THE DEATH OF FIRST LADY MARTHA WASHINGTON (MAY 22, 1802)

When the president retired from public life, Martha Washington had hoped for many years with her husband at Mount Vernon. This was not to be.

After George Washington died in 1799, Martha assured a final privacy by burning their letters; she died of “severe fever”

Almost inevitably, Martha Washington’s thoughts turned toward her own death.

Always a religious person, she sought comfort in her faith. In later years, family members recalled that Mrs. Washington studied the Bible or read devotional literature almost every day.

One visitor remarked in 1801, “She speaks of death as a pleasant journey.”

Martha Washington died at home on May 22, 1802, surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her beloved granddaughter, Nelly, was specifically mentioned as being nearby. Martha's health had declined significantly after her husband's death two and a half years prior.

Upon her death the slaves would revert to the Custis estate and be divided among her grandchildren. By 1799, 153 slaves at Mount Vernon were part of this dower property. Forty more slaves were rented from a neighbor, while another man, Peter Hardiman, was rented from the widow of Martha Washington's son.

Martha’s death brought the Custis heirs even greater riches. Each of Martha’s four grandchildren received substantial amounts of land and money that been held in trust for them for years. Moreover, each received a share of the so-called “dower slaves,” the descendants of the enslaved people once owned by Martha’s first husband, Daniel Parke Custis.

In 1831, after being moved from Mount Vernon’s Old Tomb to the New Tomb, Martha’s remains were placed into a marble sarcophagus that stands near her husband’s at Mount Vernon to this day.

Martha Washington's will, written in 1800 and probated in 1802, primarily focused on bequests of specific household goods to family members. It specified that a public auction would be held to sell any remaining items not named in the will. The will was signed on September 22, 1800, with a codicil added on March 4, 1802.

Key aspects of Martha Washington's will:

Bequests to Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren:

She made specific bequests to her grandchildren, including personal items and a share of her husband's estate. Her granddaughter, Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis, received a significant portion of the household goods, including furniture, linens, and mirrors.

Public Auction:
The will stipulated that a public auction would be held to sell any items not specifically bequeathed to family members.

Codicil:
A codicil was added to the will, adding a provision to bequeath her only enslaved person, Elish, to her grandson, George Washington Parke Custis.

Probate and Legal Matters:
The will was probated in Fairfax County in 1802, and some legal disputes arose regarding its interpretation, particularly concerning the ownership of the dower slaves and the definition of "a useful trade".

Return to Fairfax County:
After being taken during the Civil War, the will was returned to the Fairfax County Circuit Court in 1915.

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