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American Women Roles During Colonial Times.
Women's roles from the early to middle 1700's in the Thirteen colonies, were fatiguing and underappreciated. They often married by ages 13 or 14 otherwise were considered a financial burden to their families. Once married a women gave up her legal and economic rights to her husband. She was now under his authority. This practice was known as coverture. Women worked in the home and were solely responsible for all cooking, cleaning, child rearing and farm upkeep including animal and garden care. -
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The Evolution of American Woman's Roles from 1700 to 1812 (DL)
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Mary Musgrove (ca.1700-ca.1763).
As a half Creek Indian half English, Mary was the cultural liaison and interpreter between the Creek Indians and the colonists of Georgia. She owned and operated along with her husband John a successful trading post. Because of her ability to negotiate peacefully and fairly she served as the interpreter for General James Oglethorpe between 1733-1743 when he was communicating with Chief Tomochichi of the Yamacraw tribe. Mary was known as one of the most successful businesswomen of her time. -
Mercy Otis Warren. Portrait by John Singleton Copley (1763).
Living in Massachusetts, an educated (unusual for colonial time), housewife and mother, Mercy began writing poetry in 1759. By 1772 she became a political writer and propagandist of the American Revolution. Fearing her work would not be recognized, Mercy published anonymously so no one knew it was a women chronicling the works. She strongly supported the Patriot cause, had an influential affect on political leaders and activists in her community, and was a respected intellect of the time. -
Abigail Adams. Portrait by Benjamin Blythe (1766).
In 1776 living in Braintree, Massachusetts, Abigail Adams wrote letters to husband President John Adams, asking that when he updated laws, please remember the ladies, as they needed to be treated with more respect, generosity and equality by their husbands. She knew this would be difficult but she wanted to see changes in the treatment and equality with the women. During this time men continued to feel women were their property and had no rights. Abigail continued to push to abolish coverture. -
Esther DeBerdt Reed, "The Sentiments of an American Women" (1780).
Esther DeBerdt Reed was known for getting the women of the mid 1760's involved with war efforts. She organized the Ladies Association of Philadelphia. She published an influential paper to the women of Philadelphia explaining the importance of supporting the troops with funds, clothes and food. She cautiously told the women they were as equal to the men when it came to patriotism. A proud patriot, she instilled the value of virtue to many women which gave them purpose to fulfill new roles. -
Martha Ballard: An American Midwife and Healer.
Best known for her work as a midwife and pursuer of social medicine, in Hallowell, Maine, Martha was instrumental in delivering 816 babies between 1785-1812. She functioned in roles as a healer, pharmacist, and town mortician. Her ambition was inspirational to many women during this time as they were branching out into progressive roles in society. Between 1785-1812, she kept full account of daily life in her diaries, which gave valuable insight to the life of women during this time period. -
Martha Ballard's Diaries from 1785-1812.
After her family went to bed, by candlelight, Martha wrote of all her daily life experiences, delivering babies, caring for the sick and her daily life as a mother and wife in Hallowell, Maine. She wrote about the daily lives of people and events she came into contact with through her work along with personal opinions on the progressing of women taking more active and influential roles in society. Her diaries were poignant insights to the life of a women during the years between 1785-1812. -
Mercy Otis Warren, "History of the Rise, Progress and Termination of the American Revolution" (c.1805).
By 1790, Mercy was so well respected by the Plymouth, Massachusetts colonists, she began publishing her name on her new works. This was a huge step forward for women as it acknowledged their roles as writers. Feeling the Revolution had been justified, in 1805 she published her finest work, a three volume account of the start, progression and finish of the American Revolution. Mercy was known as one of the great intellects of her time, who supported progress and the defense of human liberty.
