Daniel Parke Custis

Daniel Parke Custis (* October 15, 1711 in York County, Virginia; † July 8, 1757 in New Kent County, Virginia) was a wealthy planter from Virginia, his widow Martha later married George Washington. Custis was the son of John Custis (1678-1749), an influential member of the Virginia Governor's Council, and Frances Parke Custis. He was a grandson of Daniel Parke, also a member of the Council and Governor of the Leeward Islands. He married Martha Dandridge on May 15, 1750 had four children. :

• Daniel Parke Custis, Jr. ( born November 19, 1751 † February 19, 1754 )
• Frances Parke Custis ( April 12, 1753 *, † April 1, 1757 )
• John " Jacky " Parke Custis ( born November 27, 1754 † November 5, 1781 )
• Martha " Patsy " Parke Custis (* 1756, † June 19, 1773 )

Daniel Parke Custis took in the politics of colonial Virginia's a no leading role. Two years after his death his widow married Martha George Washington, this was stepfather of two surviving Custis children.

The Custis - heritage

Since Daniel Parke Custis died without a will, the legal succession came into force. This was his widow for life, one-third of its assets ( " dower share" " dower share " ), the other two-thirds of them managed in trust for their children. In January 1759 inventory lists of Custisbesitzes recorded 285 slaves, and in October 1759 17 779 acres ( 71.95 square miles ) of land, spread over five counties. John Parke Custis was the only one of its children, which could take up his heritage itself and thus became the sole heir. After Martha's marriage to George Washington, was the dowry share, including the " dowry negro " under Washington's control, after his death, the rights were returned to them, and finally, after her death to the children of her first husband. By Martha Washington's " dower share " (1799 belonged to 153 slaves ), the Custis estate was sold after her death in 1802.