and earning the nickname "Lady Washington" among Americans. The
office exposed her to her husband's callers and drew her into political debates.

When the Washingtons moved to a house on High Street in 1790, Martha's hospitality grew more
elaborate. The first lady took no side on public issues. Still, some condemned her for partying on a level
that was too luxurious for a republican administration. It brought relief to her to return to Mount Vernon
after her husband's second term ended in 1797.

Death and Legacy

Martha remained to live at Mount Vernon after George's death in 1799. Congress awarded her a lifetime
tax privilege in 1800, and it continued to do so for any president's widow who applied. After Martha died in
1802, Congress debated whether the Washingtons should belong in the capital city that bears their
names. Still, she was instead buried alongside George in a family grave at Mount Vernon.

References:
Caroli, Betty. First Ladies: From Martha Washington to Michelle Obama. Oxford University Press, 2010.
Caroli, B. Boyd. "Martha Washington." Encyclopedia Britannica, May 29, 2021.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martha-Washington.