fbpx

KidsKonnect

Martha Jefferson Facts & Worksheets

Martha Jefferson was the wife of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /People /Figures /Martha Jefferson Facts & Worksheets
Premium
Martha Jefferson Worksheets
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

Martha Jefferson was the wife of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. She did not manage to serve the country as the First Lady of the United States as she died 19 years before her husband became President. However, Martha managed to serve as First Lady of Virginia, and her service spanned from 1779 to 1781.

See the fact file below for more information on the Martha Jefferson or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Martha Jefferson worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY

  • Martha Skelton Jefferson was born Martha Wayles, on October 19, 1748 in Charles City, Virginia, British America.
  • She was the daughter of John Wayles and Martha Eppes.
  • John Wayles, Martha Jefferson’s father, was an attorney, business agent, and planter. He was born in Lancaster, England and emigrated to the Colony of Virginia in the 1730s.
  • Little is known about Martha Eppes, Martha Jefferson’s mother.
  • Martha Eppes was the daughter of Francis Eppes who lived in an early Virginia settlement called Bermuda Hundred. She was known for her appreciation for literature.
  • Martha Jefferson was the only daughter of John Wayles and Martha Eppes.
  • Martha Jefferson had two stepmothers in her life.
  • Through one stepmother, Martha had four half-sisters.
  • When Betty Hemings became John Wayne’s mistress, Martha had additional half-siblings.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

  • Martha’s family had family tutors from whom she received her early education, which included literature, dance, music, French language, and Bible study.
  • In her teenage years, starting from the age of 13, Martha became “Lady of the House” after the death of her second stepmother.
  • She had to take on responsibilities such as being a hostess at her father’s social events.
  • She also helped him to manage business and household affairs.
  • Despite her excellent domestic skills and intelligence, there is no record of how or whether Martha received a formal education.
  • Her education was mainly credited to the traveling tutors who taught her at home.

LIFE BEFORE MARRIAGE

  • Aside from assisting her father on business and household affairs, it is also possible that she also had a position at his plantation.
  • However, there are no records about her life before marriage that did not concern her relationship with her father.

MARRIAGES

  • Martha Wayles had two spouses during her lifetime.
  • Bathurst Skelton was Martha Jefferson’s first husband.
  • He was an attorney and planter who likely worked on his father’s “The Forest” plantation.
  • They married on November 20, 1766.
  • They moved to Bathurst’s Elk Hill plantation at Goochland, Virginia.
  • Their marriage lasted for one year and ten months.
  • John Skelton, their son, was born on November 7, 1767.
  • Bathurst died on September 30, 1768.
  • Martha went back to the Forest Plantation after Bathurst’s death.
  • Their son, John, died in 1771.
  • Martha’s second husband was Thomas Jefferson. They wed on January 1, 1772.
  • Thomas was Martha’s third cousin.
  • Thomas began courting Martha in December 1770.
  • Thomas and Martha had shared interests in horseback riding, literature, and music.
  • Martha had six children with Thomas, however, only two daughters lived above the age of 25.
  • Their two daughters were the actress Martha Jefferson Randolph (who later became First Lady) and Mary Jefferson Eppes.
  • Martha and Thomas acquired many slaves as a part of their marriage dowry.
  • Thomas was the second largest slave owner in Albemarle County.

AS FIRST LADY OF VIRGINIA

  • Martha Jefferson served as First Lady of Virginia during the American Revolution, from 1779 until 1781.
  • As First Lady of Virginia, Martha Jefferson led the women of Virginia in a drive that aimed to raise funds for the Continental Army.
  • Martha Jefferson published an appeal in the Virginia Gazette, saying that collections would be made in churches.
  • The only known letter written by Martha Jefferson was addressed to Eleanor Conway Madison.

COMPLICATIONS AND DEATH

  • Martha suffered from various illnesses which contributed to her early death.
  • She suffered from smallpox.
  • She probably had diabetes.
  • Numerous pregnancies weakened her body.
  • She might have experienced stress when she had to flee from a British invasion of Richmond in January 1781.
  • After her difficult experience giving birth to their youngest child in May 1782, Martha’s health got worse and she died on September 6, 1782.

Martha Jefferson Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Martha Jefferson across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Martha Jefferson worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Martha Jefferson who was the wife of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. She did not manage to serve the country as the First Lady of the United States as she died 19 years before her husband became President. However, Martha managed to serve as First Lady of Virginia, and her service spanned from 1779 to 1781.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Martha Jefferson Facts
  • True or False?
  • Leaving a Legacy
  • President Jefferson
  • What He Said
  • Ladies’ Association
  • Awaken the Scientist
  • Tell Me a Story
  • When in Monticello
  • Life in Poetry
  • Time to Reflect

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Martha Jefferson Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, May 29, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources