Martha Washington: An American Life

by Patricia Brady

With this revelatory and painstakingly researched book, Martha Washington , the invisible woman of American history, at last gets the biography she deserves. In place of the domestic frump of popular imagination, Patricia Brady resurrects the wealthy, attractive, and vivacious young widow who captivated the youthful George Washington. Here are the able landowner, the indomitable patriot (who faithfully joined her husband each winter at Valley Forge), and the shrewd diplomat and emotional mainstay. And even as it brings Martha Washington into sharper and more accurate focus, this sterling life sheds light on her marriage, her society, and the precedents she established for future First Ladies.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, American History, American Revolution, Historical, American Revolutionary War

276 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a habit of visiting a place, becoming fascinated, and then wanting to read about that place or the people associated with it. This year, when I knew I'd be visiting Mount Vernon, I got smart and decided to read about Martha Washington before I went.

I like the cover of "Martha Washington: An American Life" - it's a nice contrast to our usual image of Martha as the kindly, plump, white-haired old first first lady. What we know about her has been greatly hampered by the fact that, after George Washington died, she burned all the letters between them in order to preserve their privacy.

But in this book, I got to know her better. I found myself admiring her, while noting that she was decidedly not like me: she was a great conversationalist who loved to have the house full of visitors all the time (she hosted over 600 overnight guests at Mount Vernon in one year alone).

She had sadness in her life; her four children (all with her first, pre-George husband) all died before she did, either in childhood or young adulthood. She was decidedly unhappy that George was so involved in the revolution and then served as President, because she (and he as well) would have much preferred to just live quietly at Mount Vernon.

She once wrote, "I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition." I think we all could do well to follow her example there.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biography of Martha Washington is well written and has excellent research. Since Martha burned all the letters between her and George after his death, there is not the abundance of material for her life that has been available from other first ladies. The romance between George and Martha, although a second for Martha after the death of her young husband Daniel Parke Custis, was one that lasted a lifetime. Martha was a partner with George for a lifetime. She was knowledgeable about politics, daily affairs, and much more outgoing than George which made them a perfect team. Although they never had children of their own, they ended up parenting nieces, nephews, and grandchildren throughout their lifetime.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but my one complaint is that I wish she had begun with either a family tree or a listing of relatives as they are mentioned frequently throughout the book. Also with many repeating names it became difficult to keep track of whether they were from the Dandridge/Custus side of the family or the Washington side of the family. Therefore, I dropped it one point in rating it.

[Olde American Spirit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I went into this book without any expectation whatsoever. Not only is the writing style lovely, she presents both Martha and George in such an interesting way - from the beginning to the end.

Not only does this book shed light on the REAL George and Martha, but its perspective is a refreshing one on the likes of those around them: Adams, Hamilton, Jefferson, etc - with gobs of info without being boring.

She dispels fairytale stories we've all heard with the truth, but brings many (sometimes scandalous) facts about this couple that I didn't know. This book is Fa. sci. na. ting!

Above all, their LOVE STORY is better than I could have ever imagined! While it's nonfiction, it reads like a fact-filled novel, almost. I had to be diligent in not getting choked up on the final pages!

Loved it and I can't wait to share my favorite things about Martha in an upcoming July reading wrap up video on my booktube channel soon!

[Chelsia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a bit obsessed with George Washington - he's my historical crush! But after reading several books on him, I was dying to know more about Martha. The woman who stood by his side during all of his years of service to our country.
She is not a perfect woman, just like he was not a perfect man, but they were both equally matched for their partnership and dare I say that it was her, that helped this great mean form our nation. A man can accomplish a lot of incredible things with a good woman by his side and she was an incredible woman. Her story is one of endurance. Sadness. Joy. Resolve and resign. Tragedy, and bravery. We do not give enough credit to the women who helped shape our nation and I think one of the things that impressed me about her the most is that she was definitely not a wall flower. She was a leader and an example for the women who surrounded her.
As I turned the last page of the book, knowing how imperfect she was, but still admiring...I thought to myself, we should all be so lucky as to have an example of a woman like her before us. Perhaps, if we studied more women from our history, we'd have a greater respect and drive to thrive in our own homes and marriages like hers.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice account of life of our first First Lady. Takes a genealogist to appreciate early chapters as the author details Martha's ancestors. (And I did - amateur that I am!) I liked details about everyday objects and events as well as historical happenings. Too bad that in a desire for privacy, Martha burned all her letters. We could get closer to her actual feelings if they were available. Facts chosen by the author do a good job with suppositions made from other primary documents. Author's admiration for George's wife is obvious and I trust there is no deliberate bias.

