Women in American History

The documents by and about women in the Gilder Lehrman Collection reveal an astonishingly diverse cast of characters. Some content, while significant, is not surprising – women tend to family and home, correspond with friends and acquaintances, commiserate over illness and personal loss, and send alternately angry, affectionate, and practical missives to those in their sphere of influence. But, sometimes, in the most unexpected places, we find women filling roles traditionally ascribed to men, asserting personal rights and freedoms decades before they became a fait accompli,and, most poignantly, capturing the joys, pains, and frustrations of being a woman in each distinct era of American history. The depth and breadth of the correspondence shows that American women of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries were no more monolithic in their experiences and outlooks than their modern counterparts. The following highlights cover some familiar territory, but include many surprises as well. 

The prison-keeper

A 1647 bill for construction of an addition to a jail reveals the surprising fact that the prison-keeper is a woman. The bill, endorsed by Massachusetts Bay colony governor John Winthrop and Speaker of the House Joseph Sills, was presented for payment by Patience Wilson. As widow of the late prison-keeper William Wilson, Patience took over William’s position until his replacement was named. The document indicates that Patience took an active role in the prison’s management during her tenure in office. (GLC05583)

The accused “whore”

Three witnesses, two of them women, testify that the father of Hillegard van Slichtenhorst’s baby refused to preserve her honor by marrying her. According to witness Anne Davenport, Peter Lund said he could not marry van Slichtenhorst after city magistrates termed her a whore and put her in jail. The case was heard in New York City in 1692. (GLC03107.04876)