Thomas Jefferson was active in politics and open rebellion, Martha stayed home raising their six children. Martha fell ill and became an invalid. Thomas turned down a job in France to stay with his ill wife. In June of 1781, Martha and Thomas got lucky when they managed to escape their estate, Monticello, after the British had attacked it. However, the strain of fleeing the British and bearing so many children made Martha very sick. She died on September 6, 1782, at the age of 33. Thomas went into mourning and never married again.
“Martha was the cherished companion of my life, in whose affections … I have lived … the last ten years of my life in uncheckered happiness.”
Becoming First Lady after her death
Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, almost 19 years after his wife had died. Not having a spouse who could fulfill the social functions, such as hosting parties, that the presidency required, his daughter Martha (see Figure 4-3) became the Lady of the House, taking the place of her mother on several occasions. When she wasn’t available for the festivities, Thomas would ask family friend Dolley Madison to preside over them.
After Thomas Jefferson retired from politics in 1809, he invited his daughter to live with him at his estate, Monticello. Thomas died in 1826, and both he and Martha are buried at Monticello.
Source: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Reproduction number LC-USZ62-25769 (b&w film copy neg.)
FIGURE 4-3: Martha Jefferson Randolph, daughter of Thomas and Martha Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson burned all the letters Martha wrote to him as was common practice then, with the exception of four letters. He wanted to keep their relationship and marriage private. Although there are no contemporary images of Martha Jefferson, she was described by family and friends as graceful, pretty, and very smart.
Dolley Payne Todd Madison (1768–1849)
Dolley Payne (see Figure 4-4) was born on May 20, 1768, in Guilford County, North Carolina. Her parents, who were devout Quakers, had moved to North Carolina from Virginia to live in a Quaker settlement. They soon returned to Virginia, and Dolley grew up on the family’s plantation. In 1783, her father John Payne freed his enslaved people and sold his planation and Dolley, who was 15 years old, and the family moved to Philadelphia to start a starch business.
Dolley was well educated. She had attended various Quaker schools and had received private tutoring. Her grandmother taught her about the finer things in life, such as fine food and fancy clothing. After her parents’ business failed, the family started to run a boarding house, and Dolley became the cook. In 1790, she abided by her father’s dying wish and married a Quaker lawyer from Philadelphia, John Todd. She was happily married and had two children. However, in 1793, a yellow fever pandemic struck Philadelphia and killed her husband and one of her children. Dolley was now a widow with one young boy. As a widow, however, she inherited her husband’s property and was well off.
Source: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Reproduction number LC-USZ62-68175 (b&w film copy neg.)
FIGURE 4-4: Dolley Payne Todd Madison.
Dolley was a very eligible young widow, and soon several young men pursued her. Her acquaintances included Aaron Burr who had stayed in her family’s boarding house. It was Burr who, instead of pursuing Dolley himself, introduced her to James Madison, who was a member of the House of Representatives and was already known nationwide as one of the founding fathers, having written parts of the Constitution. He was 18 years older than Dolley, but the two hit it off, and James’s close friends, George and Martha Washington, immediately liked her. Dolley was friendly and fashionable and loved music and dancing. In other words, everybody liked her because she was fun to be around.
The two married on September 15, 1794. After James retired from Congress in 1797, the couple moved to Virginia where James owned a large plantation known as Montpelier.
Moving forward with charm and popularity
James Madison’s retirement didn’t last long. In 1801, the new President Thomas Jefferson called him back to the capital to serve as his Secretary of State. Dolley was delighted to return to the national scene, and with Thomas Jefferson being a widower, she would occasionally serve as his hostess for social functions at the White House.
In addition, Dolley started to entertain in her own home. Politicians and foreign diplomats couldn’t wait to get an invitation to her events. Soon her home became the place to be in Washington, D.C. She would organize regular Wednesday afternoon parties, and everyone wanted to be invited.
Source: Unknown Source / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
FIGURE 4-5: Dolley Madison wearing her signature turban.
By 1808, Dolley had become one of the most popular women in the United States, well known and beloved by the American people. Her popularity helped get her husband elected in the 1808 presidential election, and by 1809, Dolley Madison was the new First Lady of the United States.
Dolley proved to be a major asset in James Madison’s campaign for the presidency. After he won the presidency, his opponent Federalist Charles C. Pickney stated, “I might have had a better chance had I faced Mr. Madison