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

For many, Martha Washington, referred to as Patsy by those close to her, exists as little more than an afterthought, a character significantly overshadowed by a husband whose legacy has reached mythic status in American culture.

Yet Patsy epitomized the woman behind the man, a woman George deeply loved and whose constant support and affection made his heroism and dedication to his country a possibility.

If "Martha Washington: An American Life" does anything, it humanizes George Washington, which is no small feat.

Some interesting tidbits:

Martha/Patsy - a petite, attractive, and buxom woman - married Daniel Custis, a wealthy man considered to be out of her class. She had four children with Custis', two of which would die as young children. When in her mid-to-late twenties, her husband died, she found herself a very rich woman, and as such "quite the catch" in the eyes of most eligible bachelors.

George Washington, not exactly wealthy or well-known at the time, but certainly gaining status for his role in the French and Indian war, set his sights on Patsy, while simultaneously carrying a flame for Sally Cary Fairfax, a married woman who cruelly toyed with his affections.

Yet once married, George and Patsy quickly became devoted to each other and would remain so throughout their marriage.

Although, Patsy had conceived four children with Daniel Custis, she would never become pregnant while married to George. Despite evidence to the contrary, her husband decided their inability to procreate was most likely due to Patsy and not himself. Yet some experts speculate that his exposure to small pox as a young man could have contributed to his sterility, which would seem more likely given her fertility with Custis.

Patsy ultimately outlived all her children, and she and George would later adopt and raise two of their grandchildren (not an uncommon practice back then). Patsy thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by her family.

During the 8 years of the Revolutionary War, George feared leaving his troops over the fall and winter, a time when both armies would halt fighting due to the constraints of weather. He was aware that his army was extremely fragile and likely to dismantle/weaken in his absence. As a result, Patsy often sacrificed the comfort of her Mt Vernon home to spend that time with her husband. It is estimated she spent at least 5 of those 8 years with him and the troops, along with other wives. Many attribute her ongoing presence and support not only of Washington but also his missions as critical to his success in dealing with the tremendous stress and demands of his position.

When the war finally ended, both George and Patsy anxiously returned to their home in Virginia. It had been a trying time for them both, in part because it forced them to be apart more than either would have liked. Thus, Patsy had reservations about her husband excepting the Presidency, feeling he had done enough for his country, serving unselfishly for eight long trying years. In the end she supported him just as she had always done.

George's second term proved especially hard on them both, as politics quickly became a messy affair. Patsy would hold a life-long grudge against Thomas Jefferson, who had written nasty things about her husband in one of his political campaigns. For his part, Jefferson didn't appear to be especially fond of the first First Lady either, claiming her absolute devotion to her husband was more like dependence.

During her life she was known for her affable and kind nature which earned her the reputation as a delightful and dignified hostess.

Interestingly, she destroyed all the letters/correspondence between George and herself, depriving future generations an intimate look into their private thoughts and leaving us to speculate about the true Martha and George.

Finally, despite her strong belief in the ideals of American Independence outlined in the constitution, she continued to see nothing wrong with slavery. George however gradually accept the hypocrisy and ordered that all his slaves be freed after Martha's death. Martha would free his slaves early, fearing that her life might be threatened due to the terms of their release.

After George's death, she closed off their bedroom and moved to the third floor. She died a few years later from "old age" at the notable age of 71.

Overall, an interesting and fluid read.

