Martha Washington is well-known as the wife of George Washington, our first president. She was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, on June 2, 1731. She was an active girl. Once, when she was young, she rode her horse right into her uncle's house, and even rode the horse up the stairs!

When Martha was only eighteen, she married Daniel Park Custis, a wealthy farmer who was twenty years older than she was. They had four children. Two babies died, and the other two were still very young when her husband died in 1757, when Martha was only 26 years old.

Martha met George Washington at a dance in Williamsburg. He was younger than she was. They got married in 1759. They did not have any children of their own, but George helped to raise Martha's two children, Jacky and Patsy.

They lived on a plantation in Virginia, Mount Vernon, which is now a national landmark, where tourists can visit and see what life was like for Martha and George Washington when they were alive.

During the Revolution, George was in charge of the American Army, and was away from home for most of the war. Martha stayed at Mount Vernon most of the time. Jacky got married, and he and his wife had six children. He and his wife stayed at Mount Vernon for part of the war. Then, Jacky went to help George Washington as an aide, but Jacky died soon after he arrived. Two of Jacky's children, Nelly and Wash, continued to live at Mount Vernon, and Martha raised them. Martha's bedroom was right above Nelly's room. They were very close.

George Washington became the country's first president in 1789. He and Martha had to travel to New York, where the first capital was. He was president for eight years, until 1797.

Even though she was the First Lady, Martha Washington never lived in the White House. This is because the White House was not built until after George Washington was president. The first capital was in New York, and then the capital was moved to Philadelphia. Martha Washington did not like living in either of these cities and was glad when George was no longer president and they could return to their home, Mount Vernon.

George Washington died in 1799. Martha was very sad, and she died a few years later, at the age of seventy-one, on May 22, 1802. When Martha Washington died, Nelly was close by her.

This is an envelope like the ones Martha Washington used. Photo Courtesy of the Library of Congress. Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society, [Digital ID, e.g., nhnycw/ad ad04004]

In a letter that Martha Washington wrote to Mrs. Elias Boudinot on January 15, 1784, she stated: "The difficulties, and distresses to which we have been exposed during the war must now be forgotten. We must endeavor to let our ways be the ways of pleasantness, and all our paths Peace."