George Washington
The first President had no biological children. When he married the widow Martha Custis he became the stepfather to her surviving son and daughter.
John "Jacky" Parke Custis
He was reared by Washington and was a son to Martha by a previous marriage. Born 1754, he died in 1781. Jacky Custis lived off his father's estate. He is famous for trying to cheat his stepfather. He served briefly as Washington's aide in the Revolutionary War, but died of dysentery soon after joining the army.
Martha "Patsy" Parke Custis
She was Martha Washington's daughter from her previous marriage. Born 1756, she died suddenly of epilepsy on June 19, 1773 Some years after Martha's marriage to George Washington, her daughter, Martha Parke "Patsy" Custis, died at 17 after a lifetime of epileptic seizures.
Washington's step grandchildren:
Jacky Custis left four small children to be reared. His wife remarried, taking her two oldest children with her. The two youngest, Nelly and Wash Custis, stayed at Mt. Vernon with George and Martha.
Eleanor "Nelly" Custis Lewis
Born in 1779, she was raised as a daughter by the Washingtons although never formally adopted. She married a Washington nephew, died 1852 and is buried at Mt. Vernon.
George "Wash" Washington Parke Custis
Born in 1780, he died in 1857. Raised as Washington's own son he was never formally adopted and was actually the son of Washington's step-son. After George Washington's death, he built a home on Arlington Heights on the Potomac River. His daughter married Robert E. Lee and the grand home became known as "Lee's Mansion." It is now Arlington National Cemetery.
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