James Madison was the oldest of seven children to live to maturity.
His father, James Madison, Sr. (1723–1801) was a planter who grew up on an estate in Orange County, Virginia, which he inherited on reaching maturity.
He later acquired still more property and became the largest landowner and leading citizen of Orange County.
His mother, Eleanor "Nelly" Rose Conway (1731–1829), was born at Port Conway, Virginia, the daughter of a prominent planter and tobacco merchant. Madison's parents married in 1743.
Both parents had a significant influence over their most famous oldest son.
Madison had three brothers and three sisters to live to maturity (by whom he had more than 30 nieces and nephews):
* Francis Madison (1753–1800) - planter of Orange County, Virginia
* Ambrose Madison (1755–1793) - planter and captain in the Virginia militia, looked after the family interests in Orange County; named after his paternal grandfather.
* Catlett Madison (1758–1758) - died in infancy.
* Nelly Madison Hite (1760–1802)
* William Madison (1762–1843) - veteran of the Revolution and a lawyer, he served in the Virginia legislature
* Sarah Catlett Madison Macon (1764–1843)
* unnamed child (1766–1766)
* Elizabeth Madison (1768–1775)
* unnamed child (1770–1770)
* Reuben Madison (1771–1775)
* Frances "Fanny" Madison Rose (1774–1823)
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