John Parke Custis

1712 - 1781  (69 years)

• Histories

  John Parke Custis-Sale of Land The Virginia Gazette Oct 10, 1777

  
  

• Name	John Parke Custis
  Born	1712
  Gender	Male
  Died	1781	Virginia
  Person ID	I23151	My Reynolds Line
  Last Modified	20 Jun 2021

  
  

  Family	Martha Dandridge,   b. 2 Jun 1731, New Kent, New Kent County, Virginia ,   d. 22 May 1802, Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, Virginia  (Age 70 years)
  Children	+ 1. George Washington Parke Custis,   b. 30 Apr 1781, Colonial Virginia ,   d. 10 Oct 1857, Alexandria County, Virginia  (Age 76 years)
  Last Modified	12 Jun 2024
  Family ID	F8737	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S100] Internet Source, https://www.nps.gov/arho/learn/historyculture/george-custis.htm. George Washington Parke Custis The Washington Family The Washington family by Edward Savage. George Washington Parke Custis stands at the left next to his adopted father, George Washington. National Gallery of Art Born in 1781, George Washington Parke Custis was the grandson of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington through her first marriage. After his natural father, John Parke Custis, died in 1781, G.W.P. Custis went to live at Mount Vernon where George and Martha Washington raised him as their own son. During his childhood, Custis became very attached to his stepfather, George Washington. In 1802, Custis started the construction of Arlington House on land that he had inherited from his natural father. When completed in 1818, he intended the house to serve as not only a home but also a memorial to his stepfather, George Washington. In 1804, Custis married Mary Lee Fitzhugh. The two had four children, but only one, Mary Anna Randolph Custis, survived. [S100] Internet Source, https://www.nps.gov/arho/learn/historyculture/george-custis.htm. George Washington Parke Custis The Washington Family The Washington family by Edward Savage. George Washington Parke Custis stands at the left next to his adopted father, George Washington. National Gallery of Art Born in 1781, George Washington Parke Custis was the grandson of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington through her first marriage. After his natural father, John Parke Custis, died in 1781, G.W.P. Custis went to live at Mount Vernon where George and Martha Washington raised him as their own son. During his childhood, Custis became very attached to his stepfather, George Washington. In 1802, Custis started the construction of Arlington House on land that he had inherited from his natural father. When completed in 1818, he intended the house to serve as not only a home but also a memorial to his stepfather, George Washington. In 1804, Custis married Mary Lee Fitzhugh. The two had four children, but only one, Mary Anna Randolph Custis, survived. Custis derived his living from large inherited estates, worked by many enslaved people, though he was a poor manager and his properties were not very profitable. He devoted most of his energies to other activities, many and varied including painting, playwriting, music, oratory, and promoting the improvement of American agriculture. None of his endeavors were marked by great or lasting success. He frequently held celebrations, special programs and other social events which attracted thousands of visitors to the Arlington estate over the years. Regarding himself as the heir to the Washington tradition, Custis collected and displayed, a large number of Mount Vernon relics at Arlington. He was always eager to comment on the collection and the Washington legacy for famous guests and curious strangers. Custis saw his daughter marry Lt. Robert E. Lee at Arlington in 1831. Robert and Mary Anna came to call Arlington home and Custis was a prominent figure in the lives of the seven Lee children. In his later years, Custis did not stray far from Arlington. He made his will in 1855, and he increasingly relied on his son-in-law, Col. Lee, to handle his tangled business affairs. Until his death, Custis retained his old bedchamber in the north wing of the mansion, where he died after a short illness on October 10, 1857. [S100] Internet Source, Virginia Heraldica. CUSTIS. Northampton county. Arms: Argent three popinjays vert. Crest: An archer ppr. coat vert, shooting an arrow from a bow of the first. The immigrant ancestor of this family was John Custis of Rotterdam, who was in Virginia in 1640. He had six sons: (1) Thomas of Baltimore, Ireland; (2) Edward of London; (3) Robert of Rotterdam, who was a tavern keeper there and whose daughter married about 1C49 Argall Yardley, a son of the Virginia Governor; (4) John of Virginia; (5) William of Virginia; (6) Joseph of Virginia. John Custis, son of the immigrant, was Sheriff of Northampton in 1C64, and Major-General of Militia in 1676. His estate, "Arlington," gave its name to the celebrated Custis estate near Washington. The family was originally from Gloucester county, Eng. The v.-ill of John Smithier of Arlington, County Gloucester, dated 16 Feb., 1615, probated 31 Oct., 1626, mentions his cousin "Henry Custis, alias Cliffe, son-in-law Edward Custis, alias Cliffe, and his son, John Custis; also William Custis, Nicholas Custis, etc." The tomb of John Custis at Northampton county bears the above arms (without the crest) ; stating he was one of the Council and Major-General of Virginia, and that he died 29 Jan., 1696, aged 66 years. The tomb of John Custis, grandson of the above, is also at "Arlington," and bears the Custis arm.s. The latter's will was dated Nov. 14, 1749, and probated in London 19 Nov., 1753. In it he desires "that he be interred by the side of his grandfather, under a white marble tombstone, engraved with his arms of 'three parrots.' " He was born in 1678, and married Frances Parke. The arms adopted by the Custis family were those of Cliffe of the county of Essex, Eng.