“Our properties within our own territories [should not] be taxed or regulated by any power on earth but our own.” — Thomas Jefferson, 1774 A well-to-do socialite of the Edenton, NC community, she was not blind to the abuses of the crown. In fact, having been widowed twice in her life, she was acutely aware of the cost of doing business with his Royal Highness King George. The richest woman in North Carolina, Penelope was adept at managing her household affairs and the busine

By Heather Frey Blanton Copyright 2014 Heather Blanton Follow me on https://www.facebook.com/heatherfreyblanton and https://twitter.com/heatherfblanton “If I be waspish, best beware my sting.” ― William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew If I asked you to name American writers who stirred hearts and passions during the American Revolution, most likely you’d mention Thomas Paine or Ben Franklin or Thomas Jefferson. Surely, each man made his invaluable contribution to the

by Heather Frey Blanton Elementary students around the country often get their first dose of female patriots through the legendary quagmire of Molly Pitcher. Several women have acquired this handle through the centuries, but where does legend end and truth begin? Mary Ludwig Hays Most scholars agree the true identity of “Molly Pitcher” is confused because there were several “camp followers” involved in the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Monmouth. Back then, these ladies tended

Photos of Joseph Lane abound; not so with Polly. Even the headstone only gives her credit for being his wife. Notice it doesn’t say “Loving Memory.” I sometimes wonder about the pioneer women of this country who had absentee husbands. Men, who between heroic deeds and territorial path-finding, came home only long enough to get their wives pregnant. Not an ideal situation, perhaps, but ultimately, the way of the world, even today. Some men are called to politics, war, explorin

As I research patriot and pioneer women, I am constantly confounded and humbled by their grit. Folks, we truly have no idea how feisty these women were! Recently I discovered a story about a woman who had a run-in with six British soldiers and bested them! When I looked into the legend of Nancy Morgan Hart, I laughed out loud. Clearly, Lord Cornwallis was not joking when he said, “We may destroy all the men in America, and we shall still have all we can do to defeat their wom

In 1775, Massachusetts was considered the most rebellious of the colonies (wow, how times have changed).  Some of the most feisty patriot women of the Revolution came from this state, but none can actually claim to have captured British spies. Prudence Cummings Wright was married to David Wright and by 1775, the couple had seven children. Yet, somehow, Prudence not only managed to keep her faculties while raising this brood, she burned with a desire to protect liberty. She ha

“Our properties within our own territories [should not] be taxed or regulated by any power on earth but our own.” — Thomas Jefferson, 1774 A well-to-do socialite of the Edenton, NC community, she was not blind to the abuses of the crown. In fact, having been widowed twice in her life, she was acutely aware of the cost of doing business with his Royal Highness King George. The richest woman in North Carolina, Penelope was adept at managing her household affairs and the busine