Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson

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Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson (born October 19 July / October 30,  1748 greg. In Charles City County , Colony Virginia , † September 6, 1782 in Charlottesville , Virginia ) was the wife of the future US President Thomas Jefferson .

Martha was born as the daughter of John Wayles (born January 31, 1715; † May 23, 1773) and his first wife Martha Eppes (born April 10, 1712; † November 5, 1748). John Wayles emigrated to Virginia in 1734 .

Martha Wayles' first marriage was from 1766 to Bathurst Skelton (1744–1768). From the marriage comes a son, John Wayles Skelton (1767–1771). Bathurst died in Williamsburg in September 1768, John died in an accident in June 1771 when his mother was already engaged to Thomas Jefferson.

The two married on January 1, 1772 in their father's house. They had six children: Martha Jefferson Randolph (1772–1836), Jane Randolph (1774–1775), an unnamed son (* / † 1777), Mary Jefferson Eppes (1778–1804), Lucy Elizabeth (1780–1781) and Lucy Elizabeth (1782-1785).

She died shortly after giving birth to her sixth child. After her death, Thomas Jefferson had a relationship with her half-sister, the slave girl Sally Hemings . Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson never became first lady because she died before her husband's presidency began. Her daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph took over this role instead.

literature

  • William G. Hyland Jr .: Martha Jefferson: An Intimate Life with Thomas Jefferson. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Lanham, Maryl. 2015, ISBN 978-1442239838

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Jefferson, Martha Wayles Skelton
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wayles, Martha (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American wife of Jefferson
DATE OF BIRTH October 30, 1748
PLACE OF BIRTH Charles City County , Colony of Virginia
DATE OF DEATH September 6, 1782
Place of death Charlottesville , Virginia