John Dandridge

John Dandridge
Born	John Dandridge Jr. 13/13 July 1700 England
Died	31 August 1756 Fredericksburg, Colony of Virginia, British America
Resting place	Interred at St. George's Episcopal Church
Nationality	English
Occupation	colonel, planter, politician, clerk
Spouse(s)	Frances Jones
Children	Martha Washington
Parent(s)	Col. John Dandridge, Sr. Bridget Dugdale

Col. John Dandridge Jr. of Chestnut Grove (13/14 July 1700 – 31 August 1756) was a distinguished colonel, planter, politician, and Clerk of the Courts of New Kent County, Virginia from 1730 to 1756. Dandridge is best known as the father of the first First Lady of the United States Martha Washington, wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States.

Born on 13 July 1700 in England, Dandridge was the youngest son of Col. John Dandridge, Sr. (Oxford, Oxfordshire, April 29, 1655 - Oxford, Oxfordshire, 1731), and wife (m. St. Mary Magdalen, London, 1676) Bridget Dugdale (Oxford, Oxfordshire, c. 1656 - 1731); paternal grandson of Capt. William Dandridge I (Drayton St. Leonard, Oxfordshire, England, 30 January 1612 - Dorchester Abbey, Dorchester On Thames, England, July 1693) and wife; and great-grandson of Col. Bartholomew Dandridge I (England, c. 1580 - Drayton St. Leonard, Oxfordshire, England, 21 September 1638) and wife (m. England, 10 May 1604) Agnes Wilder (c. 1585 - c. 1650). He immigrated to Virginia at the age of 14 in 1715.

Dandridge married Frances Orlando Jones, daughter of Orlando Jones and Martha Macon Jones West, on 22 July 1730 in New Kent County, Virginia. John and Frances had eight children:

Upon their marriage in 1730, John and Frances moved to their new home on the banks of the Pamunkey River in New Kent County, Virginia, Chestnut Grove. John became Clerk of Courts in New Kent County and kept that position for the next 26 years. He was also vestryman and churchwarden for St. Peter's Church. John was a prominent planter, and a colonel in his military district.

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