In 1789 the capital of the United States was New York City. George Washington had been elected president and John Adams vice president. Abigail and John had taken up residence at Richmond Hill, an estate a mile and a half north of the downtown seat of government, at the western edge of what is Soho today. Abigail wrote to her sister Elizabeth Shaw describing the situation of their home.

Richmond Hill, 27 September, 1789I write to you, my dear sister, not from the disputed banks of the Potomac, the Susquehanna, or the Delaware, but from the peaceful borders of the Hudson; a situation where the hand of nature has so lavishly displayed her beauties, that she has left scarcely any thing for her handmaid, art, to perform. The house in which we reside is situated upon a hill, the avenue to which is interspersed with forest trees, under which a shrubbery rather too luxuriant and wild has taken shelter, owing to its having been deprived by death, some years since, of its original proprietor, who kept it in perfect order. In front of the house, the noble Hudson rolls his majestic waves, bearing upon its bosom innumerable small vessels, which are constantly forwarding the rich products of the neighbouring soil to the busy hand of a more extensive commerce. Beyond the Hudson rises to our view the fertile country of the Jerseys, covered with a golden harvest, and pouring forth plenty like the cornucopia of Ceres. On the right hand, an extensive plain presents us with a view of fields covered with verdure, and pastures full of cattle. On the left, the city opens upon us, intercepted only by clumps of trees, and some rising ground, which serves to heighten the beauty of the scene, by appearing to conceal a part. In the back ground, is a large flower-garden, enclosed with a hedge and some very handsome trees. On one side of it, a grove of pines and oaks fit for contemplation. …

If my days of fancy and romance were not past, I could find here an ample field for indulgence; yet, amidst these delightful scenes of nature, my heart pants for the society of my dear relatives and friends who are too far removed from me. I wish most sincerely to return and pass the recess of Congress at my habitation in Braintree; but the season of the year, to which Congress has adjourned, renders the attempt impracticable. …
Your affectionate sister,

The excerpt is from Letters of Mrs. Adams, The Wife of John Adams With an Introductory Memoir by Her Grandson, Charles Francis Adams, Volume II, 1840, and can be seen on this SITE. The image is from the print collection at the New York Public Library.

In 1775, Mary Fish Noyes, a widow, married Gold Selleck Silliman, “one whose person and address are exactly agreeable to my taste.” While Silliman was stationed in New York with the Connecticut militia in the following year, Mary kept up a lively correspondence with him.

My BelovedFairfield, Sept. 26 1776 10 o.Clock P.M.Why wont you send home all your things as they want washing? It gives your fond wife pleasure even to see, and have the handling of things that you wear, tho a little soiled. … [I] send you two Gall. Rum, (we have about seven left of our old store) and we don’t use much now, and a Box of Sugar, and a little Butter. … Through mercy I am quite well of my Cholick, have yet a cold, but it is wareing away. These cold nights make me shudder for you (to say no more) I wish you had your Bed again—O George what hardships dos thy tyranny put thy late Subjects to! God only knows if it will not be returned on thine own head—But may he rather open thine eyes and chang thine heart.

Mary wrote again in November

My Best Beloved
O this long tedious absence! But it draws neigher to a close I trust and hope, and I will endeavour to hold out to the end; for I have the vanity to think I have in some measure acted the heroine as well as my dear Husband the Hero.

This excerpt is from In the Words of Women, Chapter 2, pages 57 and 58. The image of Mary at age fifty-eight, four years after the death of Gold Selleck Silliman, is by Reuben Moulthrop, courtesy of the Fairfield Historical Society.

Abigail Adams’ sister, Elizabeth Smith Shaw, provided some advice to her niece “Nabby” on the occasion of her marriage in England to Colonel William Stephens Smith. In her letter she succinctly details the role a woman was expected to fill at that time.

Haverhill [Massachusetts] November 27th. 1786As you my Neice have given me a new Nephew, permit me to congratulate you both upon the Celebration of your Nuptials. … You my Neice who have so happily escaped the dangers, the whirlpools, and the quicksands of the single Life, and have safely arrived at the Haven of Matrimony, will find a new Scene open to your view. And that there are two very principal Characters in which you must become the Actress—that of Wife and Mistress—and before a much more interested Audience than you have yet ever beheld in a publick Theatre, I need not tell you, I mean your Husband, and your Family,—and perhaps e’er long, you may be called to act in a third, not less important, arduous and tender. That each have their several incumbent Duties, and that there are certain Traits requisite, without which a Lady of your Judgment, well knows a female Character must be exceedingly imperfect. A proper reverence of yourself—a dignity of Manners—joined with Meekness, and Condescention—gentleness, and sweetness of Temper—have most attractive Charms, and are the richest, and most valuable Ornaments, you can adorn yourself with. They [will] render you lovely in Youth, and (I may venture to say,) forever ensure you the attention, the Love, and the best Affections of that Man, who is truly worthy of you.

This excerpt is from In the Words of Women, Chapter 7, page 181. The portrait is by John Singleton Copley, done in 1787 one year after the above letter. It is the frontispiece of The Journal and Correspondence of Miss Adams compiled and published by her daughter in 1841.

We three authors/editors of In the Words of Women attended a conference of the Nation Council for History Education in Kansas City, Missouri, from March 22nd to 24th. The topic was the use of primary source materials in social studies and history classes. The title of our segment was “(Say,) Can a Woman’s Voice an Audience Gain?” (The words are by poet Annis Boudinot Stockton, 1736-1801.) The PowerPoint presentation explained how we found and chose material for the book, identified some of the pleasures and problems we encountered in our research, and highlighted several primary sources by women with suggestions for how they could be used effectively in the classroom. It was well received. Teachers were pleased to learn about a compilation of letters and documents that would enable them to explore with their students the roles women played in the Revolution: what they thought and felt and endured. Naturally we attended various sessions to see what other professionals and institutions had to offer. The main speaker was Professor Eric Foner of Columbia University who discussed his recent book, The Fiery Trial, Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery.

As time allowed we explored Kansas City and were impressed by its new architecture, fountains, elevated pedestrian walkways, and a variety of museums. We admired the ceiling of Union Station, visited the National World War I Museum, and spent hours at the famed Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art with the whimsical Claes Oldenburg shuttlecock sculptures. We returned to the East Coast elated and energized.