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Affiliation | Democratic-Republican |
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Name | Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph |
Address | , Virginia , United States |
Email | None |
Website | None |
Born |
September 27, 1772
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Died | October 10, 1836
(64 years)
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Contributor | Thomas Walker |
Last Modifed | Chronicler Apr 13, 2020 12:14pm |
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Info | Patsy was the oldest daughter of Thomas and Martha Jefferson. Most of her brothers and sisters were sickly and died. Her mother was also very sickly and died when Patsy was 10.
After the death of her mother, Patsy became her father's constant companion. At age 11, she was put in the care of Mrs. Thomas Hopkinson. Thomas felt she needed to be in a more stable environment than he could give her. Even when he wasn't around, Thomas had a great influence on Patsy. He felt her education was very important. He wrote out a daily schedule that he expected Patsy to follow:
From 8 to 10 o'clock: Practice music.
From 10 to 1: Dance on one day and draw another.
From 1 to 2: Draw on the day you dance, and write a letter the next day.
From 3 to 4: Read French.
From 4 to 5: Excercise yourself in music.
From 5 till bedtime: Read English, write, etc. (p. 57)
Patsy did not have talent for drawing, and after much discussion with her father, was able to give up drawing lessons.
When Thomas Jefferson was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to France, Patsy, age 12, moved to Paris with him. While she was there, Mr. Jefferson sent her to Abbeye Royale de Panthemont Convent to get her schooling. Three years later he sent to America to have her sister Polly join them. In 1778, when Patsy was 16, Mr. Jefferson took both daughters out of the convent because Patsy announced that she wanted to become a nun. Patsy became the mistress of Jefferson's household acting as hostess and also as tutor for Polly.
On October 8, 1789, the Jeffersons left France to return to America. The French Revolution had been going on for months. Back in America Patsy continued to act as hostess for her father.
Although the Jeffersons were owners of slaves, Patsy was very outspoken against slavery. The Jeffersons treated their slaves very well and eventually set many of them free.
Patsy married her childhood sweetheart, Thomas Randolph, on February 23, 1790. She served as First Lady for her father after he became President whenever her own family duties did not interfere.
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