Q&A – Martha Washington
Thanks to students who submitted questions during our webinar with Martha Washington. We appreciate historical interpreter Elizabeth Keaney and the staff of Mount Vernon answering these additional student questions.
Q: What’s your name? When were you born?
A: Martha Dandridge Custis Washington. I was born on June 2, 1731.
Q: Where did you live?
A: I was born on a plantation in New Kent county, Virginia, called Chestnut Grove. When I married my first husband, Daniel Custis, we lived on a plantation called White House, also in New Kent. Upon my marriage to General Washington, our home was Mount Vernon. However, duty called him away during the war and the presidency. We had many headquarters during the war, including Valley Forge, and during the presidency we lived in New York and Philadelphia.
Q: How was she taught as a kid?
A: Martha was taught at home
Q: What chores did you have as a child?
A: I helped my mother clean the house, look after my younger siblings, cook, tend the kitchen garden, and care for the health of our family.
Q: Did you get small pox?
A: Hi Jacob, yes Martha received small pox through innoculation. Here are some resources about that:
- https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/smallpox/
- https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/martha-at-the-front/
Q: How did you feel about slavery?
A: What a great question! We do not have any writing about Martha’s thoughts on slavery, but slavery was very common in 18th-century Virginia and a large part of her life and social class. She did not seem to question the institution as George Washington ultimately did.
Q: Were you and General Washington considered to be very rich in your day?
A: George and Martha were considered to be very rich in their day. They were both part of Virginia Gentry.
Q: How did you feel being married to someone famous?
A: I have always been proud to be the worthy partner of the General; even before he was famous. Of course now everyone comes to our home to meet him; I’m glad I was brought up to be an old fashioned Virginia housekeeper to manage our household and guests.
Q: Why did you marry George Washington?
A: My first husband died when I was 26 and I did not want to live alone forever. He wasn’t the first suitor during my widowhood, but he was so kind to my children. I knew when we met I had found their father.
Q: Did you ever argue with your husband?
A: There are subjects on which we do not agree, but I wouldn’t say we argue. He did always think I was not strict enough with my son Jack!
Q: Who was your favorite person that you met
A: My favorite guest was Gilber de Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette. He is like a son to the General and a great hero of the War of Independence.
Q: Were you ever very ill?
A: I have suffered ill health on occasion. My first Christmas at Mount Vernon I became sick with the measles! During the War of Independence, I was often ill with gallbladder sickness. Thankfully I had been vaccinated against the smallpox – that is the disease most dreaded. During the war we lost more soldiers to smallpox than all the battles combined.
Q: Emma asks, “Did a bunch of people know you?”
A: Yes! As the wife of General George Washington and then later President George Washington, Martha became very famous and well known during her time. I enjoy a wide circle of friends, family, and acquaintances. I was surprised at the beginning of the war to see that my travels to the winter encampments were mentioned in the newspapers. I wrote to a friend “You would have thought I was a very great somebody!”
Q: How was your dress made?
A: Skilled women called mantuamakers create the lovely gowns that I wear. They learn to drape fabric and create the latest fashions.
Q: What’s your hat made out of?
A: Our caps are usually made of fine linen or cotton. Hats are often straw covered with silk and decorated with ribbons and flowers.
Q: How did you die?
A: Martha Washington died of what was called “a billious feve” in May 1802 at the age of 70.
Q: Were you close with your mother?
A: Indeed I was. I was the eldest of eight children and had three brothers before my sister was born. Mother and I did all the housekeeping; she instructed me in how to feed, clothe, and doctor a family.
Q: Did you have any siblings?
A: I had three brothers and four sisters
Q: When did you first meet George Washington?
A: I was introduced to Col. George Washington while I was visiting my neighbor Mrs. Chamberlain at her plantation, Poplar Grove, in the spring of 1758.
Q: How tall was George Washington?
A: We believe that George Washington was 6ft 2 1/2 inches tall
Q: When did George Washington and Martha get married?
A: They were married on January 6, 1759
Q: How old were George and Martha when they got married?
A: Martha was 27, George was 26
- Where did you and George get married?
A: They were married at Martha’s home in New Kent County, Virginia.
Q: Eduardo from ASTEC asks, “Did you have a favorite family member other than the General?”
