Women helped form the nation
I have mentioned the book "Founding Mothers" by Cokie Roberts. It took me a while to get with it but Cokie made those early American women and their families come to life. I always had thought that Martha Washington was just an overweight, old lady but it seems she got right into the spirit of the Revolutionary War with all her might. She followed George everywhere, helping in any way she could. A group of women she worked with raised $300,000. They wanted to give each soldier $2 but George said they would just spend it on liquor. He suggested they give each man a shirt. They purchased the material and made the shirts.
Another famous woman of the times was Abigail Adams. She ran the farm and cared for the children while her husband, John Adams spent many years in France doing diplomatic things.
Deborah Franklin and other women kept the home fires going while their husbands were doing government manipulations.
Kitty Green was everywhere supporting the troops with her flirtations. Oh yes, there was entertainment, romance, and scandal then, too.
All the mothers had from six to 10 children, many who died in infancy.
Many amusing things happened. One woman wearing tall feathers in her head dress caught them on fire by the candles. At parties candles were everywhere.
I don't know how those women survived, I guess you could call it "true grit" with lots of prayers thrown in.
We should be very appreciative and proud of their contribution to our young nation.
— NORMA HANNAFORD
