Home > Shaping of America 1783-1815 > Nelly Custis Lewis Biography

Born March 2, 1779 (Alexandria, Virginia)

Died July 15, 1852 (Shenandoah Valley, Virginia)

First family member

Eleanor Parke Custis and her brother George Washington Parke Custis (1781–1857; see box) were the grandchildren of Martha Washington (1732–1802; see entry in volume 2) and the step-grandchildren of the first U.S. president, George Washington (1732–1799; served 1789–97; see entry in volume 2). Eleanor, known as Nelly, and little George, known as Wash, became the first children to live in a U.S. presidential mansion.

After Nelly and Wash's father died, George and Martha reached an agreement with the children's mother, Eleanor Calvert Custis (1757–1811), to raise both youngsters as their own. Nelly had just turned ten years old when she and Wash traveled with Martha to New York City, the nation's temporary capital, to join newly inaugurated President...