Would recommend to those who enjoy historical non-fiction, and/or have an interest in viewing America's founding fathers through a slightly different lens. In that sense, the book reveals George as much as it reveals Martha.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty amazing lady. The author was well researched and the the book was easy to read. I'll jot down the main points I want to remember.
Apparently, she was quite pretty and incredibly kind and generous. Grew up not rich, but not dirt poor either. Her first husband, Daniel Custis, who was very rich, was willing to defy his controlling father to be with her. She went and visited the terrifying man and afterwards, he changed his mind and gave permission for the marriage. Loved her family, but outlived all her kids, and adopted two of her grandkids. Lost both her oldest boy (almost 2) and girl (almost 4), then her other son and husband got sick, and her husband past away. She was strong and capable, and was able to take over the responsibilities of her late husband. She was in a unique position in that she didn't need to have someone run things for her. She listened to advice and was able to do it on her own. She didn't need to rush into another marriage. But when George Washington called, she immediately invited him back even though, as a rich, young, pretty widow she could've had anyone. He was obsessed with her comfort, and longed to be with her when they were parted. His three surviving letters to her all start with, "My Dearest".
She stayed with George Washington during the winters of the Revolutionary War, including Valley Forge. So out of the eight years, she was with him for five. The rest of the time she stayed at Mount Vernon despite concern that the British might kidnap her.
She read all the newspapers that Washington subscribed to and enjoyed talking about the war and politics--especially with fellow Federalists.
Never thought slavery was bad, even when her husband started to. When her personal slave ran away before they moved back to Virginia, she truly didn't understand why she would do that. (Though she couldn't have freed the Custis slaves if she wanted to, as they were tied up in the estate to be passed down to Custis' posterity.)
Was great friends with Abigail Adams and Eliza Hamilton.
Did not like Thomas Jefferson and he didn't like her. He thought her devotion to her husband was too much, so much so that it was dependency. And she thought he was too sly of a politician. Later, she would never forgive him for all the nasty things he said about Washington for his own political gain, and was quite vocal when he became president. A visitor remarked, "She spoke of the election of Mr. Jefferson, whom she considered as one of the most detestable of mankind, as the greatest misfortune our county had ever experienced."
Neither were super excited about Washington becoming the first president, but realized the importance of it. She especially, was not thrilled about a second term. They both just wanted to be home.
George Washington loved to work and improve on Mount Vernon and she loved to fill it with friends and family. They always had visitors, and everyone left feeling touched by her kindness. Martha could talk to anyone about anything. "After a conversation with her, guests went away with a pleasant sense of being appreciated and admired. She was all motion, sparkle, and delight, never haughty, greeting visitors with her beautiful smile, radiating warmth and welcome. She was kind, concerned for the feelings of others, and charitable to an extreme."
Her letters were "affectionate, down-to-earth, and frequently lightened with self-deprecating humor--much like the lady herself."

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author does a marvelous job giving color and life to an often mis-characterized figure in American history. We don't know half as much about Martha Washington as we do her husband simply because she didn't allow it, destroying nearly all their personal correspondence and leaving us mere hints of her true dynamic personality. She raised children and grandchildren on her own most of the time, and her strength and courage during the war years served her well during the presidency. Did she realize she was setting a standard for all future First Ladies? I think so.

Favorite quotes: "There are two sorts of travelers - those who fly out the door with the clothes on their backs and those who try to pack everything for any possible contingency. Martha was definitely one of the latter."

"[George] accepted her adoration without much thought. It was the atmosphere in which he breathed and lived, where he was most himself. She was at his side and on his side, sympathizing and supporting him through depression, failure, disloyalty, and anxiety about the future. With her, he needn't pretend to be perfect."

[Jody Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is very interesting to read about the history of our country from a women's perspective. Most of my understanding of American history is from the viewpoint of the men involved. Martha Washington was an unassuming woman, a phenomenal organizer, a great conversationalist, and an amazing companion to her husband. Unfortunately, they never had any children together but they fostered children and helped raise countless grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She had 4 children from a previous marriage and sadly she outlived them all. It was interesting to read of events and people, referred to in Hamilton in this book. Reading of Martha and George Washington's activities in Williamsburg was so fun as I have had the privilege of visiting these places as a tourist many years later. Once again I am struck by all the women accomplished despite no modern conveniences and while wearing corsets and cumbersome clothing!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing little about Martha, her story fascinated me - and I'm eager for more! It's true that George - mythical war hero, first president - lives large in our collective American culture, but Martha's contributions were considerable and important as well. Brady's work was well-written and easy to follow. I'll be following up with more Washington works in the future!

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an historical "biography" this one was a little dry but very informative. Biography is in quotes because this book, while based on a lot of historical research, does not have the benefit of any correspondence between Martha and George Washington. They were all destroyed by Martha Washington. Given that fact, the book is written as if from the outside in vs. inside out. Martha's feelings and thoughts are conjectured vs. known. A lot of the book is based on the history at the time but made Martha and George real people vs. historical figures.

Interesting perspective on family. Martha was very family oriented taking care of her own children and grandchildren as she and George had no children of their own. Adopting or raising young children even into her 50s her brood gets very confusing with the repetition of names among the sons as well as daughters. But this family love did not extend to her slaves/servants. She thought of them as her family, however, that love was not reciprocated. Evidenced by some desertions as she returned to Virginia where slavery was still protected under law.

The author delves into several interesting facts of the time. Martha was unusual as she was monied and kept the books. She was a sought-after widow considered wealthy as well as beautiful (see portraits). Her slaves, sometimes referred to as servants, were property and part of one's estate, Martha could not free them. They had to be left to her heirs. The concept that her home was open to visitors at any time and for any length of stay seems unimaginable. Stopping in to visit the president and his wife and being fed and put up for the night, even if it was on a pad in the hall, was expected.

WSBCGA Ratings according to me. Our founders wanted to read Southern literature that highlighted strong women and important issues. Our rating scale reflects these characteristics; however, we are not bound by any limitations in our book selection.
Women :-)) – Martha was a wise, intelligent partner to George.
Short :-) – For the most part easy to pick up where you left off.
Southern :-) – Frequent North vs. South comparisons.
Depth :-) – Lots of good topics to discuss.
Good Book Club Book :-| - Great for history.
Recommend :-) – To someone that wants to know more about Martha.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm stashing this book on my "unfinished" shelf for now. It's really rather enjoyable, fleshed out with lots of anecdotes and period cultural stuff (colonial home decor, how they set their tables, how their children were schooled, etc.), and I can't say anything actually bad about it. I am, however, not one for elite history. Granted this is an elite woman's history, so it's not the same old Revolutionary period spiel - the author is rooted in a social historical methodology that tends to look for the hidden aspects of history, what a woman's daily life would have looked like and so on, but at the end of it all, it's still about social elites of the period and I have a hard time sustaining keen interest in that kind of topic. I think anyone who's read a certain amount of history or has a certain sensibility has come across so much elite history (rulers, politics, nation-building, industry, wars), that they just start to hanker for stories about the invisible people who were at the whim of all of those elites, powering their machine, who's lives perhaps do not look like ours, but parallel them in that most of us, too, are not among the powerful elite (and many of us do not even aspire to be). This biography touches on many of those less historically visible aspects of colonial life, including slavery, but of course at it's center is a well-born, well-married white woman who always had plenty of freedom, money and influence (insofar as a woman of the period could have those things). For some people - perhaps those who are entranced by our modern cult of celebrities - this might be a perfect read. It is, indeed, well-researched, well-written and engagingly narrated. But for this reader the subject matter itself grew tiresome and uninteresting.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great biographical piece on the life on a historical figure that doesn't always get the deserved recognition because of her marriage to perhaps the most well-known man in our nation's history. This is a great look at her life, her trials and tribulations, and her marriage to George Washington and it follows her from her early years in New Kent, Virginia through the American Revolution, presidential years in New York, to her ultimate death at Mount Vernon.

