Hoxton House

These were the homes of Martha Washington’s four grandchildren. Tudor Place in Georgetown, home to Martha Parke Custis Peter, was just across the Potomac from Arlington House, home of George Washington Parke Custis. Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis and her husband lived at Woodlawn, within sight of Mount Vernon. Hoxton House, a much smaller dwelling located near Alexandria, was owned by Elizabeth Parke Custis, who lived there for a number of years after divorcing her first husband, Thomas Law.

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Tudor Place

Tudor Place was the home of one of Martha Washington’s four grandchildren, Martha Parke Custis Peter. Tudor Place is in Georgetown,  just across the Potomac from Arlington House, home of George Washington Parke Custis. Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis and her husband lived at Woodlawn, within sight of Mount Vernon. Hoxton House, a much smaller dwelling located near Alexandria, was owned by Elizabeth Parke Custis, who lived there for a number of years after divorcing her first husband, Thomas Law.

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Robert F. Dalzell, Lee Baldwin Dalzell

Oxford University Press

1998

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"Wealth and Houses in Post-Revolutionary Virginia"

Virginia Plantations

Edward A. Chappell and Julie Richter

1997

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Note, Martha Washington to George Washington, September 11, 1777

Virginia Historical Society

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Tobacco Leaf China

This colorful china pattern was produced in China for export only in the eighteenth century. The plate pictured here is characteristic of a style dating to 1757 or earlier. It is known that Daniel Parke Custis owned a set of china with this or a similar pattern (image courtesy Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

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Letter, George Washington to John Mercer, April 20, 1759

John Mercer was one of the most eminent attorneys in Virginia, and had been retained by George Washington to help in the settlement of the Custis estate after George’s marriage to Martha Custis. In this letter, George asks Mercer a series of detailed legal questions about the settlement, including questions about Martha’s dower slaves and his own legal status regarding Martha’s surviving children from her first marriage. The letter is revealing in terms of expected gender roles in colonial America. Almost immediately after George and Martha’s marriage, George assumed responsibility for managing the Custis estate, even though Martha had proven herself a capable custodian during the two years after Daniel Parke Custis’s death.

1759-04-20

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Letter, Martha Washington to John Adams, December 31, 1799

The death of George Washington

This letter, in the hand of Washington secretary Tobias Lear, was written in response to a letter of condolence sent by President Adams a few days before.  Adams requested that George Washington’s body be moved to the new District of Columbia for enshrinement in a monument.  In her response Martha agreed to the request, but nothing ever came of it (image courtesy of Tudor Place Foundation).

Martha Washington

1799-12-31

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Letter, Martha Jefferson to Frances Tucker, August 8, 1780

This letter was part of a campaign by women throughout the colonies to raise money and make clothing for the soldiers of the Continental Army during their suffering in winterquarters. Thomas Jefferson’s wife Martha was placed in charge of the effort in Virginia at the suggestion of Martha Washington. This letter is one of few surviving in Martha Jefferson’s hand; after her death two years later Thomas Jefferson destroyed her correspondence (image courtesy of Swem Library, College of William & Mary).

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Platter, blue and white Chinese export porcelain

One of the marks of eighteenth century Virginia elite society was the elaborate tea ceremony. Virginia planters like George and Martha Washington imported Chinese tea, as well as export porcelain from China. The porcelain pictured here was likely ordered by George Washington from London soon after his marriage to Martha (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

Mount Vernon

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