Martha Jefferson

The complicated life of Martha Jefferson Randolph intertwined closely with her famous father, Thomas Jefferson. He carefully oversaw her exceptional education in Philadelphia and Paris. Martha’s marriage to Thomas Randolph produced eleven children, but the couple was estranged due to his mental illness and alcoholism. She spent most of her time at Monticello with her father, raising her children. She oversaw the domestic staff, which included her enslaved half-aunt Sally Hemings and her children. As the executor of her father’s estate, the widowed Martha found herself in crippling debt and forced to sell Monticello.

Born: October 19, 1748, “The Forest” Plantation, Charles City County, Virginia

Died: September 6, 1782, Monticello, Virginia

Early Life and Family Background

Martha Wayles was born on October 19, 1748, at “The Forest” Plantation in Charles City County, Virginia. She was the only child of John Wayles, a barrister and landowner, and Martha Eppes Wayles. Her mother died just two weeks after her birth. Martha’s father remarried twice. His second marriage to Mary Cocke produced one daughter who died young. His third marriage to Elizabeth Lomax produced three daughters: Elizabeth Wayles Eppes, Tabitha Wayles, and Anne “Nance” Wayles Skipwith. After Elizabeth Lomax’s death in 1763, John Wayles took on one of his enslaved women,  Betty Hemings, as his mistress, and the two had six children together.

Martha grew up with a large number of half-siblings from her father’s marriages and his relationship with Betty Hemings. Her half-siblings from Betty Hemings included Robert Hemings, James Hemings, Thenia Hemings, Critta Hemings, Peter Hemings, and Sally Hemings, who would later become an integral part of the Jefferson family and Monticello household.

Ancestry

Martha Jefferson’s ancestry was predominantly English. Her father, John Wayles, emigrated from England, and her maternal great-great-grandparents, Francis Eppes and his wife Frances, also emigrated from England to Virginia.

Education and Upbringing

There is no formal record of Martha’s education, but given her father’s wealth and status, it is likely she received private tutoring at home. Contemporary accounts suggest she was well-educated in literature, poetry, French, Bible study, and music, particularly the pianoforte and harpsichord. Her upbringing in a wealthy plantation family would have included training in domestic skills and plantation management.

First Marriage and Widowhood

At 18, Martha married Bathurst Skelton, a planter, on November 20, 1766, likely at “The Forest” Plantation. They lived together for less than two years before Bathurst died in 1768, leaving Martha a widow with a young son, John Skelton, who also died in childhood.

Marriage to Thomas Jefferson

Martha married Thomas Jefferson, a lawyer and member of the House of Burgesses, on January 1, 1772, at “The Forest” Plantation. They honeymooned in the cottage on Jefferson’s property, which would later become the famous Monticello, though the mansion was not yet built. Martha and Thomas had six children, but only two, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph and Mary “Polly” Jefferson Eppes, survived into adulthood. Their children included:

• Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph (1772–1836)

• Jane Randolph Jefferson (1774–1775)

• An unnamed son who died in infancy (1777)

• Mary “Polly” Jefferson Eppes (1778–1804)

• Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson (1780–1781)

• Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson (1782–1785)

Occupation After Marriage

Martha Jefferson played a significant role in managing the household and plantation life at Monticello. She was responsible for overseeing food preparation, clothing production, and the management of those enslaved at Monticello. She also worked closely with Jefferson in managing the plantation’s finances and crop production.

Numerous contemporary accounts of visitors and guests to Monticello consistently suggest that Martha was an active hostess when she felt well. Her beauty, grace, and musical skills were frequently commented upon. She and Jefferson read literature and poetry to each other and played musical duets together, he on the violin.

For the first three years of her marriage, while Jefferson was still a member of the House of Burgesses, Martha likely accompanied him to the colonial capital of Williamsburg when the burgesses were in session, and took part in the social life there, that she had known from her own early years. Martha was separated from her husband during his tenure as a Virginia delegate to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia (1776), at which time he authored the Declaration of Independence. While Jefferson served as Governor of Virginia (1779-1781) during the American Revolution, Martha briefly joined him in Richmond, to where he moved the capital city from Williamsburg, then more vulnerable to British attack by sea.

As the Governor of Virginia’s wife during the Revolution, Martha assumed one large public role, albeit more symbolic than active. In response to a request from Martha Washington, she agreed to lead the drive among women of Virginia to raise funds and donate necessary supplies for the state militia of the Continental Army. However, she had to write the wife of another political leader to assume the work, since her own weak health prevented her from doing so herself.

Health and Final Years

Martha’s health began to deteriorate after giving birth to seven children in less than fourteen years. The British invasion of Virginia in 1781 forced her to flee Monticello, weakening her further. After the death of her infant daughter and continued health issues, Martha died on September 6, 1782, at the age of 33.

Inheritance and Influence

Martha left an unwitting legacy through her inheritance from her father. Upon his death in 1773, Martha inherited substantial property, including approximately 11,000 acres of land and the numerous enslaved members there,, including her half-siblings from Betty Hemings. By law, her property became Jefferson’s upon their marriage, making him the enslaver of the Hemings family. This included Sally Hemings, who would later bear at least six children by Jefferson, according to DNA evidence.

The Hemings family occupied unique roles at Monticello, serving in the most personal and privileged positions. Robert Hemings bought his freedom in 1790, James Hemings became Jefferson’s personal aide and later gained his freedom, and Critta Hemings helped raise Patsy and Polly Jefferson. Sally Hemings’s children, born after Martha’s death, added a complicated layer to Jefferson’s legacy.

Best Known For

Martha Jefferson is best known for being the wife of Thomas Jefferson and the mother of their six children. Despite her early death, she left a significant legacy through her influence on Jefferson and her management of Monticello. Her inheritance of substantial property and enslaved African-Americans, , including her half-siblings from Betty Hemings, played a crucial role in the operations of Monticello. Martha’s legacy also includes the complicated history of the Hemings family, who were both relatives and enslaved by the family. 

Death and Legacy

Martha Jefferson died on September 6, 1782, at Monticello, Virginia, at the age of 33. She was buried at Monticello. Martha’s influence on Thomas Jefferson and her role in managing their estate were profound. The Hemings family’s presence at Monticello, as enslaved family members, added complexity to Jefferson’s legacy, with DNA evidence later confirming that Jefferson fathered at least six children with Martha’s half-sister, Sally Hemings.

Martha Jefferson’s life reflects the intertwined personal and political histories of the early United States, highlighting issues of family, slavery, and legacy. Her contributions to Monticello and her impact on Jefferson’s life remain significant in American history.

This long biography provides a detailed account of Martha Jefferson’s life, highlighting her contributions, legacy, and the complexities of her family history, suitable for researchers and those seeking in-depth information.