Another Gutsy Woman in History Takes a Flight of Faith

Every morning I go through today in history from the http://history.com website. One of my favorite sites when I’m researching. I share the information on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Facebook and Google+ I don’t get to many shares or responses, but on Twitter I get several compliments that read “thank you, enjoy reading your daily history post.” I really appreciate hearing those comments and I thank you if you are reading this post today.

The first post I share is always from The Revolutionary War, every day in history something happened. Sunday through Saturday. The Revolution was the most notable time in history, each and every detail was a first in American history. The trinkets of information I discover from the era intrigue me on a daily basis. You won’t learn this type of information in a text book and I think that’s a shame.

Of course, the ladies were doing equally important deeds on a daily basis. Today I jump forward to 1935 and write about Amelia.

In 1935, Amelia Earhart Putnam was the first PERSON to fly solo from Hawaii to California. It took two days! With commercial airlines a way of transportation today, people don’t realize how incredible this event was in history. Air flight goes back centuries. Until the Wright brothers successfully flew their glider 622 feet in 1902 did air flight really begin it’s advancement in technology.

Thirty-three years prior with no computers, robots, Microsoft or Apple fancy software, two men and nothing more than a pencil, paper, a creative collaboration and good old fashioned sweat and hard labor (you know when you physically create something that is not computer generated) helped advance technology for humans, particularly one gal to fly in the air over land and sea to get somewhere. Now for a woman to do this – well it was phenomenal.

Her arrival on January 13, 1935 in Oakland California.

On July 2,1937 on a flight around the world Amelia Earhart along with her passenger navigator Fred Noonan vanished and were never found. I don’t like to dwell on the death of the women I write about, I prefer to write about the outstanding accomplishments they conquered while they were living. They lived and they lived the way they wanted to.

As Amelia said it in a letter she wrote to her husband George, the letter he was to read in case she never came home from one of her record breaking flights:

“I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.” ~ Amelia Earhart

Teresa L. Watts,

 Author discovering amazing women in US History, one gal at a time

For the Ladies

Gannett Family Grave site Deborah Sampson a.k.a. Robert Shurtlieff

Rock Ridge Cemetery, Sharon Massachusetts November 2010

Me at Deborah Sampson’s Grave site, Sharon Massachusetts November 2010.

I recently found out a male resident in Sharon Massachusetts has taken a keen interest in Deborah Sampson and is writing her story. GREAT! I wish him much success.

During my research of women in US History, Deborah is one of the most fascinating women I discovered. But… men writing about women has always rang too technical to me. Which always takes me back to conversations I have with women about men and history. “It’s done their way and they forget about the ladies.” “That’s why it’s called HIS-story” I giggle a little. The dividing line between men and women always gives me a little giggle, I can’t help it.

As a woman I research between the lines. It’s what we do, we are known for beating the facts to death right? (sarcasm). Fact are facts and behind every factual situation is an emotion the compelled someone to do it. The emotional intent on doing what we do. How women think and the desires behind our actions is one thing that men will not EVER be able to grasp – I don’t care how many debates I will have with anyone on this topic. In turn,I don’t think like a man and don’t pretend I know how to or want to for that matter.

Women of our history are just as responsible for the founding of our country as the men were. They accomplished successful deeds, just as the men did. Women didn’t sit back and watch what the men were doing, they were working and working hard. Men and women worked as a team. They were each others most trusted companions and together they worked and labored on every task that was needed to survive and create a new life. As most want to say they didn’t have a choice. True. However, men and women weren’t any different then as they are today in the process required to accomplish what needs to be done.

Women were not allowed to be educated, even though most women in history were very well educated?  Women were not allowed to have an opinion even though most men listened to their women’s advice. Abigail Adams for one, Eleanor Roosevelt another.

Deborah Sampson fought in the Revolutionary War as male soldier Robert Shurtlieff, a foot soldier with the 4th Massachusetts Regiment. She was felled by a musket ball to her left thigh and slashed by a sabre across her forehead. After the war she went to her Aunt and Uncle Waters farm, met and married Benjamin Gannett and bore three children, adopted a daughter Patience. Petitioned and received veteran’s pay as a soldier of the war as Deborah Gannett. Went on the lecture circuit and spoke about her time in the war and performed military drills dressed as a soldier, and was paid for it. Retired to a quiet life in Sharon Massachusetts and was known in town as the “Old Soldier”. Died on April 29,1827 in the upstairs bedroom of the home she shared with her husband, son and daughter in-law.

All of this information and more are documented facts readily available to anyone who would like to know more about Deborah Sampson Gannett.

