Читать книгу First Ladies For Dummies - Marcus A. Stadelmann, Marcus A. Stadelmann PhD - Страница 66

While Thomas Jefferson was active in politics and open rebellion, Martha stayed home raising their six children. Martha fell ill and became an invalid. Thomas turned down a job in France to stay with his ill wife. In June of 1781, Martha and Thomas got lucky when they managed to escape their estate, Monticello, after the British had attacked it. However, the strain of fleeing the British and bearing so many children made Martha very sick. She died on September 6, 1782, at the age of 33. Thomas went into mourning and never married again.

Martha made Thomas promise her never to marry again. She had many unpleasant experiences with stepmothers while she was growing up and didn’t want her children to grow up with a stepmother.

Thomas Jefferson said the following after Martha’s death:

“Martha was the cherished companion of my life, in whose affections … I have lived … the last ten years of my life in uncheckered happiness.”

Of the six Jefferson children, only two survived into adulthood. They were Martha and Mary Jefferson.