Revolutionary Women Through the Eyes of Men
Edward Shippen’s Perspective on His Daughter
Who was Sarah?
Sarah was the daughter of Edward Shippen. Shippen was a prominent figure in
Philadelphia society during the Revolutionary time period. She was married to a merchant named James Burd, and she had multiple children. She came from a prominent family in Philadelphia, and she and her children lived with her father during the French and Indian war. After the war ended, Sarah and her husband were given much financial support from her father, according to Shippen’s letter.
Direct Quotes from Shippen
— “Five Hundred Pounds which considering what I have done for them and their family since their marriage to this time is all they can reasonably expect.”
—- “Whose i received them into my house and maintained them three or four years, Mr. Burd, his wife and three or four children and whom we were obliged to leave lancaster and go to Philadelphia for fear of the Indians…”
Potential Biases
Edward Shippen was a well known figure in Philadelphia society during this time period. Because Sarah is his daughter, it could be reasoned that he may have a bias to promote her. However, in his writing it seemed as if Sarah and her husband’s family became a financial burden to him. He repeatedly mentioned all that he had given them and that they could only expect a certain amount. It paints Sarah in a negative way that her family couldn’t make it without the financial help of her father.
Read Edward Shippen’s “A Memorandum for my Children”
“Thoughts Upon Female Education”
Who wrote this?
Benjamin Rush was a physician, Founding Father, and educator who also served as the Surgeon General for the Continental Army. He also founded the Young Ladies Academy of Philadelphia.
Why is this important?
During and after the Revolutionary War, female education began to gain support. The idea that women must be educated started with the belief that educated wives and mothers would help the upbringing of children, and instill patriotic republican values.
Potential biases
This speech was written by a white man about women’s education in a time when educating women was not a normality. So there would definitely be a reason for historians to read this with caution. However, he was advocating for women’s education, whether or not it was for reasons historians may agree with. While he is ultimately supporting education for women, his ideas fail to support equal education for women.
Read “Thoughts Upon Female Education”
Edward Shippen’s Perspective on an Enslaved Woman
Who was Hannah?
Hannah was a Black woman who was enslaved by Edward Shippen. Shippen was a
prominent figure in Philadelphia society during the Revolutionary time period. His memorandum suggests that he had enslaved her for many years. By 1779 when he wrote the letter, he mentioned that she was elderly by that time. Shippen also mentioned that he should’ve given her freedom when she was younger. This could imply that his regret for her long enslavement may have meant that he treated her kindly in her servitude of his family.
Direct Quote from Shippen
— “And although I have for my Negro woman Hannah, yet as she is now ancient and therefore not as capable to get her living as in her younger days when I ought to have set her at liberty… to give her something every year toward her maintenance and to… take away her bed and bed clothes…”
Potential Biases
Edward Shippen was a white, wealthy man during this time period who was writing about a black woman who was his slave. There is not much he said about her, and the point of him writing about her was to make sure she was taken care of in case of his death. We should nonetheless be careful to look for potential biases, especially because of his social status and her lack thereof.
Read Edward Shippen’s Will
A Verse Written to the Ladies of Boston
Why was this written?
This verse was written during a time when colonists were boycotting British goods.
Women during the Revolutionary period were not considered to be independently politically knowledgeable, at least not as much as the men in this time. This piece was written to the ladies in and around Boston, because during this time period, women played a very important role in buying goods for the family, which had an obvious dramatic effect on the economy. The goal in this propaganda of sorts was to encourage women to buy goods made by local merchants, because patriotism was an attractive quality that men looked for in a woman, according to the verse.
Some Direct Quotes from this Verse
— “First then, throw aside your high top knots of pride Wear none but your own country linen”
— “Begin without passion, ’twill soon be the fashion”
— “Tho’ the times remain darkish, young men may be sparkish. And love you much stronger than ever.”
Potential Biases
Although the author for this piece was not found, it could be inferred that a man in this time period wrote this verse. It seemed as if the author made a bold assumption that women would be more easily swayed to patriotism because it would make the ladies more enticing to men. The authors seemed to compartmentalize women into only a shopping role and thought that persuading their shopping would be worthwhile.
Read the entire “Address to the Ladies”