For this author, my interest in the remarkable life of Deborah Sampson Gannett and all the women I will write about in US History and all that they accomplished and the REASONS behind their actions are but one question.

Why?

Teresa L. Watts, Author of the remarkable women in US History, telling THEIR stories, their way.

Jane Austen December 16, 1775

Although I write about women in US History I can’t overlook the influence of Jane Austen. Her stories continue to influence readers centuries later. The author is still referred to as one of the great writers of all time.

Jane Austen was quiet and kept to herself most of the time. One of eight children she was unhappy about her family relocating to Bath in 1801 she retreated deeper into her world of words. Her father’s passing in 1805 and another move to the home of one of her brothers Jane continued to pen her stories.

Publishing romance with a comical twist on 18th Century society received moderate reviews in her time. It wasn’t until the 1940s that she became a noted English author.

Jane Austen never married and died at the young age of 42 on July 18, 1817. Her nephew published her Memoir in 1869.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jane-austens-birthday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austen

Teresa L. Watts

December 14, 1799 George Washington Passes

The announcement of George Washington’s death opens my book. He died on the 14th however the official announcement wasn’t made until Dec 20th.

George Washington passed around 10 AM on December 14th, by 12 Noon Martha had burned all of the letters he wrote to her over the years. I found that piece of information interesting. What was in the letters for her to burn them so quickly?

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-washington-dies

Teresa L.  Watts

18th Century Holiday Traditions

Modern society holiday traditions are marked by lights, lighted trees, gifts, parties, and fattening up the fourth quarter of retailers bottom lines. Where did it come from? How did it all begin? With so much focus on the birth of Christ the meaning of Christmas lost the real meaning of the Holiday Season. Through the research of this writer, well the mention of the bible wasn’t the only focus of the season. There were other sides to celebrating the holiday’s. Of course Church was a primary focus of how people lived, but celebrating the holiday had other meanings as well. (I’m not  trying to debunk the meaning of Christmas so don’t start blasting me with religious beliefs and I’ve lost my way comments. Each person has their own meaning of the holiday’s, this post is about the HOLIDAY SEASON not Christmas Day. I’m just a curious person who seeks American history traditions)

There are many stories and theories of how the holiday’s marked the mid-winter festive season. When did Santa Claus come about (American Tradition) How did the Christmas tree with a star on top come about? (German, then became widespread around the world from a photo in Windsor Castle in 1848) and why do we display a circle greenery of garland on our door? (Dated back as far as the ancient Romans). Source:(http://www.history.org/almanack/life/christmas/hist_customs.cfm)

The holiday season meant celebration of balls, fox hunts, and festive socializing. Since the mid-winter season is bleak and dreary adding greenery with berries spruced up homes and towns adding joy. Candles placed on town trees and in the windows provided a cheery glow.

In modern society we get the ball rolling early, the day after Thanksgiving let the festivities begin! Well okay now the day before, well no actually doesn’t it start in October now?

In Early America the holiday season began on December 25th, marking the 12 days of Christmas concluding on January 6th. Early America didn’t celebrate New Year’s as we do today. It really comes up as just another day on the calendar, writer Lou Powers commented “these were the days before Times Square and Guy Lombardo wasn’t born yet”… (loved that line). The song The Twelve Days of Christmas it has been said didn’t have anything to do with the holiday’s, the song came about to teach children how to count… (this before Count Dracula and Sesame Street)

One of the holiday traditions that started in Early America and still happens to this day are candles in the window. The candles were lit at 5:00 pm and flickered until 10:00 PM from December 25th until January 6th.

My home in 2010, photo by Teresa Watts

For me, this is the best tradition and gives me the holiday spirit. During my research road trip last fall the discovery of Deborah Sampson putting a lighted candle in every window of her home was how she decorated for Christmas, all 37 of ‘em. On our way back west I started noticing candles in the windows alongside the roads we traveled. I found this fascinating! Putting a lit candle in your window is a fire hazard, hands down no one can argue with that. As modern technology now provides battery and electric candles for your safety. To me this is more decorative and festive for the holidays than blasting your house with strings of lights, not to mention the power bill (eeks).

Gift giving good ‘ole American tradition. Christmas gift were not “exchanged” but servants and children were given a special treat and it was only one sided.

So why was this time of year for celebration? Well harvesting was done, planting seeds were done, the ground was covered with snow so you really couldn’t do anything, maybe it was the time of year that everyone took a break and got together to catch up and rest. Gathering for balls, feast and socializing was the perfect way to end the year. That’s my theory.

The Holiday Season is about being thankful for all that we have; family, good health, good food, and good friends. Enjoy and Good Cheer!!

 

Teresa L. Watts