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One of the happiest days in Martha’s life was when George Washington decided to forgo seeking a third term. She was finally able to retire to Virginia in 1797 (see Figure 3-3). However, retirement wasn’t all relaxation. George took care of his massive plantation that had grown to 8,000 acres, and Martha hosted hundreds of visitors yearly. Hosting about 600 strangers each year who just stopped by to see George Washington and say hello was a big undertaking. Martha had to feed them, and often they stayed overnight. To make matters worse, George Washington usually left early, and she had to entertain her guests. But, Martha did this with grace and a continued sense of pride for her husband. She had become the perfect hostess.

Source: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Reproduction number LC-DIG-pga-01370 (digital file from original print)

FIGURE 3-3: Martha Washington in retirement.

Mount Vernon became almost a second presidential mansion after Washington left office. Thousands of people, including diplomats from all over Europe, flocked to it to see George and Martha.

George Washington died two years later, and Martha was once again a widow. Martha burned all their correspondence. She didn’t want anyone else to know about her husband’s feelings, fears, and opinions of colleagues. Historians found only two letters hidden in her desk after she died. One was from her husband written after he accepted the offer to become the Commander of the Continental Army. In the letter, George wrote:

“My dearest, I had to accept this. My honor required it. But please, my dear Patsy, don’t be angry with me.”

Washington then went on to explain his reasons for accepting the offer and why he needed her support.

After George Washington died, Martha couldn’t sleep in their bedroom anymore. Instead, she slept in a room in the attic.

Martha was devastated by George’s death. The love of her life was gone. All of her children had passed, and she was ready to go, too. She said after George died:

“It’s over. My life is just waiting now.”

Every day, Martha walked to George’s tomb on Mount Vernon and prayed. She was counting the days until she could be reunited with the love of her life. In 1802, Martha came down with a severe fever, which killed her at the age of 70 on May 22, 1802. Both George and Martha were buried in a tomb at Mount Vernon.

George Washington was the only founding father and president to free his enslaved people. He had appreciated freed blacks (former enslaved people) fighting for him in the Revolutionary War, and this changed his mind on slavery. Martha felt otherwise. She felt slave holding was normal and the way society was and should be structured.

The Washington’s established the tradition of bringing enslaved servants with them. This practice ended with the Taylor administration in 1850.