Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Dolley Madison


Dolley Payne was born on May 20, 1768. Born a Quaker, she married Quaker John Todd with whom she had two children. Todd died in 1793 and in 1794 at the age of twenty-six, Dolley married James Madison who was destined to become the fourth United States President in 1809. However, Madison was not the first president for whom Dolley served as White House hostess, for Thomas Jefferson, a widower, asked her to perform that role for him during his presidency.
As a Washington socialite, Mrs. Madison is legendary. Her sparkling personality and brilliant intellect charmed all with whom she came in contact. Indeed, following the death of her beloved husband at their home in Montpelier, she returned to Washington and resumed entertaining in the social scene though she was quite elderly at the time.

Cousin Dolley died in 1849 at the age of 81.
[Dolley Payne Todd Madison was indeed a cousin. Our nearest common ancestors are Robert Woodson (1634 - 1707?) and wife Elizabeth Ferris (1638 - 1689).]
[Happy Birthday grandson Alex; and also to good friend Joann]

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