Ambrose Madison facts for kids

Ambrose Madison (born January 17, 1696 – died August 27, 1732) was an important landowner and leader in the early days of the Virginia Colony. He owned a large farm called a plantation, where he grew crops like tobacco.

In 1721, Ambrose Madison married Frances Taylor. Her father, James Taylor, was a member of a famous group called the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe. This group explored areas beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains. With help from his wife's family, Ambrose Madison bought a lot of land in 1723. This land later became part of Orange County, Virginia.

On this land, he started his tobacco plantation, which he first named Mount Pleasant. Later, this plantation became known as Montpelier (Orange, Virginia). Ambrose Madison was the father of James Madison Sr.. This means he was the grandfather of James Madison, who later became a U.S. President.

Ambrose Madison died at a young age in 1732. After his death, some enslaved people were accused of being involved, and one person was punished. This was a very unusual event for Virginia at that time.

Early Life and Family Roots

Ambrose Madison was born in Virginia in 1696. His father, John Madison, was a sheriff, a large landowner, and a politician. His mother was Isabella Minor Todd. Ambrose learned how to manage a plantation from his father.

He had an older sister named Elizabeth Ann Madison. She was born in 1687. Ambrose Madison's family had been in America for a long time. His great-grandfather, Isaac Madison, was born in London in 1590. Isaac moved to Jamestown in 1608, just one year after the colony was founded.

Marriage and Building a Family

In 1721, Ambrose Madison married Frances Taylor. Her father, James Taylor, was a very rich and powerful man in the colony. James Taylor was part of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition. This group traveled across the Blue Ridge Mountains to explore new lands.

Because of his explorations, James Taylor gained ownership of 8,000 acres of land. With his help, Ambrose Madison and his brother-in-law, Thomas Chew, bought 4,657 acres in 1723. This land was in what is now Orange County, Virginia. Many planters from the older parts of Virginia were moving to this area. They needed new land to grow tobacco, which was a very important crop.

Developing the Mount Pleasant Plantation

The land that Frances and Ambrose Madison received became their plantation. They called it Mount Pleasant. This plantation later became famous as Montpelier (Orange, Virginia). To get the land ready for farming, Ambrose Madison bought 29 African slaves. These enslaved people worked for five years to clear the land.

The Madison family moved to the plantation in 1732. By then, a house had been built, and tobacco farming had started. Ambrose and Frances had several children. Their oldest son was James Madison Sr.. He was the father of James Madison, who would later become a U.S. President.

Ambrose Madison died that summer, on August 27, 1732, when he was only 36 years old. After his death, some enslaved people were accused of being involved. According to old court records, three enslaved Africans were charged. Two of them, Dido and Turk, were punished with whipping. They were then returned to Frances Taylor Madison to continue working. Another enslaved person named Pompey was believed to be the main person involved and was punished. This was the first time in Virginia that enslaved people were punished in connection with a planter's death.

Frances Taylor Madison, Ambrose's widow, never remarried. The tobacco plantation continued to make money. She also likely received support from her large Taylor family, who lived nearby. Her oldest son, James Madison Sr., took over the plantation when he turned 21 in 1744. By the 1750s, the Madison plantation was often called "Home House." James Madison, Sr. bought even more land, eventually owning 5,000 acres.

Around 1780, James Madison, Jr., who would become president, started managing Home House. He was the one who renamed it Montpelier. The plantation became well-known after he was elected president for two terms.