Presidents' Children: Patsy Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson became a widower in 1782 when his wife Martha died after the birth of her last child. Martha Jefferson had a son from her first marriage, and she had six children with Thomas but only two daughters who reached adulthood. Their daughter Mark (known as Polly), born in 1778, died in 1804 during Jefferson's first term in office. His daughter Martha (better known as Patsy) was the only child to live past the age of 25.
Martha Washington Jefferson was born on September 27, 1772. She was born at Jefferson's home of Monticello, near Charlottesville, Virginia. Her name was chosen in honor of her mother and Martha Washington, but her parents and friends called her Patsy.
Patsy Jefferson was tall and slim with red hair like her father. When her mother died in 1778, Patsy became very close to her father. She traveled with him to Paris with him on July 5, 1784 at the age of 12, and lived with him there while he served as U.S. Minister to France. While there, her father enrolled her at the Pentemont Abbey, an exclusive convent school. Jefferson received assurances from the nuns who ran the school that Protestant students were exempt from religious instruction. However Patsy expressed a desire to convert to Catholicism and said she was considering religious orders. This displeased her father, who quickly withdrew her and her younger sister Polly from the school. They returned home in September of 1789, when Patsy was 17.
In 1790 at the age of 18, Martha married Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr., a Virginia planter. Soon after their marriage, her father, Thomas Jefferson, deeded eight slaves from Monticello to the couple as a wedding gift. Her husband served as a politician at the federal and state levels. He was elected and served as governor of Virginia from 1819 to 1822. They had twelve children together, eleven of whom lived to adulthood. Her oldest son was Thomas Jefferson Randolph, who later became a politician and served in the Virginia House of Delegates and as rector of the University of Virginia. He was also a colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Her youngest son, George Wythe Randolph, briefly served as Secretary of War for the Confederate States of America.
Martha Randolph educated her children at home with the help of private tutors. Faced with the demands of a large family, she spent only a portion of her time in the White House when her father was president. She visited with her husband and children in 1802, with her sister Polly in 1803, and again during the winter of 1805-06.
During Thomas Jefferson's retirement, she devoted much of her life to his declining years. After his term as governor, Randolph's drinking worsened and he became an alcoholic. He became violent and abusive when drinking. Patsy Jefferson took her children to live at Monticello with her father for extended periods of time. She separated from her husband as his alcoholism and mental instability became worse. Randolph died in 1828. He and Patsy reconciled shortly before his death, and he was cared for at Monticello. Randolph died at Monticello and was interred in the Jefferson family burial ground.
Thomas Jefferson described Patsy as the "cherished companion of his youth and the nurse of his old age". He spoke very affectionately about her in his later years.
Patsy Jefferson inherited Monticello from her father after his death in 1826. But along with the home came Jefferson's many debts. Her eldest son Thomas Randolph acted as executor of Jefferson's estate. Five slaves were freed in her father's will. The remainder of the 130 slaves were sold to try to settle the debts. Within a few years, they sold the plantation as well.
After business reverses and the death of her husband, Martha Randolph considered establishing a school. The state legislatures of South Carolina and Louisiana each donated $10,000 toward the project. But ongoing financial problems forced her to sell Monticello in 1831.The home was resold it in 1834 to Uriah P. Levy, the first Commodore of the Navy, who was a great admirer of Thomas Jefferson. Levy invested his own funds in renovating and preserving Monticello.
Patsy Jefferson returned to her former matrimonial estate known as Edgehill in Albemarle County, Virginia. She died there on October 10, 1836.
Martha Washington Jefferson was born on September 27, 1772. She was born at Jefferson's home of Monticello, near Charlottesville, Virginia. Her name was chosen in honor of her mother and Martha Washington, but her parents and friends called her Patsy.
Patsy Jefferson was tall and slim with red hair like her father. When her mother died in 1778, Patsy became very close to her father. She traveled with him to Paris with him on July 5, 1784 at the age of 12, and lived with him there while he served as U.S. Minister to France. While there, her father enrolled her at the Pentemont Abbey, an exclusive convent school. Jefferson received assurances from the nuns who ran the school that Protestant students were exempt from religious instruction. However Patsy expressed a desire to convert to Catholicism and said she was considering religious orders. This displeased her father, who quickly withdrew her and her younger sister Polly from the school. They returned home in September of 1789, when Patsy was 17.
In 1790 at the age of 18, Martha married Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr., a Virginia planter. Soon after their marriage, her father, Thomas Jefferson, deeded eight slaves from Monticello to the couple as a wedding gift. Her husband served as a politician at the federal and state levels. He was elected and served as governor of Virginia from 1819 to 1822. They had twelve children together, eleven of whom lived to adulthood. Her oldest son was Thomas Jefferson Randolph, who later became a politician and served in the Virginia House of Delegates and as rector of the University of Virginia. He was also a colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Her youngest son, George Wythe Randolph, briefly served as Secretary of War for the Confederate States of America.
Martha Randolph educated her children at home with the help of private tutors. Faced with the demands of a large family, she spent only a portion of her time in the White House when her father was president. She visited with her husband and children in 1802, with her sister Polly in 1803, and again during the winter of 1805-06.
During Thomas Jefferson's retirement, she devoted much of her life to his declining years. After his term as governor, Randolph's drinking worsened and he became an alcoholic. He became violent and abusive when drinking. Patsy Jefferson took her children to live at Monticello with her father for extended periods of time. She separated from her husband as his alcoholism and mental instability became worse. Randolph died in 1828. He and Patsy reconciled shortly before his death, and he was cared for at Monticello. Randolph died at Monticello and was interred in the Jefferson family burial ground.
Thomas Jefferson described Patsy as the "cherished companion of his youth and the nurse of his old age". He spoke very affectionately about her in his later years.
Patsy Jefferson inherited Monticello from her father after his death in 1826. But along with the home came Jefferson's many debts. Her eldest son Thomas Randolph acted as executor of Jefferson's estate. Five slaves were freed in her father's will. The remainder of the 130 slaves were sold to try to settle the debts. Within a few years, they sold the plantation as well.
After business reverses and the death of her husband, Martha Randolph considered establishing a school. The state legislatures of South Carolina and Louisiana each donated $10,000 toward the project. But ongoing financial problems forced her to sell Monticello in 1831.The home was resold it in 1834 to Uriah P. Levy, the first Commodore of the Navy, who was a great admirer of Thomas Jefferson. Levy invested his own funds in renovating and preserving Monticello.
Patsy Jefferson returned to her former matrimonial estate known as Edgehill in Albemarle County, Virginia. She died there on October 10, 1836.