Mary and Martha, the Mother and the Wife of George Washington

This historic volume features detailed biographies of Mary Ball Washington, the first President's mother, and Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, his wife. With his father dead by the time Washington was 11 and his wife spending many years beside him in military camps, these women played a vital role in the first President's childhood and adult life. Mary Ball married Augustine Washington in 1731 at the age of 17. She would go on to have six children, George, Betty, Samuel, John Augustine, Charles and Mildred, before her husband's death in 1743. Unlike most widows at the time, Mary would never remarry. She managed the estate and plantation where her family lived until her eldest son, George, came of age to take over. Mary would teach George everything he needed to know about managing the real estate and would inspire him to obtain more property and wealth in the days before his military and presidential career. Today, her home is a public museum, and a university in Fredericksburg, Virginia is named in her honor. Martha Custis was exceedingly wealthy even before she met George Washington. Shortly after their marriage in 1759, Washington led the Continental Army, and Martha traveled with him, spending many weeks in the Revolutionary War winter encampments at Valley Forge. One winter, Martha traveled ten days and hundreds of miles to be with her husband after a battle in 1777. After Washington was elected President, Martha opposed his accepting of the title, but continued to host events and important politicians in their home. She has been honored with memorials of various kinds, including having been the only woman whose portrait has appeared on the face of a U.S. currency note and the first American woman to be honored on a U.S. postage stamp. While they often do not receive much credit, these strong women taught him about business, provided him with great wealth, stayed with him during his long military career, and participated in politics by his side. They say behind every good man is a great woman, but in George Washington's case, he had two extraordinary ones.