HOME-FRONT CHALLENGES

At home women continued their husbands’ work of farming, trades, or tending shops. Disease, loneliness, scarcity of supplies, and the presence of soldiers added to their stress. Abigail Adams told her husband that she hoped to earn a reputation of being as good a farmeress as his reputation of being a statesman. She described the problems of 1776, of disease, hope of small-pox vaccinations, and her family’s help:

Sunday July 14
I have really had so many cares upon my Hands and Mind, with a bad inflamation in my Eyes that I have not been able to write. I now date from Boston where I yesterday arrived and was with all 4 of our Little ones innoculated for the small pox. My Uncle and Aunt were so kind as to send me an invitation with my family. Mr. Cranch and wife and family, My Sister Betsy and her Little Neice Cotton Tufts and Mr. Thaxter, a maid who has had the Distemper and my old Nurse compose our family. . . .

We had our Bedding & c. to bring. A Cow we have driven down from [Braintree] and some Hay I have had put into the Stable, wood &c. and we have really commenced housekeepers here.

God Grant that we may all go comfortably thro the Distemper, the phisick (sic) part is bad enough I know. I knew your mind so per- fectly upon the subject that I thought nothing, but our recovery would give you eaquel (sic) pleasure, and as to safety there was none. The Soldiers innoculated privately, so did many of the inhabitants and the paper currency spread it everywhere. . . .

Nabby and Johnny send duty and desire Mamma to say that an inflamation in their Eyes which has been as much of a distemper as the small pox, has prevented their writing, but they hope soon to be able to acquaint Pappa of their happy recovery from the Distemper.83

Throughout the colonies, communities aided one another. Catherine Greene gave her home as a hospital for soldiers, and women in Pennsylvania received inoculations, then opened their homes to sick soldiers.

Prayer: Lord, comfort me when I face hardships and violence. Protect and heal me from diseases.