My Thoughts:

I really liked this book and enjoyed taking a short trip through our nation's early history through the eyes of such an endearing and tremendous lady. Martha Washington was a huge influence on her husband, George Washington, and therefore ultimately a huge influence on our nation's early years.

The author did a tremendous job compiling the research required for such a person and her clear and concise details piece together this story beautifully. I can only imagine the painstaking time spent sorting through thousands of primary resources in an attempt to give readers a complete picture of her life, and her importance.

I also credit the author with making readers fall in love with Martha, her endearing qualities, and her demeanor and character. Her devotion to family and home are so strong and as a woman I felt like no matter who and where you are, those are qualities that we want to embrace as she did.

The portraits the author included in the middle of the book are fantastic and give readers a clear picture of who the people being described are.

I think the cover is striking, and absolutely beautiful but I have some reservations about it. Every image I have seen of Martha Washington looks nothing like that, so I would be curious to know how and why this image was chosen.

[Neenee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad I pushed on. Now I can brag to people that I know something more about Martha Washington.

[Dusty Folds · Rating 3 out of 5]

My initial issue with this book was that it dealt less with Martha Washington than I had hoped, but Brady addresses this issue in the epilogue. Apparently, Martha burned all the letters between her and her husband, so we do not have too much that we can draw upon. Even so, Brady does a good job of providing some context for Martha's story as well as highlighting the complicated and loving sides of her personality. Her devotion to her husband comes through in this narrative but so too does her belief in and defense of slavery. The book provides a great deal of information about various important people of the time, including Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton as well as George Washington, of course. We also get some insight into Abigail Adams and what her defining role as the first Second Lady was like. Brady provides an extensive look into the extended Washington and Custis families and we ever get details about architecture and interior design of the time. Again, I appreciate what Brady provides concerning the life of our first First Lady, especially given the lack of reliable documentation. I would simply encourage you to know what you will get before jumping into this book.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following the death of her husband Martha Washington burned the years of personal correspondence they had exchanged. Because of this her life and relationship with her husband has remained somewhat veiled and unknown. Her roles and influence are often marginalized and not seen as important or interesting as Abigail Adams or Dolly Madison, both of whom left large amounts of personal papers for historians to draw from. Also, as happened with her husband, descendants and some early historians decided to make up stories to make her life seem more intriguing. Modern historians have to take what little we do know and separate it from the myths that have arisen.
I thought Patricia Brady did an excellent job of taking what little we do know about Martha Washington and putting into the back drop of eighteenth century life in Virginia in order to draw an accurate and convincing portrait of Martha. However, I did feel, at times, that the author almost idolized Martha and made it seem that Martha could do no wrong. And when something questionable might arise the author would simply brush it under the rug with some weak explanation.
Overall, an interesting read in which I learned much about Martha Washington and her Dandridge and Custis relations.

[Niki (nikilovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very quick and easy read. I recently finished Washington: A Life by Rob Chernow and thoroughly enjoyed it. I wanted to learn more about Martha Washington (which can be a little more difficult since she burned almost all the correspondence between her husband and herself). She was really an amazing woman.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start on my quest to read biographies of all the First Ladies. A misinterpreted woman full of sass, love, a strong sense of self, and political savvy.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book about Martha Washington. The author shows how Martha was an integral part to Washington’s success and what an amazing woman she was.

[Mme Forte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew very little about Martha Washington before reading this book. I still don't know much, but I have a better sense of who she was and of what her life was like.

Eighteenth-century women whose biographies have been written are a teeny tiny skinny sliver of a slice of the population pie graph. This is partly because most women at that time were "only" housewives and mothers, which were not considered notable occupations, and because relatively few records survive of their lives, outside of birth, christening, marriage, and death registers. Add to this the near-illiteracy of much of the lower classes, the fact that most people never traveled far from their homes so didn't need to write letters, and that many women whose lives did fall outside the everyday round of home/church/children were in that state because of marriages to extraordinary men. Now you have a small group whose epitome is Martha Dandridge Custis, who was a reader and letter writer, inherited a fortune that she controlled herself, and took as her second husband none other than Founding Father George Washington.

