First Lady

Martha Custis Nearly Misses Her Destiny

By Allyn Tunis

Five years before William Byrd laid off the Town of Richmond, in 1737, there was born on a May day at the family homestead in old New Kent County a little girl whose name is so closely identified with the history of America that it is known to every school child.

This little girl was Martha Dandridge who came of the purest Southern aristocracy, and though she is best known because of her illustrious husband, there was in it, nevertheless, enough of romance and interest to gain for itself alone an important place.

Born in the country, with only such schooling as could be gleaned from indifferent governesses, Martha Dandridge first tasted gay life at the little Capital of the Colonies, Williamsburg, where, by her gracious manner and innate cheerfulness, she soon won first place. And here it was that she seems to have met Daniel Parke Custis, whom she afterwards married.

The flavor of romance was brought into this courtship by the opposition of Charles' father, who was eager for his son to contract a more ambitious alliance with his cousin, Evelyn Byrd, the beauty as well as the greatest heiress of the colony. After stormy scenes and stubborn refusals to give his sanction to the match, the doughty parent was finally persuaded to hear some of the virtues and attractions of the young lady of his son's choice and, the story goes, was so pleased with the sincere praise of her that came to him from all sides that he finally yielded and even went so far as to put his consent in writing.

And so, at the age of 17, Mistress Martha, the Williamsburg belle, became Mrs. Daniel Parke Custis, and went with her husband to his plantation in New Kent.

In the first order sent to his London agent after his marriage, Daniel Custis wrote: "I desire a handsome watch for my wife, a pattern like the one you bought for Mrs. Burwell, with her name around the dial. There are just twelve letters in her name, Martha Custis, a letter for each hour marked on the dial plate.

This watch still exists to show how faithfully the order was executed. It was on open face, the gold back being enhanced with a circle of gold-set white enamel which extends over its front edges. the enamel of the dial is cracked and broken, but above most of the numerals, beginning with the first, is a letter of the name, Martha Custis.

Two children were born of this union, and the young wife knew great happiness. Her dream, however, was broken by the death of her husband in 1757. He left her an ample fortune. But for a meeting, the outcome of the merest accident, Martha Custis might have passed out of the world without leaving the shadow of a famous name.

One day, in the year 1758, a young British officer, fresh from his first military triumphs, crossed the Pamunkey River, landing upon the plantation of his friend, Mr. Chamberlayne. Though he had no intention of being delayed, this soldier was at length persuaded to dine with Mr. Chamberlayne, the latter promising to reward him by presenting him to the most charming widow in the Colonies, who was also well endowed with worldly goods. And thus George Washington met the Widow Custis.

The attraction was mutual: the hours the two spent together passed all too swiftly; the days apart seemed never ending, and after a brief courtship, these two persons, the center of social history of America, plighted their troth.

One of the few letters preserved of their most interesting correspondence was written when Washington was in camp near Fort Cumberland:

"We have begun our march for Ohio. A courier is starting for Williamsburg and I embrace the opportunity to send a few words to one whose life is now inseparable from mine. Since that happy hour when we made our pledges to each other, my thoughts have been continually going to you as to another self. That an All-Powerful Providence may keep us both in safety is the prayer of your ever faithful &

 

"Ever affectionate friend,
            "G. Washington."

"20th of July.
"Mrs. Martha Custis."

The exact date of the marriage is not known, but it is usually placed at January 6, 1759.

Edith Tunis Sale tells us that the sentiment which generally prevailed in regard to this union cannot be better illustrated than by the following anecdote:

"When the Federal Government was trying to secure the land upon which Washington now stands, it was necessary to get control of a farm owned by a doughty Scotchman by the name of David Burns who proved very difficult. Upon one occasion, when President Washington was trying to induce him to sell, pointing out the great advantage he would derive from it, the peppery Davy, worn to exasperation, exclaimed, we hope without thinking: "I suppose you think people are going to take every grist that comes from you as pure grain, but what would you have been if you hadn't married Widow Custis!"

Removal to Mt. Vernon

Shortly after their marriage, the Washingtons took up their residence at Mount Vernon, and it is as the gracious chatelaine of that beautiful estate that Martha Washington shines supreme. Under her guidance the household never wanted for efficient domestics, and though the discipline she maintained was strict, her humanity towards her servants, her interest in them, gained for her their most loyal affection.

Even after General Washington became President, she was in every way an accomplished housewife of the old school, giving her close attention to all domestic matters. And it was her untiring zeal in this respect that contributed so largely to the comfort and enjoyment of the numerous guests who were entertained at Mount Vernon and the White House.

During the cloudy days prior to the Revolution, Mrs. Washington was her husband's greatest comfort; in camp, where she always followed the general, whether in east at New York or Morristown, or suffering at Valley Forge, Martha Dandridge was the spirit of encouragement and cheerfulness to the disheartened soldiers, by whom she was always called "Lady Washington."

American friends of Great Britain had scattered broadcast the report that Mrs. Washington had separated from the general owing to her loyalty and his treason, whereupon, as soon as the story reached her ears, she set out for Philadelphia en route for camp at Cambridge, and at the Schuylkill Ferry was met by a troop of light horse an the officers of many companies, who escorted her into the city; from that moment she was the inspiration of the Continental forces.

After the Revolution, as first lady of the land, she was the same gentle, dignified hostell that she had been in New Kent County and at Mount Vernon; the honors which came with her exalted position she wore well, always appreciating but never overrating their value. Describing one of the levees, an English traveler in this country, in 1790, wrote:

"At the drawing-room, Mrs. Washington received the ladies, who courtesied, and passed aside without exchanging a word. Tea and coffee, with refreshments of all kinds, were laid in one part of the rooms, and before the individuals of the company retired, each lady was a second time led up to the lady-president, made her second silent obeisance, and departed. Nothing could be more simple, yet it was enough."

While in the White House, it was the custom of Mrs. Washington to return the visits of those privileged to call upon her, the third day, and one of these calls is thus described by a fortunate recipient:

"She would send a footman over, who would knock loudly and announce Mrs. Washington, who would then come over with Mr. Lear. Her manners were very easy, pleasant and unceremonious, with the characteristics of other Virginia ladies."

The life of Martha Washington was one of blended joys and sorrows. Though she and Washington were not blessed with children, they had the care and pleasure of her Custis grandchildren, who so well rewarded their untiring affection.

Of the many portraits of Martha Washington, the best liked are those of Wallaston and Gilbert Stuart. The former, painted in 1757, shows her as Mrs. Custis. It is a three-quarter figure, girlish-looking and full of life; the face is more noble than beautiful, the form rounded, and though Martha Dandridge was below the average in height, from Wallaston's likeness one would fancy her to have been tall.

The best among her portraits by Stuart is that done when she was advancing in years. In this, known as the Athenaeum portrait, she appears as a winsome old lady, content to be an old lady, whose motherly face outlined by a frilled fob cap and a simple fichu at the neck.