Martha Jefferson Randolph
Encyclopedia
Martha Washington Jefferson Randolph (September 27, 1772 – October 10, 1836) was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson
, the third President of the United States
, and his wife Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson
.
She was born in Monticello
, near Charlottesville, Virginia
and was named in honor of her mother and of Martha Washington
, wife of George Washington
. Her nickname was Patsy. She married Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr. who served as a politician at the federal and state levels, and was elected a governor of Virginia (1819–1822). They had eleven children together. Martha was very close to her father in his old age.
to Catholicism
and said she was considering religious orders, Jefferson quickly withdrew her and her younger sister Polly from the school.
, who served as Governor of Virginia from 1819 to 1822. Soon after their marriage, her father Jefferson deeded eight slaves to them from Monticello, including Molly Hemings, the eldest daughter of Mary Hemings
.
The couple had twelve children, eleven of whom survived to adulthood:
Martha Randolph educated her children at home, likely with the help of private tutors, as most planter
s did. Being engrossed with the cares of her large family, she passed only a portion of her time in the White House when her father was president. She visited with her husband and children in 1802, with her sister Mary in 1803, and during the winter of 1805/06. She strongly tried to "protect" Jefferson's reputation among her children from the allegations about a relationship with Sally Hemings
.
After Thomas Jefferson's retirement, Martha devoted much of her life to his declining years. She had separated from her husband, said to suffer from alcoholism
and mental instability. or mental illness. Jefferson describes her as the "cherished companion of his youth and the nurse of his old age". Shortly before his death, he said that the "last pang of life was parting with her."
She inherited Monticello from her father in 1826, as well as his many debts. After business reverses and the death of her husband, she contemplated establishing a school. She was relieved from the necessity by a donation of $10,000 each from the state legislatures of South Carolina and Virginia. Increasing financial difficulties still obligated her to sell Monticello to James T. Barclay in 1831. He sold it in 1834 to Uriah P. Levy
, a wealthy United States naval officer (later the first Commodore of the Navy) and Jefferson admirer. Although Levy was based in New York, his Sephardic Jewish ancestors had been resident in the South for five generations.
Martha was estranged from her husband until shortly before his death in 1828. She died at their Edgehill estate in Albemarle County, Virginia
.
from March 4, 1801 to March 3, 1809 because her father was a widower, making her the first First Lady not to be a wife of the president. She earned a reputation as an intellectual
.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, the third President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, and his wife Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson
Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson
Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson, born Martha Wayles was the wife of Thomas Jefferson, who was the third President of the United States. It was her second marriage, as her first husband had died young...
.
She was born in Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
, near Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
and was named in honor of her mother and of Martha Washington
Martha Washington
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Although the title was not coined until after her death, Martha Washington is considered to be the first First Lady of the United States...
, wife of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. Her nickname was Patsy. She married Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr. who served as a politician at the federal and state levels, and was elected a governor of Virginia (1819–1822). They had eleven children together. Martha was very close to her father in his old age.
Early life
Tall and slim with angular features and red hair, Martha closely resembled her father, to whom she was devoted. From age 12 to 17, she lived in Paris while her father served as U.S. Minister to France. Jefferson enrolled her at Abbaye Royale de Panthemont, an exclusive convent school, after receiving assurances that Protestant students were exempt from religious instruction. After Patsy expressed a desire to convertConvert
The convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...
to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and said she was considering religious orders, Jefferson quickly withdrew her and her younger sister Polly from the school.
Marriage and family
In 1790, Martha married Thomas Mann Randolph Jr.Thomas Mann Randolph Jr.
Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. was a planter, soldier, and politician from Virginia. He served as a member of both houses of the Virginia General Assembly, a Representative in the U.S. Congress, and as the 21st Governor of Virginia, from 1819-1822.He married Martha Jefferson, the oldest daughter of...
, who served as Governor of Virginia from 1819 to 1822. Soon after their marriage, her father Jefferson deeded eight slaves to them from Monticello, including Molly Hemings, the eldest daughter of Mary Hemings
Mary Hemings
Mary Hemings, also known as Mary Hemings Bell , was born into slavery, most likely in Charles City County, Virginia, as the oldest child of Elizabeth Hemings, a mixed-race slave held by John Wayles...
