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Meet
Martha Washington
You probably
know a lot about George Washington but how much do you know about
Martha? Of course she was George's wife and the first of our first
ladies. To help you learn more about Martha, read the facts listed
below.
 Martha
was born June 2, 1731.
Her name was
Martha Dandridge.
Martha lived
on a plantation.
She was the
oldest girl in her family.
Martha was short
when she grew up. She grew to be only 5' tall and had dark hair.
Girls were not
sent to school but Martha was taught to read, write, and count.
Martha was taught
how to be a good wife and housekeeper and a lady with wonderful
manners.
Martha liked
to ride horses, sew, dance, and play the spinet.
People said
that Martha was attractive and had a cheerful personality.
When Martha
was 18 years old, she married Daniel Park Custis who was very rich.
Martha and Daniel
had four babies but only two lived past infancy.
Martha became
a widow when her husband, Daniel, died in 1757.
She had to raise
their two children, John Parke (Jacky) and Martha (Patsy) alone
until Martha met and married Colonel George Washington on January
6, 1759.
George Washington
nicknamed his new wife Patsy.
Martha was very
wealthy because Daniel, her first husband, left her 15,000 acres
of land and 100 slaves.
Martha, her
children and her slaves moved to Mount Vernon when she married George.
Martha often
followed George to his military camps during the American Revolution.
She helped care
for the wounded soldiers at Valley Forge.
Martha was a
very good hostess and gave elegant receptions and dinner parties
after George Washington became President.
Martha did not
like living a public life. She preferred living a quiet, private
life at Mount Vernon.
Martha Washington
was called "Lady Washington" when she was the First Lady.
As First Lady,
she held open receptions every Friday for both men and women who
wanted to chat with the wife of the President.
Martha endured
much sadness in her life. She outlived all four of her children.
Two children
died as babies, Patsy died at age 17 and Jacky when he was 26.
Martha raised
two of her grandchildren at Mount Vernon.
After George
Washington died in 1799, Martha closed up their bedchamber and moved
to living quarters called the Garret Chamber on the Mansion's third
floor.
Martha Washington
freed all of the slaves of Mount Vernon in 1800.
Feeling that
her own health was failing, Martha Washington burned all of the
private letters exchanged between the President and herself except
two.
Martha Washington
died on May 22, 1802, and was buried beside her husband at Mount
Vernon.
Quotes
by Martha Washington
"I am fond
of only what comes from the heart."
On being First
Lady, Martha said, "I think I am more like a state prisoner
than anything else. There is certain bounds set from which I must
not depart from..."
"I am still
determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may
be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part
of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, not upon
circumstances."
On her husband's
decision to serve his country, Martha said, "I cannot blame
him for having acted according to his ideas of duty in obeying the
voice of his country."
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