John Parish Payne

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LH5F-4LS
• Initiatory (LDS): 18 Nov 1999, PROVO

John married Mary Winston Coles on 17 Feb 1765 in Norfolk City, Virginia, United States. Mary was born on 14 Oct 1743 in Coles Hill, Hanover, Virginia, United States; died on 8 Feb 1808 in Clarksburg, Harrison, Virginia, United States; was buried in Jackson Cemetery, Clarksburg, Harrison, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LZPG-376
• Initiatory (LDS): 26 Jan 2006, OGDEN

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LDPY-W6Q
• Initiatory (LDS): 23 Aug 1877, SGEOR

Notes:

Dolley Payne Todd Madison, one of the best known and loved First Ladie s , was the wife of James Madison, the fourth President of the United Sta te s (1809-1817). Her iconic style and social presence boosted her husban d’ s popularity as President.

For half a century she was the most important woman in the social circl e s of America. To this day she remains one of the best known and best lo ve d ladies of the White House–though often referred to, mistakenly, as D oro thy or Dorothea.

She always called herself Dolley, and by that name the New Garden Month l y Meeting of the Society of Friends, in Piedmont, North Carolina, recor de d her birth to John and Mary Coles Payne, settlers from Virginia. In 1 76 9 John Payne took his family back to his home colony, and in 1783 he m ove d them to Philadelphia, city of the Quakers. Dolley grew up in the st ric t discipline of the Society, but nothing muted her happy personalit y an d her warm heart.

John Todd, Jr., a lawyer, exchanged marriage vows with Dolley in 1790. J u st three years later he died in a yellow-fever epidemic, leaving his wi f e with a small son.

By this time Philadelphia had become the capital city. With her charm a n d her laughing blue eyes, fair skin, and black curls, the young widow a tt racted distinguished attention. Before long Dolley was reporting to he r b est friend that “the great little Madison has asked…to see me this ev enin g.”

Although Representative James Madison of Virginia was 17 years her senio r , and Episcopalian in background, they were married in September 1794 . Th e marriage, though childless, was notably happy; “our hearts underst and e ach other,” she assured him. He could even be patient with Dolley’ s son , Payne, who mishandled his own affairs–and, eventually, mismanage d Madis on’s estate.

Discarding the somber Quaker dress after her second marriage, Dolley cho s e the finest of fashions. Margaret Bayard Smith, chronicler of early Wa sh ington social life, wrote: “She looked a Queen…It would be absolutel y imp ossible for any one to behave with more perfect propriety than sh e did.”

Blessed with a desire to please and a willingness to be pleased, Dolle y m ade her home the center of society when Madison began, in 1801, his e igh t years as Jefferson’s Secretary of State. She assisted at the Whit e Hous e when the President asked her help in receiving ladies, and presi ded a t the first inaugural ball in Washington when her husband became Ch ief Ex ecutive in 1809.

Dolley’s social graces made her famous. Her political acumen, prized b y h er husband, is less renowned, though her gracious tact smoothed man y a qu arrel. Hostile statesmen, difficult envoys from Spain or Tunisia , warrio r chiefs from the west, flustered youngsters–she always welcome d everyone . Forced to flee from the White House by a British army durin g the War o f 1812, she returned to find the mansion in ruins. Undaunte d by temporar y quarters, she entertained as skillfully as ever.

At their plantation Montpelier in Virginia, the Madisons lived in pleasa n t retirement until he died in 1836. She returned to the capital in th e au tumn of 1837, and friends found tactful ways to supplement her dimin ishe d income. She remained in Washington until her death in 1849, honore d an d loved by all. The delightful personality of this unusual woman i s a che rished part of her country’s history.

Dolley married John Todd on 27 Jan 1790 in North Carolina, United States. John was born on 17 Nov 1764 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; died on 24 Oct 1793 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; was buried in Friends Arch Street Meeting House Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Dolley married President James Madison, Jr on 15 Sep 1794 in Harewood Manor, Charles Town, Jefferson, West Virginia, United States. James (son of Colonel James Madison and Eleanor Rose Conway) was born on 16 Mar 1751 in Belle Grove Plantation, King George, Virginia, United States; was christened on 31 Mar 1751 in St. John’s Episcopal Church, King George, Virginia, United States; died on 28 Jun 1836 in Montpelier, Orange, Virginia, United States; was buried on 29 Jun 1836 in Mountpelier Estate National Historic Site, Montpelier Station, Orange, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Initiatory (LDS): Not Needed
• FamilySearch ID: LZPL-B5S

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: L6ZH-DRC
• Initiatory (LDS): 29 Jul 1937, ALBER

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: L6GB-PTR
• Initiatory (LDS): 4 May 1936, SLAKE

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LCF4-K88
• Initiatory (LDS): 9 Jul 1941, SGEOR

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LZPL-B51
• Initiatory (LDS): 30 Jan 1941, SGEOR

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LZPL-YCT
• Initiatory (LDS): 9 Jun 1998, OAKLA

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: L6ZH-XQ3
• Initiatory (LDS): 28 Apr 1994, WASHI

Other Events and Attributes:

• Initiatory (LDS): Not Needed
• FamilySearch ID: LWYK-CG5