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Mary Anna Randolph Custis, the only surviving child of George Washington Parke Custis and Mary Lee Fitzhugh Custis, was born at Annfield, in Frederick County, Virginia. Her birth year was thought to be 1808, but contemporary documents show that she actually was born on October 1, 1807. Her father was the grandson of Martha Custis Washington through her first marriage to Daniel Parke Custis, and Mary was raised in the highest social circle of the young republic. When young George’s father died unexpectedly, he was adopted by the Washingtons and raised at Mount Vernon, an experience that powerfully shaped both him and his daughter.
SOURCES:
Jesse J. Holland, Author and Assistant Professor at George Washington University
Mary Elliott, Curator of American Slavery at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
ANSWER:
George Washington owned hundreds of enslaved people throughout his life. While his views on the institution of slavery shifted in his later years, he made private efforts to prevent his slaves from claiming their freedom and never spoke publicly about abolition until his death.
PROCESS:
From ripped down statues to renamed landmarks, communities are reexamining how to remember and honor historical figures. Even our nation’s first president is under the microscope because of the fact he held slaves throughout his life.
Martha Washington, the wife of the first president of the United States, George Washington, established many customs that would be followed by first ladies in the White House for generations to come. She was a remarkable woman known for her grace, intelligence, and industry.