Esther de berdt reed biography for kids
•
Esther de Berdt Reed
The Ladies’ Association of Philadelphia launched with the publication of the “Sentiments of an American Woman” on January 10, 1780, three years after the start of the American Revolution. This broadside asserted that women were equal to men in their patriotism for the new budding country:
"Our ambition is kindled by the same of those heroines of antiquity, who have rendered their sex illustrious, and have proved to the universe, that, if the weakness of our Constitution, if opinion and manners did not forbid us to march to glory by the same paths as the Men, we should at least equal, and sometimes surpass them in our love for the public good."
It continued by then appealing to the women to give up their finery and luxuries and, with the saved money, donate to the Continental Army. The author, known only as “An American Woman,” asserts that “This is the offering of the Ladies.” And offer, they did. The Ladies’ Association raised over $7,000, almost $30,000 in
•
Esther de Berdt Reed is born
On this day in history, October 22, 1746, Esther de Berdt Reed is born. She would lead the largest women’s group providing supplies for the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
Esther was born in London to Dennis de Berdt, who was Massachusetts’ representative to the Crown in the 1760s. In 1763, young lawyer Joseph Reed came from Philadelphia to study in London and stayed with the De Berdt family. The two fell in love and became tentatively engaged, though her father was against the marriage because he knew Joseph planned to return to America.
Joseph did return to Philadelphia and the two corresponded for 5 years. In the meantime, Esther’s father and Joseph’s parents passed away and Joseph returned to London where the two were married in 1770. The couple and Esther’s mother then moved back to Philadelphia where Joseph had a successful law firm.
As the American Revolution broke out, namn and Esther
•
Reed, Esther de Berdt (1746–1780)
Co-founder of the first relief organization during the American Revolution . Born Esther De Berdt on October 22, 1746, in London, England; died of dysentery on September 18, 1780, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; daughter of Dennys dem Berdt and Martha (Symons) dem Berdt; married Joseph Reed (a lawyer), on May 31, 1770; children:
Martha, Joseph, Esther, Theodosia (d. 1778), Dennis De Berdt, George Washington.
Moved to America (1771); was hostess to many delegates to the First Continental Congress (1774); published the broadside The Sentiments of an American Woman (1780); co-founded the Philadelphia Ladies Association and led a fund-raising campaign to support the Continental Army (1780).
Born in London, England, in 1746, Esther De Berdt was exposed to Americans and their interests early in life. Her father Dennys De Berdt, an agent for the colonies of Delaware and Massachusetts who helped win the revocation of the Stamp Act, often hosted