In 1782 Marshall married Mary Willis Ambler, the daughter of the then treasurer of Virginia. They had ten children, six of whom grew to full age. For the greater part of the 48 years of their married life Mrs. Marshall suffered intensely from a nervous affection. Her condition called out the love and sympathy of her husband's deep and affectionate nature. Judge Story tells us : "That which, in a just sense, was his highest glory, was the purity, affectionateness, liberality and devotedness of his domestic life." For the first 3o years of his chief-justiceship his life was a singularly happy one. He never had to remain in Washington for more than three months. During the rest of the year, with the exception of a visit to Raleigh, which his duties as circuit judge required him to make, and a visit to his old home in Fauquier county, he lived in Richmond. His house on Shockhoe Hill is still standing.
On Christmas Day, 1831, his wife died. He never was quite the same again. On returning from Washington in the spring of 1835 he suffered severe contusions, from an accident to the stage coach in which he was riding. His health, which had not been good, now rapidly declined and in June he returned to Philadel phia for medical attendance. There he died on July 6. His body,
which was taken to Richmond, lies in Shockhoe Hill cemetery under a plain marble slab, on which is a simple inscription written by himself. In addition to his decisions Marshall wrote a famous biography of George Washington (5 vol., 1804-07; 2nd ed., 2 vol., 183 2) which, though prepared hastily, contains much material of value.
(W. D. L.)