WIVES OF THE FOUNDERS

Our founding fathers were incredible courageous men, but what about the women behind these men.  In reading the writings of some of these women you will find such strength, enduring much hardship and loneliness all the while keeping strong and looking at the big picture – freedom.  Often the men would be away from the home taking care of securing the freedoms we have today and the women were at home tending to the children, home and farms.  Never once did I read of complaints as exampled here with Mary Bartlett, wife of Governor Bartlett; “In all her letters to her husband and her children, there is not one word of regret at his course or pity for herself, only a spirit of loving, helpful sympathy in all his acts.”  She was “always the ready and sympathetic friend and judicious adviser.  Her patriotism was as ardent as his and burned with as steady a flame.”

While the men had a bounty on their heads, the women and children of these men did too.  They were in constant watch in front and behind them.  Having a readily plan of quick departure if danger was confronting them.  And if this was the case they knew that they may never be able to come back and if they did come back, they may not have anything to come back to.  What strong faith they must have had to get them through the hardship.  But still knowing all of this they continued on as graceful as can be.

Some of the deaths of these women were a direct result of the shock and anxiety they experienced.  The women experienced the same sacrifices, dangers and hardships as the men experienced.

I invite you to learn more about these women by reading the Wives of Signers, The women behind the Declaration of Independence, Foreword by David Barton.  Can be purchased at http://www.wallbuilders.com/.  You can also go to  http://colonialhall.com/biodoiwives.php.

The following is a list of names of these wives:

Mary Bartlett
Katharine Moffat Whipple
Hannah Jack Thornton
Dorothy Quincy Hancock
Abigail Smith Adams
Elizabeth Checkley Adams
Elizabeth Wells Adams
Sarah Cobb Paine
Ann Thompson Gerry
Sarah Scott Hopkins
Anne Smith Hopkins
Ann Remington Ellery
Abigail Carey Ellery
Elizabeth Hartwell Sherman
Rebecca Prescott Sherman
Martha Devotion Huntington
Mary Trumbull Williams
Laura Collins Wolcott
Hannah Jones Floyd
Christina Ten Broeck Livingston
Elizabeth Annesley Lewis
Mary Walton Morris
Annis Boudinot Stockton
Elizabeth Montgomery Witherspoon
Ann Borden Hopkinson
Deborah Scudder Hart
Sarah Hatfield Clark
Mary (White) Morris
Julia Stockton Rush
Deborah Read Franklin
Sarah Franklin Bache
Anne Justis Morton
Elizabeth Meredith Clymer
Eleanor Armor Smith
Nancy Savage Taylor
Rachael Bird Wilson
Ann Lawler Ross
Gertrude Ross Read
Mary Borden McKean
Anne Baldwin Chase
Mary Chew Paca
Margaret Brown Stone
Mary Darnell Carroll
Anne Lewis Wythe
Anne Aylett Lee
Martha Wayles Jefferson
Elizabeth Bassett Harrison
Lucy Grymes Nelson
Rebecca Tayloe Lee
Judith Robinson Braxton
Elizabeth Corbin Braxton
Anne Clark Hooper
Susan Lyme Penn
Henrietta Middleton Rutledge
Elizabeth Mathews Heyward
Elizabeth Shubrick Lynch
Mary Izard Middleton
Mrs. Button Gwinnett
Abigail Burr Hall
Dorothy Camber Walton