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Courtship. Less than a year after the death of her first husband, Martha Custis would be courted by a number of men. Learn More. In her late teens, Martha Dandridge caught the eye of Daniel Parke Custis, who, though 20 years her senior, was one of the most eligible bachelors in Virginia.
George Washington began courting Martha, who had become one of the wealthiest women in Virginia, in 1758. They married on January 6, 1759, making Patsy, age two, and her brother John "Jacky" Parke Custis, age four, stepchildren of George Washington.
Martha Parke Custis was Martha Washington and Daniel Parke Custis's youngest child. Known to the family as Patsy, Custis had a particularly difficult life. Patsy was only a toddler when her mother married George Washington. By the time Patsy was eleven or twelve, she experienced frequent seizures.
- Early life
- Appearance
- Marriage
- Ancestry
- Education
- Family
- Death
- Assessment
- Later years
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- Later life
Martha Dandridge was born on June 2, 1731, at Chestnut Grove plantation in New Kent County, Virginia, which is roughly 35 miles from the colonial capital of Williamsburg. Martha was the first of eight children born to John Dandridge and Frances Jones.
The average height for European women in early Colonial America was around 52. Martha was described as a lovely and attractive woman with a lively personality. She was generally strong-willed, though also charming, sincere, warm, and socially adept. These characteristics allowed her to overcome obstacles and forge her own path in the world.
Daniel Parke Custis, John Wollaston, oil on canvas, 1757 [U1918.1.2] Washington-Custis-Lee Collection, University Collection of Art and History, Washington & Lee University, Lexington, VirginiaIn colonial Virginia, most women of Marthas social class met their potential mates through friends and family, or at church, court day, or a ball held at a n...
Marthas first child was a son, named Daniel Parke Custis, born on November 19, 1751, followed in April 1753 by a daughter, Frances Parke Custis. Although the first names were traditional family names, the childrens great-grandfather had imposed a strict condition on inheritance: only children bearing the name Parke as part of their given name would...
Despite their socially and economically privileged lives, neither Daniel nor Frances would reach the age of five. In the colonial era, childhood was the period of greatest vulnerability to death and disease. Only about 60% of children born at this time lived to the age of 20. In 1754 Daniel died, probably of malaria; Frances died in 1757.
Martha had two other children with Daniel Parke Custis, who would become the center of her own life: John Parke Custis (Jacky), who was born in 1754, and Martha Parke Custis (Patsy), born in 1756. Patsy suffered from repeated seizures, which grew worse over time. After a particularly violent episode on June 19, 1773, Patsy died at age seventeen.
On November 5, 1781, just weeks before he turned twenty-seven, John Parke Custis, Marthas sole remaining child, contracted a virulent illness and died.
The attraction between George and Martha was mutual, powerful, and immediate. Martha was charming, attractive, and wealthy. George had his own appeal, standing over six feet two inches tall, he was an imposing figure with a formidable reputation as a military leader.
Every year she made the arduous journey to his camp, whether it was at Cambridge, Valley Forge, Philadelphia, Morristown, Newburgh, or elsewhere. She stayed with him for months at a time. In fact, during the period from April 1775 until December 1783 Martha was able to be with her husband for almost half the time he was away. The General regarded h...
Before she could make the first trip, however, Martha had to undergo her own ordeal. She had to be inoculated for smallpox, one of the most deadly enemies soldiers faced during wartime. After successfully weathering the inoculation, Martha could then travel to the soldiers camp without fear of contracting the disease or transmitting it to others.
Just as her husband realized that his actions would set a precedent for future presidents, so Martha, too, was aware that her behavior as first lady would become the template for the wives of future chief executives. One of her most important steps was to initiate a weekly reception, held on Friday evenings, for anyone who would like to attend.
Under the provisions of his will, George Washington declared that the 123 slaves that he owned outright (separate from the dower slaves that would be distributed among the Custis heirs) were to gain their freedom after his wifes death. There was a fear that these slaves could revolt and kill Martha in order to gain their freedom. Rumors circulated ...
Marthas death brought the Custis heirs even greater riches. Each of Marthas four grandchildren received substantial amounts of land and money that been held in trust for them for years. Moreover, each received a share of the so-called dower slaves, the descendants of the enslaved people once owned by Marthas first husband, Daniel Parke Custis.
In 1831, after being moved from Mount Vernons old tomb to the new tomb, Marthas remains were placed into a marble sarcophagus that stands near her husbands at Mount Vernon to this day.
At the age of 18, Martha married Daniel Parke Custis (20 years her senior) on May 15, 1750 in New Kent County. Although the young couple made their home at the Custis estate in New Kent, they had many Williamsburg connections through the powerful Custis family and plenty of opportunities to travel to the capitol city for balls and social events.
Martha Dandridge married Daniel Parke Custis on May 15, 1750, and the couple had four children, only one of whom survived to adulthood. [1] She was widowed in 1757 at the age of 26, inheriting a large estate. She was remarried to George Washington in 1759, moving to his plantation, Mount Vernon.
Apr 2, 2014 · At 18 years old, Martha wed Daniel Parke Custis, a rich plantation owner, in 1749. The couple would have four children, though only two, Jack and Patsy, lived past childhood. Custis himself...
