Martha Washington, Revolutionary Women, and Mt. Vernon
J ason Chohonis, M.A. History Cutler Bay Senior High School M DC S S C on f e r e n c e 11/ 8 / 16 Mt. Vernon http://www.mountvernon.org/
Mission: Through our work, more educators and students will use the life, leadership and legacy of George Washington to strengthen their knowledge of the past, their civic responsibilities, and historical thinking skills Mount Vernon, 1860 Martha Washington
J une 2, 1731-May 22, 1802 Early Li fe ● Born Martha Dandridge (Patsy) J une 2, 1731 in New K ent County, Virginia ○ Oldest of 8 children born to wealthy planter family ○ Gentry, but not elite. ● Married at age of 18 to Daniel Parke Custis (May 15, 17 50 ) ○ Very wealthy. ○ 20 years Martha’s senior ○ Father opposed marriage. Martha’s short lived first marriage
● After marriage, moves into Custis’ home “White House” ● Mistress of Household slaves ● Motherhood and Mortality ○ Daniel (1750) and Frances (1753)- both die before the age of 5. ○ J ohn Parke Custis (1754), Martha Parke Custis ( 17 56 ) ● Death of Husband (1757) Martha and Colonial Widowhood
● Husband dies without a will ○ Martha= Executor ○ Better off legally than when married. ■ Coverture Martha’s new beau
● George Washington ● Martha Dandridge Custis ○ 6 foot 2 inches tall, 190 lbs ○ 5 feet tall (average female height- ○ Inherited 10 slaves when his father 5’2 died at age 10 ○ Owned nearly 300 slaves and ○ Inherited Mt. Vernon plantation after 17,500 acres of land death of brother Lawrence. ○ 2 living children ○ Childless (possibly sterile due to ○ Born in 1731 (8 months older than previous illness) George George to Martha, 1775 Martha’s Wedding Attire- High Fashion
"Simple 100" patent leather pumps by Christian Louboutin. ( Martha’s Haute Couture Wedding Shoes (1759) Silk, linen, leather, metallic lace and sequins, and wood. http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/colonial-life-today/shoe-shopping-with- martha-washington#- George Washington, Invoice of Sundry Goods to be Ship'd by Robt. Cary, Esq., and Company for the use of George Washington, May 1759. The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. Garnet - all the rage in the 1750s-1760s Martha and George’s Home- Mt. V ernon ● Married at Martha’s home in New K ent County, Virginia on J anuary 6th, 17 59 ● Renovations to Mt. Vernon ○ Addition of a second floor ○ George back and forth to French and Indian War/Williamsburg ○ The Spectre of Sally Fairfax ○ Martha and Custis children move in.
Martha and Slavery
● Slaves ○ Dower ■ 1/3 of estate belongs to Martha until her death (so can’t be sold)- R oughly 80 enslaved persons ■ Eldest Male son would inherit 2/3 of slaves when an adult The Washingtons and the Pennsylvania Abolition Law
● 17 9 0 - Washington is President, Capital is in Philadelphia ● Abolition Law passed- Any slave living in the state for longer than 6 months is emancipated ○ Rotation of slaves back to Virginia The Oney Judge Incident
● Ona/Oney J udge ○ Enslaved girl of 15-16 years old at time of Martha’s marriage to George ○ Martha’s personal attendant
● May, 1796 ○ Martha/George to return to Mt. Vernon ○ Oney Judge escapes ○ Martha devastated
Engraving of a Virginia cotton plantation 1725 Runaway slave advertisement
“As there was no suspicion of her going off, nor provocation to do so”
“Ten dollars will be paid to any person who will bring her home, if taken within the city.... and a reasonable additional sum if apprehended at....a greater distance” The Pennsylvania Gazette, M a y 2 4 , 17 9 6 Martha-far from an abolitionist “Martha’s attitude toward slavery reflected the attitude of other women of her social class in Virginia at the time. She had an unquestioned belief in white superiority. Although utterly dependent on slave labor for her daily existence, she suspected her slaves’ honesty and work ethic. Although she had close personal relationships with certain individual slaves, she considered slaves as a group to be like children, or lazy, ungovernable wretches. Unlike her husband, Martha never came to doubt the morality or justice of the institution which made her life as a plantation mistress possible.”
