Born on December 13, 1818, Mary Ann Todd was the 4th out of 7 children in her family. As a young girl, she experienced wealth and comfort because she was born into a rich family. Right after Mary’s birth, a black slave started to take care of her. Because of the slaves taking care of her, Mary started to accept slavery as just a part of life. Mammy Sally, the woman caring for Mary Todd, and all the other slaves working for the Todd family were treated well.
When runaway slaves started knocking on the Todd’s back door at night, Mammy Sally would open the door and give the slaves food and water. When Mary saw this one night, she didn’t say a word about it, but let Mammy Sally continue to help these slaves.
When Mary Todd turned 6, her mother died. This was just the first of many tragedies in Mary’s life. Later, her father remarried to Betsy Humphreys Todd. When Mary turned 8 years old, she started to go to school at Ward’s Female Academy where she learned reading, writing, math, geography, history, science, French, and religion. Mary was an exceptional student and a quick learner.
In 1839, Mary was invited to live with Elizabeth Edwards, her older married sister. In Springfield, Mary met Edwin Webb, a legislator, and Stephen Douglas, a lawyer, her suitors. Mary Ann Todd, however, found her love in Abraham Lincoln, who was 30 when he met Mary. In December 1840, they became engaged, but neither one of them wanted to make a full commitment immediately.
Lincoln, however, treated all women with respect, so Mary had nothing to worry about. The main reason they held off their wedding was because their families did not think that they would do well together because of their differences.
Abraham had promised to accompany Mary to a dance one night, but when he arrived late, he found out that Mary had left without him. When he arrived at the ball, he caught a glimpse of Mary flirting with another man. When he found a moment alone with Mary, he called off the engagement. Mary, mad, told him to leave and never come back. After this occurred, Lincoln stayed in bed and missed a week in the legislature.
A year later, in 1842, friends brought Mary and Abraham together again. After many secret meetings, Abraham and Mary came to an agreement: they would be married. They arranged the wedding in secret, only telling their families of their plans the evening before the wedding was to be held. On November 4, 1842, they married.
9 months after their marriage, the Lincolns had their first son: Robert Todd Lincoln, named after Mary’s father. In 1844, Lincoln bought a house for him and his family and 2 years later the couple’s second son was born who was named Edward. Mary was an affectionate mother and Abraham a doting father to his 2 sons. The Lincoln family was a happy one, although Mary would sometimes have tantrums when stress overwhelmed her. Lincoln, though, would politely step out of her way to let her mood pass.
In 1850, another tragedy found it’s way into Mary’s life. Her son, Edward died with tuberculosis, a contagious disease mainly in the lungs. Later in December 1850, the Lincolns’ third son was born: William Wallace Lincoln. On April 4, 1853, Thomas was born, named after Abraham’s father. Unfortunately, in 1862, William died with typhoid fever, leaving his parents to grieve.
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected as president and he ran home to Mary crying out, ”Mary, Mary, we are elected!” according to the White House Studies.
When Mary moved into the White House, she was happy when she found out that the Congress gave her $20,000 to redecorate the White House. Mary, absorbed in her project of making the White House new again, spent more than she was supposed to. Lincoln offered to pay the overspent money, but Mary refused to let him do that and found ways to pay it back on her own.
Regardless of the pressure of the Civil War, Mary was happy with Lincoln as president. She had a personal dressmaker for the first time.
Throughout America, Mary was disliked. She spent huge amounts of money when there was not much to be spent because of the costs of the Civil War. Some people even accused Mary of being a Confederate spy.
During 1862, Mary let a Negro Sunday school class have a picnic on the White House’s south lawn. Mary Lincoln also opened her eyes to see all the wounded soldiers in Washington hospitals. She started to visit them, giving them comfort by reading books to them and bringing fresh flowers.
In 1864, Lincoln was up for reelection. Mary was hoping he would be reelected mainly for her own good, not for hopes for the country. She owed merchants $27,000, and if Abraham was not elected, she would have to pay the debts straight away. However, if her husband was reelected, she could spend an even larger sum of money.
On April 9, 1865, the Confederates surrendered to the Union and the Civil War ended.
Later that month, on April 14, 1865, Mary Ann Todd Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln went to Ford’s Theatre. Mary was sitting right next to Lincoln as he was shot. The day after, Lincoln died and Mary was sadder than ever. She had already lost two sons and now she no longer had her husband.
To make things worse, Thomas died in 1871, leaving Mary with only Robert, her only living son, left as family. In 1875, Robert turned against his mother, charging her of insanity. Mary was sent to an insane asylum and was released a few months later.