.
The couple had twelve children, eleven of whom survived to adulthood:
- Anne Cary Randolph (1791–1826).
- Thomas Jefferson RandolphThomas Jefferson RandolphThomas Jefferson Randolph of Albemarle County was a planter and politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates, was rector of the University of Virginia, and was a colonel in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War...
(1792–1875). - Ellen Wayles Randolph (1794–1795).
- Ellen Wayles Randolph (1796–1876). Named after deceased sister. Married to Joseph Coolidge {1798-1879} {Via common ancestor John Coolidge, a cousin 10 times removed was US President Calvin CoolidgeCalvin CoolidgeJohn Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
}. - Cornelia Jefferson Randolph (1799–1871).
- Virginia Jefferson Randolph (1801–1882).
- Mary Jefferson Randolph (1803–1876).
- James Madison Randolph (1806–1834). First child born in the White House.
- Benjamin Franklin Randolph (1808–1871).
- Meriwether Lewis Randolph (1810–1837). His widow Elizabeth Martin remarried to Andrew Jackson DonelsonAndrew Jackson DonelsonAndrew Jackson Donelson was an American diplomat and a candidate for Vice President of the United States.-Biography:...
, nephew of President Andrew JacksonAndrew JacksonAndrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
. - Septimia Anne Randolph (1814–1887).
- George Wythe Randolph (1818–1867), briefly in 1862, he was Secretary of War of the Confederate States of AmericaConfederate States of AmericaThe Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
.
Martha Randolph educated her children at home, likely with the help of private tutors, as most planter
Planter
Planter may refer to:*A flower pot or box for plants**Jardinière, one such type of pot*A person or object engaged in sowing seeds**Planter , implement towed behind a tractor, used for sowing crops through a field*A coloniser...
s did. Being engrossed with the cares of her large family, she passed only a portion of her time in the White House when her father was president. She visited with her husband and children in 1802, with her sister Mary in 1803, and during the winter of 1805/06. She strongly tried to "protect" Jefferson's reputation among her children from the allegations about a relationship with Sally Hemings
Sally Hemings
Sarah "Sally" Hemings was a mixed-race slave owned by President Thomas Jefferson through inheritance from his wife. She was the half-sister of Jefferson's wife, Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson by their father John Wayles...
.
After Thomas Jefferson's retirement, Martha devoted much of her life to his declining years. She had separated from her husband, said to suffer from alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and mental instability. or mental illness. Jefferson describes her as the "cherished companion of his youth and the nurse of his old age". Shortly before his death, he said that the "last pang of life was parting with her."
She inherited Monticello from her father in 1826, as well as his many debts. After business reverses and the death of her husband, she contemplated establishing a school. She was relieved from the necessity by a donation of $10,000 each from the state legislatures of South Carolina and Virginia. Increasing financial difficulties still obligated her to sell Monticello to James T. Barclay in 1831. He sold it in 1834 to Uriah P. Levy
Uriah P. Levy
Uriah Phillips Levy was the first Jewish Commodore of the United States Navy, a veteran of the War of 1812 and a major philanthropist. At the time, Commodore was the highest rank obtainable in the U.S. Navy and would be roughly equivalent to the modern-day rank of Admiral...
, a wealthy United States naval officer (later the first Commodore of the Navy) and Jefferson admirer. Although Levy was based in New York, his Sephardic Jewish ancestors had been resident in the South for five generations.
Martha was estranged from her husband until shortly before his death in 1828. She died at their Edgehill estate in Albemarle County, Virginia
Albemarle County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,236 people, 31,876 households, and 21,070 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 33,720 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile...
.
First Lady of the United States
She is now considered to have been First Lady of the United StatesFirst Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
from March 4, 1801 to March 3, 1809 because her father was a widower, making her the first First Lady not to be a wife of the president. She earned a reputation as an intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
.