Eleanor Calvert

Eleanor Calvert Custis Stuart (* 1758 in Mount Airy, Maryland, † September 28, 1811 in Tudor Place, Washington DC ) was a prominent member of the Calvert family of Maryland, the daughter of Martha Dandridge Washington and the step- daughter of George Washington. Her portrait hangs today in Mount Airy in Rosaryville State Park, Maryland.

Early years

Eleanor Calvert was born on the plantation of Mount Airy Calvert family near Upper Marlboro in Prince George's County in Maryland. Eleanor was the second eldest daughter of Benedict Swingate Calvert, son of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, and his wife Elizabeth Butler Calvert. Within the family, it was called " Nelly ". As a teenager, Eleanor was considered wohlgesittetes and exceptionally pretty girl.

Marriage and children

On February 3, 1774 married Eleanor Parke Custis in Mount Airy John, the son of the late Daniel Parke Custis and Martha Dandridge Custis Washington ( and stepson of George Washington). As " Jacky ", as he was known in his family, his engagement to Eleanor told his parents, they were surprised because of the youth of the couple. The couple moved to the wedding on the plantation White House. After the couple had lived for two years in White House, John Parke Custis bought the Abingdon Plantation, where the couple lasted 1778.

Eleanor and John had four children who survived infancy:

After her husband's death in 1781, due to an illness after the siege of Yorktown, Eleanor lived with her four children in Mount Vernon. Since John died intestate, his widow received a " dower third," in the form of one-third of the Custis estate assets, including more than 300 slaves for life. The proportion of Custisbesitzes the children was held in trust. The daughters received their inheritance when they married, the son when he reached the age of majority. Eleanor " dowry thirds " was distributed after her death to her children.

Eleanor married again in the fall of 1783 a doctor from Alexandria Dr. David Stuart. David became a trustee of the Custisvermögen and the legal guardian of the children. Her two older daughters, Elizabeth and Martha, lived with Eleanor and David in Abingdon, while her two younger children, Eleanor and Wash in Mount Vernon with her grandparents George and Martha Washington remained.

Eleanor and David had together five daughters and two sons:

  • Ann Calvert Stuart Robinson ( * 1784) ∞ William Robinson
  • Sarah Stuart Waite (* 1786) ∞ Obed Waite
  • Ariana Calvert Stuart
  • William Stuart Skolto
  • Eleanor Custis Stuart (* 1792)
  • Charles Calvert Stuart (1794-1846) ∞ Cornelia Lee
  • Rosalie Eugenia Stuart Webster (1796-1886) ∞ William Greenleaf Webster

Later life

Eleanor and David lived in two places in Fairfax County, Virginia: Hope Park and Ossian Hall. Eleanor died at the age of 53 years in Tudor Place, the home of her daughter, Martha Parke Custis Peter.

White House (plantation) Mary Lee Fitzhugh Custis David Stuart (Virginia politician)
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