Martha Washington

Biography – Martha Washington

Name ______Date ______

Martha Washington

Martha was the name of George Washington’s wife. You probably know a lot about George Washington already. You know how he helped to map the unknown areas of Virginia. You know how he became a soldier. You know how he became a General. You know how brave he was when he fought the English soldiers to free America from England. You even know that he became the first President of the new United States of America!

But did you know he had a wife? Do you know anything about her?

Answer these questions:

1. George Washington was a ______. a. president b. soldier c. teacher d. both a and b

2. Washington was the ______President. a. best b. only c. first d. worst

3. George Washington’s wife was named ______. a. Martha b. Mary c. Maggie d. Margie

4. Washington fought ______soldiers to free America from England. a. French b. English c. Spanish d. Danish

Biography – Martha Washington

Name ______Date ______

Martha’s Early Life

Martha Dandridge was born on June 2, 1731. She was born in Virginia. Her parents were named John and Frances. Her father John was a planter. Her mother Frances took care of the family home.

When Martha was seventeen years old, she married a man named Daniel Custis. Martha and Daniel Custis were happy together. They had four children. Two children died while they were still babies. The other two survived infancy and grew up. Their names were John and Martha Custis.

Daniel Custis died when Martha was just twenty-six. Poor Martha! She had two children to care for and a large home to manage all by herself.

Decide if the statement is True or False:

1. Martha’s last name was Dandridge. T F

2. Martha was born on June 2, 1733. T F

3. Her parents were John and Frances. T F

4. Martha and Daniel Custis married. T F

5. Martha had only two children. T F

6. Martha was 27 when her husband died. T F

7. Joe and Mary were Martha’s children’s names. T F

8. Martha was born in Virginia. T F

Biography – Martha Washington

Name ______Date ______

Martha’s New Husband

Soon Martha met George Washington. He was young, handsome, and single! She and George Washington were married in 1759, when Martha was 27 years old. George Washington became like a father to John and Martha Custis. George and Martha Washington did not have any children together.

George Washington was the Commander in Chief in the Continental Army. He was in charge of the entire Army! He had many jobs to do and many worries. One winter was especially terrible. Late in 1777 through the spring of 1778 he and his soldiers camped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The snow and ice came and the weather was bitterly cold. George Washington worried when the soldiers didn’t have enough food. He worried when the soldiers didn’t have warm clothes. He worried when the soldiers grew sick. Martha Washington visited her husband at the Army’s camp during that winter. She, too, felt sad about the sick, hungry soldiers. Martha Washington and the other wives in the camp sewed and patched clothes for the soldiers.

Draw a picture of George and Martha Washington during the winter at Valley Forge.

Biography – Martha Washington

Name ______Date ______

A New Start

Finally, the War was won! The soldiers returned to their homes, but George and Martha Washington did not. George Washington was elected to be the first President of the new United States of America. That made Martha Washington the first “First Lady” of the Unites States of America. First Lady is a term we use to mean the wife of the President.

They moved to New York, the first capital of the country, then moved to Philadelphia, the second capital. Martha Washington did not really like the duties of First Lady. She much preferred being a homemaker without so much attention from others. She described herself as a “Virginia housekeeper, steady as a clock, busy as a bee, and cheerful as a cricket”. As First Lady, she had to host big balls, or parties, and entertain many people. She made sure people went home by nine o’clock so the President could get his rest.

Match the words to their meanings:

1. ____ First Lady a. of the clock; a measure of time 2. ____ President b. the United States of America 3. ____ ball c. The state where George and Martha Washington were born and lived. 4. ____ o’clock d. the wife of the President 5. ____ New York e. a party or celebration 6. ____ Virginia f. the second capital city of the USA 7. ____ USA g. the leader of the USA 8. ____ Philadelphia h. the first capital city of the USA

Biography – Martha Washington

Name ______Date ______

After the Presidency

George Washington served two terms as President. Martha Washington served with him as First Lady. When their terms were over, the couple went back to their home at Mount Vernon, in Virginia. They happily took care of their farm and enjoyed being away from public life. Martha especially liked not having to host parties any longer. She and George Washington spent their time enjoying one another and their home.

After two years of ‘freedom’ from the Presidency, George Washington became ill after getting caught out in a terrible rainstorm while riding his horse. He died on December 14, 1799. Martha Washington was so sad after he died that she soon died, too. She died on May 22, 1802. She was 70 years old. George and Martha Washington are both buried at Mount Vernon. If you ever get to visit Mount Vernon, you can see their graves even today. You can also see some of the items George and Martha Washington used during their lives, such as the fork and knife George Washington used during the war, and the spurs he used at Valley Forge.

1. Write three sentence describing what you think life was like for George and Martha Washington after the Presidency.

______

2. Write three sentences describing what you think life was like for Martha Washington after George Washington died.

______

Biography – Martha Washington

Name ______Date ______

Answer Key:

1. d 2. c 3. a 4. b

1. T 2. F 3. T 4. T 5. F 6. F 7. F 8. T

1. d 2. g 3. e 4. a 5. h 6. c 7. b 8. f