Martha Jefferson

Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson, born Martha Wayles (October 30, 1748 – September 6, 1782) was the only wife of her second husband, Thomas Jefferson.

Martha Jefferson
First Lady of Virginia
In office June 1, 1779 – June 3, 1781
Preceded by	Dorothea Henry
Succeeded by	Anne Fleming
Personal details
Born	(1748-10-30)October 30, 1748 Charles City, Colony of Virginia, British America
Died	September 6, 1782(1782-09-06) (aged 33) Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
Spouse(s)	Bathurst Skelton (1766–1768) Thomas Jefferson (1772–1782; her death)
Children	John (1767–1771) Martha (1772–1836) Jane (1774–1775) Peter (1777) Polly (1778–1804) Lucy Elizabeth (1780–1781) Lucy Elizabeth (1782–1784)

She was a widow at her second wedding, as her first husband had died young. When her second husband, Jefferson, was Governor of Virginia, she served as First Lady of Virginia from 1779 to 1781.

The Jeffersons had six children together. Only two daughters survived to adulthood, and only one past the age of 25. Weakened by childbirth, Martha Jefferson died several months after the birth of her last child, twenty years before her husband became the third President of the United States. At her wishes, he never married again.

Martha Jefferson Media

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  Mather Brown, Thomas Jefferson, 1786, oil painting, National Portrait Gallery

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  Original front elevation drawing of Monticello, 1771

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  Governor's Palace, Governor Jefferson's residence in Williamsburg

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  Monticello Family Graveyard, including Thomas Jefferson's gravesite

Other websites

• Colonial Williamsburg: Interview of Martha Jefferson, YouTube
• Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson Archived 2009-03-07 at the Wayback Machine, Monticello: For accurate, up-to-date information written and moderated by historians at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.
• Martha Jefferson at Find-A-Grave
• "Martha Jefferson", First Lady Biography