In 1881, Mary decided to live with her sister Elizabeth again in Springfield, Illinois. On July 16, 1882, Mary died there after having a stroke.
When runaway slaves started knocking on the Todd’s back door at night, Mammy Sally would open the door and give the slaves food and water. When Mary saw this one night, she didn’t say a word about it, but let Mammy Sally continue to help these slaves.
When Mary Todd turned 6, her mother died. This was just the first of many tragedies in Mary’s life. Later, her father remarried to Betsy Humphreys Todd. When Mary turned 8 years old, she started to go to school at Ward’s Female Academy where she learned reading, writing, math, geography, history, science, French, and religion. Mary was an exceptional student and a quick learner.
In 1839, Mary was invited to live with Elizabeth Edwards, her older married sister. In Springfield, Mary met Edwin Webb, a legislator, and Stephen Douglas, a lawyer, her suitors. Mary Ann Todd, however, found her love in Abraham Lincoln, who was 30 when he met Mary. In December 1840, they became engaged, but neither one of them wanted to make a full commitment immediately.
Lincoln, however, treated all women with respect, so Mary had nothing to worry about. The main reason they held off their wedding was because their families did not think that they would do well together because of their differences.
Abraham had promised to accompany Mary to a dance one night, but when he arrived late, he found out that Mary had left without him. When he arrived at the ball, he caught a glimpse of Mary flirting with another man. When he found a moment alone with Mary, he called off the engagement. Mary, mad, told him to leave and never come back. After this occurred, Lincoln stayed in bed and missed a week in the legislature.
A year later, in 1842, friends brought Mary and Abraham together again. After many secret meetings, Abraham and Mary came to an agreement: they would be married. They arranged the wedding in secret, only telling their families of their plans the evening before the wedding was to be held. On November 4, 1842, they married.
9 months after their marriage, the Lincolns had their first son: Robert Todd Lincoln, named after Mary’s father. In 1844, Lincoln bought a house for him and his family and 2 years later the couple’s second son was born who was named Edward. Mary was an affectionate mother and Abraham a doting father to his 2 sons. The Lincoln family was a happy one, although Mary would sometimes have tantrums when stress overwhelmed her. Lincoln, though, would politely step out of her way to let her mood pass.
In 1850, another tragedy found it’s way into Mary’s life. Her son, Edward died with tuberculosis, a contagious disease mainly in the lungs. Later in December 1850, the Lincolns’ third son was born: William Wallace Lincoln. On April 4, 1853, Thomas was born, named after Abraham’s father. Unfortunately, in 1862, William died with typhoid fever, leaving his parents to grieve.
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected as president and he ran home to Mary crying out, ”Mary, Mary, we are elected!” according to the White House Studies.
When Mary moved into the White House, she was happy when she found out that the Congress gave her $20,000 to redecorate the White House. Mary, absorbed in her project of making the White House new again, spent more than she was supposed to. Lincoln offered to pay the overspent money, but Mary refused to let him do that and found ways to pay it back on her own.
Regardless of the pressure of the Civil War, Mary was happy with Lincoln as president. She had a personal dressmaker for the first time.
Throughout America, Mary was disliked. She spent huge amounts of money when there was not much to be spent because of the costs of the Civil War. Some people even accused Mary of being a Confederate spy.
During 1862, Mary let a Negro Sunday school class have a picnic on the White House’s south lawn. Mary Lincoln also opened her eyes to see all the wounded soldiers in Washington hospitals. She started to visit them, giving them comfort by reading books to them and bringing fresh flowers.
In 1864, Lincoln was up for reelection. Mary was hoping he would be reelected mainly for her own good, not for hopes for the country. She owed merchants $27,000, and if Abraham was not elected, she would have to pay the debts straight away. However, if her husband was reelected, she could spend an even larger sum of money.
On April 9, 1865, the Confederates surrendered to the Union and the Civil War ended.
Later that month, on April 14, 1865, Mary Ann Todd Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln went to Ford’s Theatre. Mary was sitting right next to Lincoln as he was shot. The day after, Lincoln died and Mary was sadder than ever. She had already lost two sons and now she no longer had her husband.
To make things worse, Thomas died in 1871, leaving Mary with only Robert, her only living son, left as family. In 1875, Robert turned against his mother, charging her of insanity. Mary was sent to an insane asylum and was released a few months later.
In 1881, Mary decided to live with her sister Elizabeth again in Springfield, Illinois. On July 16, 1882, Mary died there after having a stroke.
Mary was born in Lexington, Kentucky.
Mary died in her house in Springfield, Illinois.