The author does the best she can using what records exist of Martha's life. Fortunately, George kept meticulous records of purchases and journeys, so we know what goods Martha used and when, where, and with whom she traveled. Unfortunately, Martha destroyed the correspondence between herself and George, believing that she was entitled to privacy, so we know very little about their relationship, save what others observed and recorded. Much is known about the daily lives of women of Martha's class, and we can surmise that she would have spent her days as most of them did -- managing a household, directing servants and slaves, paying and receiving visits from relatives and friends, partaking of entertainment at home or in public. For details, we have the letters that her correspondents kept and descriptions of Martha and her world in other accounts.

What this leads to is lots of words used to sketch typical routines and settings for lives like Martha's, that of an upper-class planter's wife; we also get a lot of Revolutionary War-era history, because there's plenty of information on that. We also get a lot of reports of who went where and when and why, and a lot of opinions from Abigail Adams (who fits into the teeny tiny sliver of a slice of the population mentioned above). I'm not criticizing; I'm just saying that the author only has so much to work with, and the limited resources she can pull from mean that specifics and details are hard to come by.

Also, these people named their kids after themselves and after dead relatives with gay abandon, so you get like three people in the same generation with the same first name. I was glad there was a genealogy chart in the front of the book.

If I had to come up with a distillation of Martha Washington, I'd have to say that this was a woman who knew her own mind (she allegedly persuaded her first father-in-law to allow his son to marry her, after he publicly complained that her family wasn't illustrious enough) and wasn't afraid to stand up for herself (after she was widowed, she wrote to her husband's London tobacco traders and told them in no uncertain terms that she would only continue doing business with them if they kept getting her the best possible prices for her produce) and loved both her husbands (every winter of the Revolutionary War, she traveled hundreds of miles from Mount Vernon to George's headquarters so they could be together) and cared about her extended family (she took on two of her grandchildren in a sort of informal adoption after their father died and left bequests in her will to needy nieces and nephews) and did her duty even when it made her miserable (during the early days of George's first term as president, Martha had only official visitation to her home, eschewing calls from personal friends so as to avoid the appearance of favoritism). Which also reminds me that this remarkable woman had to draw the First Lady blueprint herself, with nothing and no one to refer to or ask for help. That she was could do so and leave so many people with positive impressions of her allows us to believe that she was intelligent, considerate of others, and able to rise to any occasion.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martha Washington is one of the few famous historical figures from the Revolutionary Period that not much seems to be written about. The main reason is that she destroyed all of the letters between her and her husband and that clearly is painful to the historical record. This biography was fantastic because it placed Martha in a light of how dynamic she was as a person and how her interests and personality made her such an attractive figure throughout her life. I really enjoyed reading about the day to day life she lived both before and during her marriage to Washington. Great read for people who love the time period and want to know a bit more about the first First Lady.

