Women & The Women & The Colonial EraColonial Era

Indentured ServantsIndentured Servants Debtors prisons, Labor ContractsDebtors prisons, Labor Contracts Virginia CompanyVirginia Company Labor Conditions & Punishment:Labor Conditions & Punishment: The female servants who became pregnant The female servants who became pregnant

during their term of servitude were ordered during their term of servitude were ordered on average to serve 240 extra days and on average to serve 240 extra days and receive 12 lashes at the public whipping post receive 12 lashes at the public whipping post

Given extra time for pregnancy, menstruation Given extra time for pregnancy, menstruation 1645 “Susan C” sent to house of corrections 1645 “Susan C” sent to house of corrections

for hard labor, coarse diet with daily and for hard labor, coarse diet with daily and weekly physical “corrections” for disobeying weekly physical “corrections” for disobeying ordersorders

1756 Elizabeth Sprigs worked cleaning horse 1756 Elizabeth Sprigs worked cleaning horse stalls given corn & salt to eatstalls given corn & salt to eat

In the course of the In the course of the seventeenth seventeenth century, from century, from 120,000 to 150,000 120,000 to 150,000 immigrants landed immigrants landed in the Chesapeake in the Chesapeake region, and three region, and three quarters of these quarters of these people came as people came as indentured servantsindentured servants

Gender ratioGender ratio Men often bought indentured women Men often bought indentured women

explicitly to be their wivesexplicitly to be their wives Women also had shorter life spans in the Women also had shorter life spans in the

colonies than women in England, and colonies than women in England, and shorter life spans than their male shorter life spans than their male counterparts within the coloniescounterparts within the colonies

They were subject to more danger than men, They were subject to more danger than men, because they had to worry about sexual because they had to worry about sexual predators, predators,

Those who survived the ordeal, however, Those who survived the ordeal, however, often found their lives improvedoften found their lives improved

Sarah HickmanSarah Hickman In April 1642, Sarah Hickman came before the In April 1642, Sarah Hickman came before the

court claiming that the merchant who bound court claiming that the merchant who bound her promised her a two-year contract.her promised her a two-year contract.

After arrival Mr. William Burdett purchased her After arrival Mr. William Burdett purchased her contract, he bound her for four years. contract, he bound her for four years.

In 1642, she brought witnesses to the court to In 1642, she brought witnesses to the court to testify to her contract with the merchant, testify to her contract with the merchant,

In 1644, William Burdett’s inventory includes In 1644, William Burdett’s inventory includes Sarah Hickman’s service for one more year Sarah Hickman’s service for one more year valued at 700 pounds of tobaccovalued at 700 pounds of tobacco..

The MayflowerThe Mayflower 18 married women 18 married women

came on the came on the Mayflower.Mayflower.

By the following By the following Spring only four were Spring only four were still alivestill alive

English Common Law & English Common Law & Women's RightsWomen's Rights

Femme Covert Femme Covert Unmarried mothers faced criminal chargesUnmarried mothers faced criminal charges Polly Baker, Boston prosecuted for having her 5Polly Baker, Boston prosecuted for having her 5thth

consecutive child our of wedlockconsecutive child our of wedlock In 1976, Del Martin, a coordinator of the N.O.W. Task In 1976, Del Martin, a coordinator of the N.O.W. Task

Force on Battered WomenForce on Battered Women Our law, based upon the old English common-law Our law, based upon the old English common-law

doctrines, explicitly permitted wife-beating for doctrines, explicitly permitted wife-beating for correctional purposes. However, certain restrictions correctional purposes. However, certain restrictions did exist... For instance, the common-law doctrine had did exist... For instance, the common-law doctrine had been modified to allow the husband "the right to whip been modified to allow the husband "the right to whip his wife, provided that he used a switch no bigger than his wife, provided that he used a switch no bigger than his thumb" -- a rule of thumb, so to speak. his thumb" -- a rule of thumb, so to speak.

Anne HutchinsonAnne Hutchinson Defied church leaders in the early years of the Defied church leaders in the early years of the

Massachusetts Bay colony by insisting that Massachusetts Bay colony by insisting that she and ordinary people could read and she and ordinary people could read and interpret the Bible for themselvesinterpret the Bible for themselves

Very controversial! Very controversial! Held meetings with up to 60+ individuals and Held meetings with up to 60+ individuals and

criticized local ministers.criticized local ministers. Governor John Winthrop concernsGovernor John Winthrop concerns Put on trail twice by both the church and Put on trail twice by both the church and

governmentgovernment Banished by the colony and followed to Rhode Banished by the colony and followed to Rhode

Island by 35 familiesIsland by 35 families

Margaret BrentMargaret Brent

January 21, 1648, Margaret Brent appeared January 21, 1648, Margaret Brent appeared before the assembly and requested two votes. before the assembly and requested two votes.

She asked for one for herself as a landowner She asked for one for herself as a landowner and one as Lord Baltimore's attorney. (power and one as Lord Baltimore's attorney. (power of attorney)of attorney)

The first female in the New World to request the The first female in the New World to request the right to vote. right to vote.

  One of 13 children One of 13 children never married despite 6/1 rationever married despite 6/1 ratio

arrived in St. Mary's City on November 22, arrived in St. Mary's City on November 22, 1638 from a wealthy English family migrated 1638 from a wealthy English family migrated to escape the inherent constraints of her life to escape the inherent constraints of her life in England.in England.

Given land title by Lord Baltimore about 2000 Given land title by Lord Baltimore about 2000 acres with her sister. Managed brothers acres with her sister. Managed brothers estates. estates.

Ten years after her arrival, Margaret Brent Ten years after her arrival, Margaret Brent was prominent as a businesswoman and was prominent as a businesswoman and landowner. landowner.

Governor Leonard Calvert died in 1647 from Governor Leonard Calvert died in 1647 from his deathbed, exhorting her to "Take all and his deathbed, exhorting her to "Take all and pay all," he appointed Margaret Brent his pay all," he appointed Margaret Brent his executor, a testimony to his faith in her executor, a testimony to his faith in her abilities. abilities.