A: I was very close to my sister Nancy. She died during the war, and I raised her daughter Fanny as my own.
Q: How many children did you have, and what were their names?
I had four children. Daniel, named after my first husband; Frances (we called her Fanny) named for my mother; John, called for my father and my father in law; and Martha, we called her Patsy.
Q: Were her kids born in Virginia?
A: Yes, all of her children were born in Virginia.
Q: Did you have kids with George Washington?
A: No, George and Martha Washington never had children of their own. However, George helped Martha raise her children from her first marriage, her grandchildren, and they helped raise many nieces and nephews.
Q: “How did her kids die?”
A: Two of Martha Washington’s children died very young, before she married George Washington. Her daughter Patsy died at age 17, possibly from epilepsy. Her son John died in his late 20s from camp fever shortly after the victory at Yorktown in 1781.
Q: What did your son study in college?
A: Jack studied many subjects: Greek, Latin, rhetoric, the liberal arts, and sciences.
Q: Are there any descendants of your family living now in 2023?
A: Yes, there are many descendents of Martha Washington still living today!
Q: How old was George Washington whe he died?
A: The General was 67 when he departed the earthly plane.
Q: How did George Washington die?
A: He died from a throat infection called quinsy on December 14, 1799
Q: What is your favorite memory with your family members?
A: I have fond memories of spending the Christmastide with family. The twelve days of Christmas are very merry and we would visit each other, enjoy feasts, and exchange tokens of affection.
Q: What was your job?
A: My job as mistress of Mount Vernon is to oversee everything in and about our home. I manage the housemaids, Caroline, Molly, and Charlotte, who keep the house clean and tend to our guests. I oversee Doll and Lucy, the cooks who prepare two large meals every day. It is my duty to see that everyone is fed, clothed, and doctored here at Mount Vernon. I later had the honor to be the wife of our first president; we walked untrodden ground together as we created the role of the President.
Q: How old is the house at Mount Vernon? – Moore Elementary in Tulsa.
A: George Washington’s father had the oldest part of the house built in 1734. George Washington added more additions later.
Q: What kind of crops did they grow at Mount Vernon?
They grew many different crops at Mount Vernon- wheat, tobacco, corn, lots of different vegetables – just to name a few!
Q: What games did you have to play?
A: We enjoy playing at cards and dice. Our favorite card games are Loo and whist. The children in our family like to play with hoops and sticks, kites, and marbles.
Q: Did you have pets?
We do! We have a parrot named Snipe and a spaniel called Frisk. The General breeds hunting dogs; they are called True Love and Sweet Lips, among others.
Q: What was George Washington doing when he was all by himself?
A: He often reads; his library is full of books, and we get every newspaper possible.
Q: Did Martha Washington ever fight in the war?
A: She did not fight in the war, but she spent as much time as possible with her husband in camp. She was at every winter encampment, including Valley Forge.
Q: How do you do an inoculation?
A: Here is a really great video on Revolutionary War Diseases and explaining inoculations! https://www.mountvernon.org/video/view/xggzGL3Jbc0?pid=PLr40fFkNNADH7pFY1SSLHF-uqRdFEER_J
Q: Did you and your husband not like the British when they fought? Also did you every hear your husband complain about the British?
A: Our disagreement with the mother country regarded the unlawful taxes. For many years before the War of Independency we considered ourselves proud and loyal subjects of the king. All we sought was our rights restored, and when Parliament and the king refused, we were determined to form our own nation of citizens.
Q: Did you ever shoot a gun for the war?
A: I never did, but there were stories of the wives of soldiers who, upon the death of their husbands in battle, took their places at cannons!
Q: Did you meet the king?
A: No, Martha never met the King of England.
Q: Did you live in Washington, D.C., when the general was president, or did you live at Mt. Vernon?
A: Washington, D.C. was still being built while George Washington was president. George and Martha first lived in New York City and then in Philadelphia.
Q: Were you able to fight in the war?
A: Ladies do not learn the martial sports such as fencing. I have always tried to be a peacemaker. During the presidency I had to act as a diplomat when men of the government, foreign dignitaries, and native delegations visited our home.
Q: Did you ever want to fight in the battles even though your weren’t allowed?
A: I have never desired to take part in battle. I have seen the privation and want that war brings. I hope the sacrifices of our soldiers are never forgotten.
