Changes

==Early life==

==Early life==

Martha Dandridge was born on June 2, 1731 to John and Frances Jones Dandridge on their plantation, Chestnut Grove in New Kent County, Virginia. She had three brothers and five sisters, as well as an illegitimate half-sister who was a slave.<ref name="firstladies">[http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=1 Martha Washington]</ref> Martha was taught all the usual subjects young ladies learned during the time period: music, sewing and home management. However, her later actions while managing her husbands' estates possibly show a more extensive education.<ref name="firstladies"/>

Martha Dandridge was born on June 2, 1731 to John and Frances Jones Dandridge on their plantation, Chestnut Grove, located in New Kent County, Virginia. The Dandridges maintained a comfortable but not extravagant lifestyle on their five-hundred acre estate and were considered minor gentry. They eventually owned between 15 and 20 slaves.<ref name="birth">[http://marthawashington.us/exhibits/show/martha-washington--a-life/early-life/birth-and-family-of-origin Birth and family of origin]</ref>

 

Martha was the eldest child, and had three brothers and four sisters, as well as an illegitimate half-sister who was a slave.<ref name="firstladies">[http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=1 Martha Washington]</ref> Martha was taught all the usual subjects young ladies learned during the time period: music, sewing and home management, as well as reading and writing. However, her later decisions and actions while managing her husbands' estates possibly show a more extensive education.<ref name="firstladies"/> She was fond of reading and needlework throughout her lifetime.

 

==Marriage and family==

==Marriage and family==