KORTRIGHT, Elizabeth "Eliza"^[1]

1768 - 1830  (62 years)

• Name	KORTRIGHT, Elizabeth
  Nickname	Eliza
  Birth	30 Jun 1768	New York City, New York, USA   [1]
  Gender	Female
  Burial	Sep 1830	Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia, USA   [2]
  Death	23 Sep 1830	Oak Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia, USA   [1]
  	Presidential First Lady. She was born Elizabeth Kortright "Eliza" in New York City to a father who was a Loyalist officer serving in the British Army. She met the future President James Monroe when he was a United States Representative and the Capitol of the nation was in New York City. They were married at Trinity Episcopal Church in New York City, she but seventeen and her new spouse twenty-eight. His political career and appointment as French Minister kept the Monroes on the move while the family increased by two daughters and a son who died in infancy. For seventeen years Monroe, his wife at his side, alternated between foreign missions and service as Governor or Legislator of Virginia. With the inheritance of a plantation (Oak Hill), they had a home. His appearance on the Washington scene was a prelude to becoming President. When the Presidential couple arrived, the White House was being reconstructed after its burning by the British. For six months, they were quartered at the Octagon House in Washington, D.C. Before moving into the refurbished mansion, the Monroes sold their furnishings to the government for use in the White House. Elizabeth's poor health was kept secret as she suffered from epilepsy, which curtailed her social activity as First Lady. Her daughter Maria was wed at the White House, but it was a small, private event. With the completion of their term, the couple moved to Oak Hill for retirement. Elizabeth, after several severe illnesses, died at the age of 62, but not before burning all the letters exchanged between the Presidential couple. She was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery. James Monroe, due to poor health, moved to New York City and was residing with his younger daughter where he died. The public was able to pay their respects after the casket was placed on a temporary stage in front of City Hall. After a funeral service at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, James Monroe was interred in an underground crypt in historic Marble Cemetery. Twenty-five years later he was exhumed and transferred to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. Years later Elizabeth was exhumed from Oak Hill and reunited with her husband and reinterred near him at Hollywood Cemetery. Oak Hill is today privately owned. The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library was developed at Fredericksburg, Virginia, is open to the public, and is maintained by the University of Mary Washington. Bio by: Donald Greyfield [3]
  Age	62 years
  Person ID	P3497	Dutton Ancestry
  Last Modified	31 Jul 2023

  
  

  Family	MONROE, President James           b. 28 Apr 1758, Westmoreland County, Virginia, USA           d. 4 Jul 1831, New York City, New York, USA (Age 73 years)  [1]
  Marriage	16 Feb 1786	Trinity Church Parish, New York City, New York, New York, USA   [1]
  Age at Marriage	She : 17 years and 8 months - He : 27 years and 10 months.
  Family ID	F6140	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	31 Jul 2023

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 30 Jun 1768 - New York City, New York, USA Marriage - 16 Feb 1786 - Trinity Church Parish, New York City, New York, New York, USA Burial - Sep 1830 - Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia, USA Death - 23 Sep 1830 - Oak Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia, USA  = Link to Google Earth
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• Sources

  [S141] Familysearch.org. [S50] Findagrave.com. Maintained by: Find a Grave Added: 28 Nov 1998 Find a Grave Memorial #4076 [S50] Findagrave.com.