{NOVEMBER 21, 1754} THURSDAY NOVBR. 21.You may remember that this day week I told you I was very poorly, and so have been eversince, some of the time very bad. The Doct was affraid I was taken with the long fever, and isstill affraid it may prove that or some other bad fever. I have not been able to walk alone foralmost a week past, but today as our people were all at meeting...I crawld as far as the case ofdrawers and got my paper and thought I would try to write a little but can no more.... [65){DECEMBER 11, 1754} WEDNSDAY EVE.Mr Tennent looks at me and says, "Poor creature, she is to have no comfort in life I see!but always to be hurried to Death" But Mr Tennent is mistaken for even in my being hurriedI take pleasure, for it has always been recond by me amongst my greatest pleasures to wait onmy friends. Tis true sometimes I have those to attend on that are not the most agreable, buthow many I am rejoiced to see enter my doors-Went down to Elizabethtown with Mr andMrs Tennent, dined at Mr Woodruffs, drank Tea at the Governors. ... [71–72]{JANUARY 16, 1755} THURSDAY EVE.I am realy my dear, very uneasy, and much concernd that I hear nothing from you for so drtpusblong a time-Are you alive? You are sick, and have kept your Chamber this six weeks, and per- mit vard tohaps will die before I can hear one word from you. ... [81] o a.ni des brsht raseolb{MARCH 1, 1755} SATURDAY MARCH 1. DAY be.omit smsest 1s meit to vnam enibnsa nodA woman here Ironing for me, and I am very busy mending stockings and one thing and riw.o02 binsanother, so would beg your pardon for this day. [95]{APRIL 27, 1755} SABBATH EVETis several days since I have said one word to you, but my heart has been at Boston with lle vmyou very often.My dear Little Sally has been very sick and as we feard near to death... but Gods goodnessis continued and repeated in spareing her as yet, perhaps only to give us time to prepare us forthe sore tryal we have apprehended so nigh.She is still quite low and as I apprehend not out of dainger. The Doct think she has hadsomthing of a Pleursy, to be sure she has had a very violent feaver. She has been extreamlytendsome, would go to no stranger, so Sukey and I have been obliged to watch every Nightever since her sickness [so] that I am almost got to be as bad as the Child.1. What duties does Esther have around the house? Does she have much leisure time?vlims1er to enorbns zpnibnuo1tonol to saigoeb sdtnoisA to sliw adtoM TAGEUTA Ipera O)201 af 1The forlb ton ob13sd aadmo l Movn otbov n2. Does Esther do all of her housework alone? What does this say about her social class?3. What activities draw Esther from the house?4. Describe Esther's social life,5. What often worries Esther? Do modern women have these same concerns? Why or why not? NameAMERICAN REPUBLIGCHAPTER 4 ACTIVITY 2Family Life in New EnglandExcerpts from The Journal of Esther Edwards Burr, 1754-1757One of the most important ways that historians learn about the past is through the journalsand letters of the people that lived in the past. These journals and letters show how the suraroundings and current events affected the people that wrote them. Esther Edwards Buurr wanthe daughter of Jonathan Edwards, the most famous minister in colonial New England, andthe wife of Aaron Burr Sr., the president of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton), As thedaughter of such a prominent minister, Esther received more education than most womenof her time. When she married and moved away from home, she began writing letters to herclosest friend, Sarah Prince. Esther wrote her letters to Sarah like a journal, writing daily andthen sending many of them at the same time. Read the following entries from her journaland see what you can learn about life for a woman in colonial New England.{OCTOBER 5, 1754} SATURDAY MORN.I write just when I can get time. My dear you must needs think I cant get much, for I havmy Sally to tend, and domesteck affairs to see to, and company to wait of besides my sewing,[so] that I am realy hurried. [50]{OCTOBER 6, 1754} SABBATH-DAY.In the Morning I went to Meeting, heard Mr Joans Preach from 1. Corinthians. 