Mary Jefferson Eppes

Mary Jefferson Eppes
Born	August 1, 1778
Died	April 17, 1804(1804-04-17) (aged 25)

Mary Jefferson Eppes, born Mary Jefferson (August 1, 1778 – April 17, 1804), was the younger of Thomas Jefferson's two daughters who survived infancy. At the age of nine, she joined her father in Paris, when he was a United States minister to France. She attended a convent school and learned some French. In 1789 the family returned to the United States.

She married a first cousin at age 19 and had three children with him, but only one survived infancy. Mary died at age 25, weakened by her last childbirth.

Early life and education

Mary was born to Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson and Thomas Jefferson. Known as "Polly" in her childhood, she later chose the nickname "Maria." She was known as such until her death at age 25.

She had a sickly disposition as her mother did, who died in 1782 when Polly was five. Polly also inherited her mother's beauty, which was frequently complimented, to her chagrin. She preferred to be known for her character or mind.

In the care of the young slave Sally Hemings, at nine Polly sailed to Europe to join her father who was serving as Minister to France. First they landed in England, where Abigail Adams, wife of U.S. Minister John Adams, looked after the girls before they joined her father in Paris: Abigail developed a deep and lasting affection for Polly.^[1] In France Polly attended the Abbaye de Panthemont^[2] convent school with her older sister Martha (Patsy). After some time her father had the girls tutored at home. The family returned to Virginia in 1789. They lived for a time in Philadelphia while Jefferson was Secretary of State. They returned to Monticello, and Polly spent most of the rest of her life in Virginia.

Marriage and family

Maria/Mary married her childhood friend and cousin John Wayles Eppes on October 13, 1797. Their first child was born in January 1800; but lived only a few days. Mary gave birth to Francis W. Eppes in 1801, who was the only child to survive infancy. Their last child was born in February 1804. The baby girl was small and died later that year, much to her mother's sorrow.

Maria never recovered physically from her third childbirth. Her condition worsened and her father, by then the President, rushed home when Congress adjourned on March 27. She was moved to Monticello and nursed by Jefferson and her sister Martha. She died on April 17, 1804 and was buried beside her mother as she had asked.

It was her death that prompted Abigail Adams to send written condolences to President Jefferson, thus ending a long silence between the two families that had been brought on by political differences during the presidential campaign of 1800.Abigail wrote movingly of the immediate affection she had felt for Maria which had never altered.^[3]

Persondata
Name	Eppes, Mary Jefferson
Alternative names	Polly, Maria
Short description	Thomas Jefferson's younger child
Date of birth	August 1, 1778
Place of birth
Date of death	April 17, 1804
Place of death

1. ^ McCullough, David John Adams Simon and Schuster New York 2001
2. ^ http://www.monticello.org/site/plantation-and-slavery/appendix-h-sally-hemings-and-her-children
3. ^ McCullough John Adams