Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis

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Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis (1779-1852), known as Nelly, is the adopted daughter and step-granddaughter of United States President George Washington.

Nelly was the daughter of John Parke Custis and Eleanor Calvert Custis, and granddaughter of Martha Dandridge Parke Custis Washington by her marriage to Daniel Parke Custis. Nelly was also the granddaugther of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore. Nelly and her brother, George Washington Parke Custis, were adopted by Martha and George after the death of their father in 1781.

After Washington's death in 1799, Nelly's brother built Arlington House, in what is now Arlington County, Virginia, as a tribute to him and to hold the Washington family possessions. Also in 1799, Nelly married George Washington's nephew, Lawrence Lewis of Fredericksburg, and they lived at Woodlawn Plantation where she was mistress for over 30 years.

References

Brady, Patricia. "Martha Washington: An American Life." Viking/Penquin Group, New York, New York, 2005. ISBN 0-670-03430-4.

[Portrait collections of Fielding Lewis and Betty Washington and Eleanor Custis and Lawrence Lewis]

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