John Custis | |
|---|---|
 Portrait by Charles Bridges, 1725 | |
| Member of the House of Burgesses for Northampton County | |
| In office 1705–1706 Serving with William Waters | |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Nottingham |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Nottingham |
| Member of the House of Burgesses for the College of William & Mary | |
| In office 1718–1719 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Beverley |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Jones |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 1678 Arlington, Northampton County, Colony of Virginia |
| Died | November 22, 1749 (aged 71) Williamsburg Colony of Virginia |
| Spouse |
Frances Parke (m. 1706) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent |
|
| Profession | Planter, politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | British America (1735–1749) |
| Branch/service | Virginia Militia (1735–1749) |
| Rank | Colonel |
Colonel John Custis IV (August 1678 – November 22, 1749) was an American planter, politician, government official and military officer who sat in the House of Burgesses from 1705 to 1706 and 1718 to 1719, representing respectively Northampton County and later the College of William & Mary. A prominent member of the Custis family of Virginia, he utilized his extensive landholdings to support a career in horticulture and gardening.
Born in 1678 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. There, he revived his interest in political affairs and was again elected to the general assembly for another year. In 1727, Custis was appointed to serve on the Governor's Council of Virginia, having established himself in Williamsburg.
Custis purchased the White House plantation in 1735, arranging for his son and heir Daniel to manage it. Over the last decades of his life, Custis grew increasingly ill, and was removed from his position on the Governor's Council in August 1749. On November 14, 1749, he wrote his will and testament, dying eight days later on November 22. Custis' body was buried in the family cemetery near Cheapside, and his estate passed over to Daniel's control.