MountVernon.Com "Martha Washington & Slavery." George Washington's Mount Vernon. Martha during the Revolution
● In 1775, with war breaking out, Martha had never left Virginia before ○ “My great concern upon this occasion is, the thought of leaving your mother under the uneasiness which i fear this affair will throw her into”- George Washington to John Parke Custis (Jacky) ● George Washington leaves to war, and will not return to Mt. Vernon for 6 years. Will be away at war at winter encampments from 1775-17 8 3 ○ How many winters did Martha stay with George? ■ 8. Every single winter. ■ So essential to George that even though he did not take a salary for position, did ask for reimbursal for Martha traveling to front Smallpox Martha and women at camp
Every winter Martha would make the journey to camp
Seen as a good sign by soldiers, done with fighting for year
Confidant, secretary, representative, comfort to sick, moral boost to entire camp
Hostess to visiting dignitaries, leaders, congressmen
Other women
Officer’s wives
Kitty Greene, Lucky Knox
Camp followers Depiction of camp with women Needle and pin George Washington’s Headquarters at Valley case made at Forge; Home to Martha Washington and others Valley Forge Atypical Women of the Revolution
Deborah Sampson Margarett Corbin Mary Ludwig
Born to poor family 1751-1800 “Molly Pitcher”
Dressed as a man, Camp follower, Somewhat tried to enlist husband is in army legendary, twice only one real Joins husband in source was Shot in left thigh, battle dressed as a discovered in discovered? man and fires 1950 cannon. Married after war, Followed husband husband Wounded, lost use of to war as Benjamin left arm, left breast camp receives injured follower, spouses resided at pension Received 1/ 2 of male Valley Forge
Conclusion of War- Death of her last son Jacky at Yorktown
Left behind 4 children and widow
2 Children, Eleanor Parke The First First Custis (Nelly) and George Washington Parke Custis Lady live with Martha at Mt. Vernon
Return home!?!? Peace?!?
Not so fast my friend
Washington elected President Presidential home of the Washingtons, Philadelphia Back to being a public figure As Martha stepped into the role of the “First Lady”, she was creating a template for how a First Lady should behave.
What is the role of the First Lady today?
Does that change if we have a woman president?
Return to Mt. Vernon (finally)
● M a r c h , 17 9 7 - George done, refuses third term, to Martha’s relief ○ Return to Mt. Vernon ○ Many years with George? ■ Nope!
Chinese porcelain cup and saucer given to Martha Washington in 1790s. Initials read M.W. Second Widowhood Martha now 68 years old
Receives thousands of letters of condolence, hundreds of visitors after husband’s death
Surrounded by family
Freeing of slaves
George’s slaves probably aware that they were to be freed after Martha’s death
At urging of her nephew, frees them 1 year after George’s death
Preparing for death (I know, kind of macabre)
A visitor remarks in 1801 “She looks upon death as a pleasant journey”
Devoted herself to her bible Washington family Bible Di M 22 1802 ft h lth d li i kl Augusta Herald June 9, 1802 The Tomb of the Washingtons Martha’s grave reads “Martha, Consort of Washington”
Legacy? Citations
@MountVernon. "Martha Washington." George Washington's Mount Vernon. 2016. Accessed November 03, 2016. http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha- washington/
"Martha Washington." Omeka RSS. Accessed November 03, 2016. http://marthawashington.us/.
Brady, Patricia. Martha Washington: An American Life. New York: Viking, 2005. The Grounds of Mt. V ernon http://www.mountvernon.org/plan-your-visit/map-of-the- estate-gardens/# http://www.mountvernon.org/site/virtual-tour/ http://www.mountvernon.org/education/ Mt. Vernon.org Teacher Resources & Opportunities
Archives, Lesson Plans, Travel Seminars, Research Fellowships Mt. Vernon Online collections
Searchable collection of furniture, clothing, jewelry, books, manuscripts, weapons
Good for primary source exploration
What is this object?
What is it made of?
What does it tell us about the lives of people living in the Revolutionary period? What is this object? What does it tell us about George and Martha Washington? Simple Assignment: Use Archives with Document Analysis
-Allows students freedom to find object that is close to their own interest
-Primary Source Worksheet available from U.S. Archives
goo.gl/WXzJ Sm Exhibitions
Slavery Exhibit- “Lives Bound Together”
-Descriptions of those who actually built Mt. Vernon https:/ / youtu.be/ gylNHHmTLAw Related great resource: Slate.com Animated History of the Slave Trade in two minutes Lesson Plans
Variety of lessons with printable materials
Can be used alongside resource materials such as Washington Encyclopedia Sample Lesson Plans Character Actor Interviews Residential Programs for Teachers
Left: My view in J une, 2013
Right: My view in J une, 2016 Left: Lectures on how to create/ use historical dress in classroom.
Right: Recreation of farming area
View of the Potomac from Mount Vernon. Even better looking at night. Evaluation and Newsletter Signup
Evaluation: www.bit.ly/PDEvalGWTI Sign up for newsletter here: www.mountvernon.org/EduSignUp Copy of Powerpoint- https://goo.gl/hIqHCj http:/ / www.mountvernon.org/ george-washington/martha-washington/ http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/george-marthas-courtship/ http://marthawashington.us/exhibits/show/martha-washington--a-life/the-custis-years/page-3 https://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/margaret-cochran-corbin/ http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/youasked/070.htm https://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/deborah-sampson/