Custis, John, 1678-1749

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John Custis (August 1678 – November 22, 1749) was an American planter, politician, government official and military officer who sat in the Virginia House of Burgesses. A prominent member of the Custis family of Virginia, he utilized his extensive landholdings to support a career in horticulture and gardening.

Born into a slaveholding family who resided in Northampton County, Virginia, Custis was sent to London at a young age to study the tobacco trade under Micajah Perry. He returned to his grandfather's plantation at Arlington in 1699 to familiarize himself in the management of slaves. In 1705, he was elected to the Virginia General Assembly, sitting there for a year. Custis married Frances Parke, the eldest daughter of Daniel Parke, in 1706.

In 1714, his father John died, passing control of the family estates to Custis, which included two plantations and numerous slaves. His wife died two years later, and in 1717, Custis moved to Williamsburg, Virginia. Custis purchased the White House plantation in 1735, arranging for his son and heir Daniel to manage it. Daniel Custis would be the first spouse of Martha Dandridge. She, after Daniel's death, would marry George Washington.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Custis family. Papers, 1750, 1753, 1758, 1774, and 1784. Library of Virginia
referencedIn Letter to "Brother" [John Custis], 1710 Jan 10. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Byrd, William, 1674-1744. William Byrd II letter, to John Custis, 1716 October 16. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Curwen family. Papers, 1637-1808. American Antiquarian Society
creatorOf Custis, John. Petition, [ca. 1681], Virginia, to King James II. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Custis, John, 1678-1749. Letterbook, 1717-1741. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Letter to Major John Custis, 1715 Nov 17. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Letter, William Byrd II to John Custis, 1716 October 16 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Byrd, William, 1674-1744. Letter : London, to John Custis, Williamsburgh [sic], Va., 1717 Oct. 4. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Deed to John Custis, 1719 Jan 13 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Virginia miscellany, 1621-1788. Library of Congress
referencedIn Lee, Mary Custis, 1835-1918. Papers, 1694-1917. Virginia Historical Society Library
creatorOf Custis family. Papers, 1683-1858. Virginia Historical Society Library
creatorOf Byrd, William, 1674-1744. Letter, 1710 January 10, n.p., to [John Custis]. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Blaikley, William, d. 1736. Deed, 1718/9 January 13 to John Custis. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Custis, John, 1678-1749. DS and ALS : Williamsburg, Va., 1747 Feb. 3. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Papers, 1683-1858 [microform]. George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
creatorOf Perry, Micajah. Letter, 1715 November 17, to Major John Custis. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Blaikley, William. person
associatedWith Blaikley, William, d. 1736. person
associatedWith Blair, James, 1656-1743. person
associatedWith Boll & Dee. corporateBody
associatedWith Byrd, William, 1674-1744. person
associatedWith Cary, Robert. person
associatedWith Catesby, Mark, 1683-1749. person
associatedWith Collinson, Peter, 1694-1768. person
associatedWith Curwen family. person
parentOf Custis, Daniel Parke, 1691?-1757, person
memberOf Custis family. person
associatedWith Hanbury, John. person
associatedWith Howard, Hugh. person
associatedWith Jack, d. 1751. person
associatedWith James II, King of England, 1633-1701, person
associatedWith Kountze, De Lancey, d. 1946, person
associatedWith Lee, Mary Custis, 1835-1918. person
associatedWith Loyd & Cooper. corporateBody
associatedWith Parke, Thomas Dunbar, d. 1734. person
associatedWith Pepper, Evelyn Parke. person
associatedWith Perry, Micajah. person
associatedWith Perry, Micajah. person
associatedWith Perry, Micajah, d. 1721. person
associatedWith Perry, Micajah, d. 1753. person
associatedWith Perry, Richard. person
associatedWith Randolph, John, Sir, ca. 1693-1737. person
associatedWith Randolph, Peyton, 1721-1775. person
associatedWith Rodney, Caesar. person
associatedWith Spotswood, Alexander, 1676-1740. person
associatedWith Starke, John. person
associatedWith Virginia. Council. corporateBody
parent-in-law of Washington, Martha, 1731-1802 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Williamsburg VA US
Arlington VA US
Virginia VA US
Subject
Slavery
Bacon's Rebellion, 1676
Clothing and dress
Courtship
Epidemics
Gardens
Medicine
Merchants
Slaves
Slaves
Tobacco
Wigs
Yaws
Occupation
Planters
Politicians
Activity

Person

Birth 1678

Death 1749-11-22

Information

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