Mary Willis Ambler Marshall-–known as “Polly” to her family—was born on March 18, 1766 to Jacquelin Ambler and Rebecca Burwell Ambler. Polly’s early years were characterized by her upbringing in a prominent Tidewater family, and by the impacts of the American Revolution. By age 14, Polly’s father was targeted by the British army and her family spent two weeks fleeing the redcoats. The revolution also introduced Polly to a young Captain in the Continental Army by the name of John Marshall.
Polly married John on January 3, 1783, and the two quickly began their lives in Richmond, Virginia. The city promised new opportunities following its appointment as the state capitol in 1780. Additionally, the Amblers had already settled in Richmond, so the move allowed Polly to remain close to her family. Over the next four decades, Polly grew alongside the burgeoning city as a neighbor, a mother, a friend, and the wife of Chief Justice John Marshall.
The John Marshall House is the home in which Polly resided for over 40 years of her life. Here, we seek to activate her experiences and recognize that she was an active participant in the world around her. Polly came of age with the American Revolution; she pursued John Marshall as a suiter and husband; she lived as one of the capital city’s elite; she gave birth to ten children and suffered the loss of four, and she interacted and shared tables with leading Americans.
Interested in learning more? On Sunday, March 30th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., join Preservation Virginia’s John Marshall House and Richmond’s Shockoe Hill Cemetery in a back-to-back guided tour. Your visit will begin at the John Marshall House with a tour of where Polly spent over 40 years. Following, you will travel the short distance to nearby Shockoe Hill Cemetery to view Polly’s grave and learn of her contemporaries buried there.
March 30, 2025
10:00 am — 12:00 pm
2:00 pm — 4:00 pm
$25 for Standard Ticket
$20 for Preservation Virginia Members
Want to join us? Tickets can be purchased online here.