Women of the Constitution: Wives of the Signers

by Janice E. McKenney

Overview

Women of the Constitution follows in the footsteps of the 1912 work The Wives of the Signers, which was devoted to biographical sketches of the spouses of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. This new publication will be the first work devoted exclusively to brief biographies of the forty-three wives of the signers of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.

Each entry includes vital information, where known—such as birth, parents, marriage, children, and death—as well as a footnoted biography with its own bibliography. Also provided are illustrations of many of the wives and their homes, as well as an appendix describing the now historic residences in which the signers and their spouses resided.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810884991
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	11/15/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	254
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Janice E. McKenney is a military historian and is retired from the U.S. Army Center of Military History. She has published books and articles on U.S. Army artillery.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations v

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

Ann (Nancy) Ennals Bassett 1

Elizabeth (Betsy) Garnett Bassett 5

Jane (Jenny) Ballareau Parker Bedford 9

Jean Blair Blair 13

Mary (Molsey) Grainger Blount 17

Elizabeth (Betsy) Higbee Brearley 23

Elizabeth Mullen Brearley 25

Rachel Pierce Broom 29

Mary (Polly) Middleton Butler 33

Eleanor Carroll Carroll 37

Elizabeth Meredith Clymer 41

Susan Williamson Dayton 47

Mary (Polly) Norris Dickinson 51

Catherine (Kitty) Nicholson Few 59

Catharine Meade Fitzsimons 63

Deborah (Debby) Read Rogers Franklin 67

Rebecca Call Gorham 73

Elizabeth (Betsey) Schuyler Hamilton 77

Elizabeth (Betsy) Pettit Ingersoll 83

Ann Beach Johnson 89

Mary Brewster Beach Johnson 93

Mary Alsop King 97

Elizabeth (Betsy) Sherburne Langdon 103

Susannah French Livingston 109

Dolley Payne Todd Madison 115

Margaret (Peggy) Caldwell McHenry 121

Sarah (Sally) Morris Mifflin 125

Ann (Nancy) Cary Randolph Morris 131

Mary (Molly) White Morris 137

Cornelia Bell Paterson 143

Euphemia (Affa) Morris White Paterson 147

Mary (Polly) Eleanor Laurens Pinckney 151

Sarah (Sally) Middleton Pinckney 155

Mary Stead Pinckney 159

Gertrude (Gitty) Ross Till Read 163

Elizabeth Grimke Rutledge 167

Elizabeth Hartwell Sherman 171

Rebecca Prescott Sherman 175

Mary (Polly) Jones Leech Spaight 179

Martha (Patsy) Dandridge Custis Washington 183

Maria Apthorp Williamson 187

Rachel Bird Wilson 191

Hannah Gray Wilson Bartlett 197

Appendix: Historic Houses Associated with the Wives of the Signers 203

Index 219

About the Author 241

Editorial Reviews

McKenney (Field Artillery; Air Defence Artillery) here provides concise details on the wives of the signers of the U.S. Constitution. The book, a project of the District of Columbia Daughters of the American Revolution, is well researched, with information from primary sources where available. Each entry begins with a block of basic biographical data such as places and dates of birth and death and details on the woman’s marriage and children; the entries that follow provide further facts about the wives’ education, family, and married life. Most of the entries include a photo or illustration and all entries include notes and a bibliography. An appendix provides information about the historic homes of the subjects. VERDICT Any researcher interested in women’s lives in Colonial America could use this title as a starting point for their research. The book will be a useful addition to reference collections at school, public, and two-year college libraries.” —Library Journal

“This title, a project of the District of Columbia Daughters of the American Revolution, provides concise details on the wives of the signers of the U.S. Constitution. Research for the title was done primarily from primary sources and entries include such information as place of birth and death, details of their marriage and children, education, and family. Many of the entries are accompanied by a photograph or illustration and all include a useful bibliography. The work includes an appendix that lists historic homes of the women mentioned in the book. Useful for academic and high school libraries, this title will be of interested to anyone researching Colonial American history as well as historical women's studies. . . .[I]t will serve well as a jumping-off point to more detailed research.” —American Reference Books Annual

“Reading this book. . . .may provide useful bits of information for researchers. The notes and bibliographies, for instance, may prove to be good resources.” —Feminist Collections: A Quarterly Of Women's Studies Resources

From the Publisher

This title, a project of the District of Columbia Daughters of the American Revolution, provides concise details on the wives of the signers of the U.S. Constitution. Research for the title was done primarily from primary sources and entries include such information as place of birth and death, details of their marriage and children, education, and family. Many of the entries are accompanied by a photograph or illustration and all include a useful bibliography. The work includes an appendix that lists historic homes of the women mentioned in the book. Useful for academic and high school libraries, this title will be of interested to anyone researching Colonial American history as well as historical women's studies.. . .[I]t will serve well as a jumping-off point to more detailed research.

American Reference Books Annual

Reading this book.. . .may provide useful bits of information for researchers. The notes and bibliographies, for instance, may prove to be good resources.

Feminist Collections: A Quarterly Of Women's Studies Resources

Reading this book. . . .may provide useful bits of information for researchers. The notes and bibliographies, for instance, may prove to be good resources.

Feminist Collections: A Quarterly Of Women's Studies Resources