Lady Washington
Early life
Issue 19, 2021
Americans often call George Washington the father of our country. Some people consider his wife, Martha, to be the mother of the United States.
(During her life, Martha Washington was known as Lady Washington.)
The Mini Page celebrates Mother’s Day, May 9, with a story about the busy life of a famous mother and wife, Martha Washington.
Growing up, Martha Dandridge was taught the skills that it would take to be a good wife in 18th-century America. These included housekeeping, religion, music and dancing.
Her father was a planter and county official. She was the oldest of eight children.
When she was almost 19, she married the richest man in the colony of Virginia, Daniel Custis. He was 20 years older than she. They were married seven years before he died. They had four children, but two of them died. Her husband’s death left Martha a very rich woman.
Martha and George
Martha Custis met George Washington after her husband died. Washington was already famous as a hero in the French and Indian War.
Family life Mini Fact:
They were married on Jan. 6, 1759, at Martha’s plantation, White House. They moved to Mount Vernon, George’s home.
While Martha and George never had children of their own, they did raise the two surviving children she had before she married him.
When he grew up, Jacky Custis married and had four children. He died at the age of 27 when he was serving with George Washington in the Revolutionary Army.
Patsy Custis (1756-1773) died at an early age. The Washingtons were always concerned about her health. Martha was very sad when Patsy died of epilepsy at the age of 17.
Martha’s family was the most important part of her life. She was always very protective of her children.
As a wife
Martha Washington was very friendly and loved meeting new people. This was important because so many people came to visit, and George was not as outgoing as she.
In one year, 1798, they had more than 600 guests. Some visitors stayed for weeks.
Martha did not like public life, but she was a warm and gracious first lady and a great help to the president.
As grandparents
Both of the Washingtons liked having young children around. They raised two of their grandchildren, George Washington (Washy) Parke Custis and Eleanor (Nelly) Parke Custis. Their father was Martha’s son, Jacky, who had died.
Slave owners
In the painting at the top left, of George and Martha Washington and Washy and Nelly Custis, you can see an enslaved person in the background.
The Washingtons had more than 300 slaves at Mount Vernon. They worked around the house and in the fields.
George Washington’s slaves were freed one year after his death. But some of the family’s slaves were Martha’s from her first husband’s estate. They were not able to be freed by George.