Early Life and First Marriage
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was born on June 2, 1731, and is best known as America’s First Lady after she married George Washington. During her life, she was referred to as “Lady Washington.” When she was 18 years old, Martha married Daniel Parke Custis, a wealthy planter who was two years older than her. Together the pair would have four children, only two of whom survived (Jacky and Patsy). Daniel died in 1757, leaving his fortune to Martha.
Marriage to George Washington
On January 6, 1759, at the age of 27, Martha married George Washington. She brought both enormous wealth and social status to her marriage with Washington. The pair settled into George's estate at Mt. Vernon, which was a grand property with working farms, gardens, and even a distillery. The Washingtons also owned many slaves who worked as servants and farmhands throughout Mount Vernon. Although the Washingtons had no children of their own, George helped raise Martha’s surviving children.
The Revolutionary War and Presidency
Martha Washington followed her husband to his winter encampments for each of eight years during the Revolutionary War. Women who followed their husbands from camp to camp during the Revolutionary War were known as “Camp Followers.” These women were believed to keep up the spirits of the Continental soldiers, as well as to assist in battle and tend to the wounded soldiers. Following the war, however, Martha was unhappy that her husband had agreed to become America's first president. She refused to attend his inauguration in 1789 because she wanted to live a private life at Mt. Vernon.
Later Life and Legacy
Martha Washington died at the age of 70 on May 22, 1802. She left behind four grandchildren from her first marriage. By the time of her death, most of the Washingtons’ slaves at Mount Vernon were set free and many more were set free after her death in 1802. Martha Washington was the only woman to ever grace the front of U.S. paper currency. Her face appeared on the 1886 and 1891 Silver Certificates.
Discussion Questions
- How did Martha Washington’s first marriage affect her financial and family circumstances before she married George Washington?
- Why might Martha’s repeated stays at winter encampments have been important during the Revolutionary War?
- What does Martha’s decision not to attend the 1789 inauguration suggest about her feelings toward public life?
- How does the source connect Martha Washington’s legacy to both the Revolutionary era and later U.S. history?