Martha Dandridge (Custis) Washington:
Martha Dandridge (Custis) Washington was born on the Chestnut Grove Plantation in New Kent County, Virginia on June 2, 1731. Although there is no surviving records tradition describes her as a small woman, less than five feet tall with dark brown hair. She was fiercely dedicated to her country and served in a myriad of ways.
In 1750 and at the youthful age of 19, Martha married Daniel Parke Custis. Together they resided at a mansion known as the “White House,” on the Pumunkey River in Virginia. Daniel Custis was 20 years older than Martha; he passed away in 1757, leaving Martha behind as a widow and mother of two children at age 26. In 1759 she married a second time to Colonel George Washington, commander of the First Virginia Regiment in the French and Indian War. Although there is no known “premarital” as modern time would liken it, the immense inheritance that would come to Washington as a result of his successful courting of Martha Custis is widely believed to have been a major factor in his interest in marrying her.
During the American Revolution, Martha assumed the prominent role as caretaker for her husband along with countless other soldiers. Throughout the famously astringent winter spent at Valley Forge, Martha Washington permanently engaged herself to the responsibility of …show more content…
Her first eight years as the First Lady were extremely troublesome to her personally, but she viewed it as her obligation to her husband and her country. She remained cherished by Revolutionary War veterans, and was publicly known to provide financial support or to intervene on behalf of those among them in need. Europeans and Americans alike viewed Martha as something of an American heroine, sometimes sending her extravagant gifts. One British engraver even sought to capture her image and sell it to the
Martha Dandridge (Custis) Washington was born on the Chestnut Grove Plantation in New Kent County, Virginia on June 2, 1731. Although there is no surviving records tradition describes her as a small woman, less than five feet tall with dark brown hair. She was fiercely dedicated to her country and served in a myriad of ways.
In 1750 and at the youthful age of 19, Martha married Daniel Parke Custis. Together they resided at a mansion known as the “White House,” on the Pumunkey River in Virginia. Daniel Custis was 20 years older than Martha; he passed away in 1757, leaving Martha behind as a widow and mother of two children at age 26. In 1759 she married a second time to Colonel George Washington, commander of the First Virginia Regiment in the French and Indian War. Although there is no known “premarital” as modern time would liken it, the immense inheritance that would come to Washington as a result of his successful courting of Martha Custis is widely believed to have been a major factor in his interest in marrying her.
During the American Revolution, Martha assumed the prominent role as caretaker for her husband along with countless other soldiers. Throughout the famously astringent winter spent at Valley Forge, Martha Washington permanently engaged herself to the responsibility of …show more content…
Her first eight years as the First Lady were extremely troublesome to her personally, but she viewed it as her obligation to her husband and her country. She remained cherished by Revolutionary War veterans, and was publicly known to provide financial support or to intervene on behalf of those among them in need. Europeans and Americans alike viewed Martha as something of an American heroine, sometimes sending her extravagant gifts. One British engraver even sought to capture her image and sell it to the