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been on a roll reading several other books about Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, George Washington, and Mount Vernon. This book though is the single-most volume I've found to focus so greatly on this esteemed first lady, who was first in many ways.
One of the reasons why there aren't a lot of great books full of information on Martha Washington is because she understandably led a private life. (She burned most of her letters from her husband.) However Patricia Brady took lots of facts that were known about Martha Washington and wove those into her story, using the facts of Virginia society and the early Republic.
The book opens with the backstory to her birth: how her parents and grandparents settled the early wilderness of Virginia. That alone makes this a fascinating read. It's a peak into how Virginia used to be and how it grew. The Virginia we know now is not the Virginia of the 17th and 18th century. Martha's background and the background of those she knew and loved, in many ways, paved our way.
Many assumptions can be made about Martha because we do know that the training of deportment was important in Virginia society. Because Martha was esteemed highly throughout her life, it is reasonable to assume that she learned deportment. Even though she may not have had French, art, or music lessons like girls her age from wealthier homes, we can be certain that she learned at least the basics. Thus by piecing together all the details that were definitely known of Martha, like her growing up on a small plantation, the author made long lists and descriptions of what we can assume about her.
As I was reading this book, I saw how invaluable it would be for any interpreter to put together a proper persona.
We not only learn that Martha learned her social graces, how to run a household, and that she was an excellent horsewoman, but that she also used her strength of wisdom and wit to convince a stodgy old man that she was the one who should marry his son, Daniel Custis. By the way, Daniel Custis had already been courting her but his father, John, was a bit of a troublemaker and initially stood in the way of marriage. (Incidentally it is John Custis' house that you see in Colonial Williamsburg, on the Duke of Gloucester Street at the end of the Palace Green, near the colonial nursery. The home is known today as the Custis Tenement where John Custis had a grand garden. He was renown for testing seeds and plantings and such in his garden in the early days of Virginia.)
This book describes the mercantilism (British colonial economy).
Much detail was put into fashion in the 18th century, from fashioning the home to fashioning the body. Again details were easily pulled from various inventories such as the Custis'.
Never extreme in her dress, Patsy (Martha) liked elegant fabrics, bright colors, and fashionable, but not exaggerated styles. Daniel had to learn her taste; early in their marriage, he started to order satin for a ball gown, only to scratch it out and amend it to her favorite blue. Patsy took pleasure in the luxury of buying a dozen pairs of kid gloves at a time or an ivory fan in the latest London fashion. Every year when the tobacco ships arrived, she unpacked her purchases from their chests-silk stockings for her slim legs, a black satin hat, white or flowered calico for a summer dress, purple and crimson pumps, a quilted crimson petticoat against winter's drafts, a scarlet riding habit. (Martha Washington: An American Life by Patricia Brady, p37)
Before long, the family began to grow. Four children were born. Two of them died.
No doubt it was during this afflicting period that Patsy Custis developed her life long anxiety about her children, which went hand in hand with her intense love for them. She delighted in their company but was always feared illness, accident, or death. Losing her firstborn son-she always favored boys-forever made her an overanxious mama. (46)
Then her husband died.
Patsy had little time to express her grief, other than in action. A local seamstress was called in to alter a gown and make mourning dresses for her; a tailor came to make black mourning suits for Jacky and the male house servants. In Daniel's account book, the date of his last memorandum was 1757, shortly before he died. Turning the page, the reader suddenly sees Patsy Custis 's neat and well-formed handwriting as she took up her husband's responsibilities two weeks after his death, listing the items the plantations needed from England. She plunged straight in, ordering two seines, or large nets for shad fishing in the Pamunkey. Her description of the desired nets is carefully detailed...She went on to other mundane items such as starch, cotton for the slaves' clothing, pins, thread, and castile soap.
Then she turned to "One handsome Tombstone of the best durable Marble to cost about 100 pounds (very expensive)-with the following Inscription and the Arms sent in a Piece of Paper on it, to wit 'Here Lies the Body of Daniel Parke Custis Esquire who was born the 15th day of Oct. of 1711 & departed this Life the 8th Day of July 1757. Age 45 years.'" In her letter to Robert Cary, her English factor, she included two locks of hair for the jeweler, probably in a separate sealed piece of paper. She ordered two gold mourning rings in honor of Daniel and little Fanny, their tresses to be covered in clear crystal. (50-51)
Soon she met George Washington, whom we all know married her and took her and her children home to Mount Vernon. He wrote,"I am now I believe fixd at this Seat with an agreeable Consort for Life and hope to find more happiness in retirement than I ever experienced amidst a wide and bustling World." (73)
And thus we know most of the rest of the story. Yet the details have been discovered or logically assumed by the author, never created. By using the frequent cataloguing that the 18th century was so happy to do (and we are happy to have) and correspondences and writings of family, friends, and acquaintances, we have a more full detail at her life with her beloved family.
Of Martha's two children that were alive when she married George Washington, both died. In her bereavement, she raised two grandchildren and became close friends with her daughter-in-law. The grandchildren grew up and married. More children were born. Cousins and nieces came to visit and live and keep Martha company. She always surrounded herself with love.
PS This book covers so much more than just fashion and family. Those are just two themes I chose for my blog post. This is a most worthy book for all!

