Mary Middleton
Patriot's family
Wife of Declaration of Independence Signer Arthur Middleton


Middleton Family Portrait
Benjamin West, Artist, 1771

Mary Izard was born on July 31, 1747, in Charleston, South Carolina, the daughter of Walter and Elizabeth Gibbes Izard. Arthur Middleton was born on June 26, 1742, at his family plantation, Middleton Place, near Charleston, South Carolina. Arthur's father, Henry Middleton, sent Arthur to England at the age of twelve to be educated at the Hackney School, and at eighteen, he began study at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Middleton excelled in the classics, and developed a refined taste for painting, music, and literature while traveling through Europe after his graduation. Middleton returned home just before Christmas 1763.

Middleton Family History
In 1678, Edward Middleton emigrated from England to Barbados and from there to South Carolina, eight years after the founding of Charleston. Receiving large grants of land on Goose Creek, Edward settled at a plantation he named The Oaks, and served as Lords Proprietors deputy for many years. His estate passed to his son, Arthur, who also was active in public life and became president of the convention that overthrew the Lords Proprietors in 1719. In 1741, Arthur's son, Henry, married Mary Williams, the only daughter and heiress of John Williams, a wealthy landowner, Justice of the Peace and member of the Assembly. Mary's dowry included the house and plantation they named Middleton Place. Here, rather than at The Oaks, they made their home.


Mary Izard Middleton died on July 12, 1814, at Mazyckborough in Charleston, South Carolina.

SOURCES
Arthur Middleton
Middleton Family History
History of Middleton Place
Wikipedia: Arthur Middleton
Arthur Middleton: South Carolina
Signer of the Declaration of Independence

http://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2009/12/mary-izard-middleton.html