Elizabeth Taliaferro Wythe

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Life and marriage

Elizabeth (Taliaferro) Wythe was born and died in Williamsburg, James City County, VA. Elizabeth became the second wife of George Wythe in 1754. Through her Taliaferro family, George Wythe became a wealthy man. At thew time of their marriage Elizabeth was either 14 or 15 years old which was a nuptial age not considered unusual at the time. Elizabeth and George were the parents of one child which died in infancy. Unfortunately little is known about Elizabeth in the historical record but by all accounts Elizabeth and George were happily married.

Richard Taliaferro gave his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, George Wythe, the Williamsburg home he had built for himself. Elizabeth (Taliaferro) Wythe and her husband, George Wythe, lived in the home for more than thirty years. In 1779, Richard Taliaferro's will gave George and Elizabeth use of the property for life. Elizabeth died in 1787, and George moved to Richmond in 1791 to serve as a judge on Virginia's court of Chancery.