[Kim. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this book about Martha after completing one for her husband, George Washington that left me wanting, and I'm so glad I did.

Author Patricia Brady put excellent effort into bringing not only Martha Dandridge Custis Washington to life, but also the entire family. Although some things will never be known about the relationship between Martha and our first president because she burned all the correspondence between them after his death, there is no sense of loss in this book. Brady combined and weaved the biographical facts of each person with the customs, traditional lifestyle, and military conflicts occurring during the formation of this government.

I learned many things about the time frame and the family that surprised me, but in a very pleasant manner, with a desire to learn more. Without going into details from the book, it is clear that George and Martha had a deep abiding love that lasted throughout the years. Martha was beautiful, intelligent, curious, and full of deep love and graciousness for others.

Author Patricia Brady spent five years researching for this book and it shows. She includes photos, illustrations, summary notes, a bibliography, and index. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the early colonial years or of the presidents and first ladies.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m going to give this a two, because there were things I very much enjoyed but others that just weren’t for me.

On the one hand, I learned a great deal of new information about Martha Washington and the times in which she lived. I liked the quote that opened the book, “The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there,” and this book showed just how different things really were. I also gained a new perspective on Martha’s role in the Revolutionary War.

On the other hand, large portions were simply too text-bookish for my taste, and the paragraph-length lists of all the household tasks Martha would have been able to perform, all the household tasks the slaves would have done, and so on nearly drove me to distraction. But in some places there was frustratingly little detail, although this may not have been due to any defect in the book. Martha Washington burned over forty-one years' worth of correspondence between herself and her husband, and that void may be part of the reason I had such mixed feelings about this book.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Martha Washington as the first 1st Lady of our nation set the standard for all others to be judged. This story gave a good account of daily life at the time as well as her influence on the nation as a whole. Life was most difficult in Washington's time ... illness, early deaths, difficult travel. Martha Washington was a strong, devoted wife with a desire to always be near her husband when at many times it would have been easier to stay at their home in Mount Vernon. I read the John Adams book earlier this summer and toured his home in Quincy MA ... It has been an historical enlightening summer of reading.

[Jerry Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow -- Brady does a great job in bringing Martha Washington to life in this biography, not an easy task considering that Martha burnt her and George's correspondence before her death. I had read a review that Brady's biography was more about George than Martha, but after finishing it, I beg to differ. While George does figure prominently in the text, I argue that it wouldn't be true to form if he didn't in terms of what we can surmise about their relationship. They were partners in a way that was unusual for marriages in the late 18th/early 19th century. Very interesting and illuminating biography -- my kudos to Brady!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read! I fell in love with Martha and George when I vistited Mt. Vernon, VA and viewing their home made me want to know about both of them. This book really gives a historical picture of the devotion she had for George and how she was the behind the scenes supportive spouse that helped encourage not just him but the troops. She would travel my coach just to be with him, even in the winter, when he was away at war. I am not one who always finishes books that can become boring and I was looking for another book on George and Martha's lives as soon as I finished this. You won't be disappointed.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to undergo some medical testing with my sons and this book was just absolutely fascinating. I read it in a day and it changed my perspective on the First Lady of the First President. I absolutely love this book and love how detailed the lifestyle of Martha in those days. I orginally thought she was a fussy old lady but after reading this book, I no longer think that. If I have to have a favorite figure in the past (to add to my already long list) that I would love to visit, it would be her!

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read on Martha and her relationship with George, courtship, marriage, the births and deaths of her children from her first marriage, living with George as requested during the Revolution and much more. There is no doubt that they both loved each other deeply and were totally committed to each other.

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend at work lent me this book. It was a fast read about someone I knew nothing about. The most fascinating thing was all the effort the author had to go to in her research. Martha Washington burned all her correspondence before her death. Quite a mystery.