12 Chap.3 vers.... OI am ashamed, and that justly, that I spend my Sabbaths no better! I wonder Goddoes not deprive me of these blessed oppertunitys! I am sure I deserve it!Eve. If you knew my dear friend how gloomy our house was you would pety me. Mr Burrhas been gon one long week and if every week seems as long as this, it will be an Age beforeMr Burr comes home. I am so concernd about his helth (as he was poorly when he left) thatat times I cant rest-I wish I could leve him in the hands of a kind and gracious God who haspreserved him, and me, so many journeys. . ..{OCTOBER 7, 1754} MONDAY EVE.This day I rode out to see some sick people, and to do country business, such as speak forWinter Tirneps, Apples, and syder, and butter.... [51]{OCTOBER 9, 1754} WEDNSDAY EVE.My time for writing is after I have got Sally a sleep. This day I rode out to see some sickpeople and Mrs Serjent amongst the rest tho' I hope she is not daingerous. This afternoon MrsBelcher and Mrs Woodruff came to drink Tea with me. I have been very poorly all day with apain in my brest and am now so ill I can but just set up. . . . [52]{OCTOBER 26, 1754} SATURDAY. OCTBR 26.These several days I could not get one minutes [rest] to say one word to you, for I had aquilt on the fra[me] and my Ironing to do, and could get no help....[57]{NOVEMBER 8, 1754} FRYDAYAm a little better. A gentleman from Albany has been here to day and brings the sertainnews that all the Indians in Stockbridge have left the place except two or three famalys. Hesay they are much disgusted, and say the white people are jelous of em and they will not liveamong em any longer. He said farther that they had a mind to send for a neighboring Tribeto assist em to kill all the people in Stockbridge. 0 my dear what a dismal aspect things have!Lam almost out of my witts! What will become of my Dear father and his afflicted family! Obeln me to commit em to God who orders all things in mercy, and don't willingly afflict norgrieve any of his Children! . . . [60-61]

The excerpts from the journal of Esther Edwards Burr has depicted the family life of England.

{NOVEMBER 21, 1754} THURSDAY NOVBR. 21. You may remember that this day week I told you I was very poorly, and so have been ever since, some of the time very bad. The Doct was affraid I was taken with the long fever, and is still affraid it may prove that or some other bad fever. I have not been able to walk alone for almost a week past, but today as our people were all at meeting...I crawld as far as the case of drawers and got my paper and thought I would try to write a little but can no more. ... [65] {DECEMBER 11, 1754} WEDNSDAY EVE. Mr Tennent looks at me and says, "Poor creature, she is to have no comfort in life I see! but always to be hurried to Death." But Mr Tennent is mistaken for even in my being hurried I take pleasure, for it has always been recond by me amongst my greatest pleasures to wait on my friends. Tis true sometimes I have those to attend on that are not the most agreable, but how many I am rejoiced to see enter my doors-Went down to Elizabethtown with Mr and a Mrs Tennent, dined at Mr Woodruffs, drank Tea at the Governors. . . . [71–72] {JANUARY 16, 1755} THURSDAY EVE. I am realy my dear, very uneasy, and much concernd that I hear nothing from you for long a time-Are you alive? You are sick, and have kept your Chamber this six weeks, and per-mit vard to haps will die before I can hear one word from you.... [81] o aonh9 dens2brsnt reseob {MARCH 1, 1755} SATURDAY MARCH 1. DAY be.omit smses16 meit to ynsm enibnsa nod A woman here Ironing for me, and I am very busy mending stockings and one thing and srwez bns another, so would beg your pardon for this day. [95] {APRIL 27, 1755} SABBATH EVE Tis several days since I have said one word to you, but my heart has been at Boston with you very often. My dear Little Sally has been very sick and as we feard near to death... but Gods goodness is continued and repeated in spareing her as yet, perhaps only to give us time to prepare us for the sore tryal we have apprehended so nigh. She is still quite low and as I apprehend not out of dainger. The Doct think she has had somthing of a Pleursy, to be sure she has had a very violent feaver. She has been extreamly tendsome, would go to no stranger, so Sukey and I have been obliged to watch every Night ever since her sickness [so] that I am almost got to be as bad as the Child. 1. What duties does Esther have around the house? Does she have much leisure time? Iylims7 Ens pnibmuo1 3o sigueb sds SA lo siw ant so to drigusb wROM TAGEUTAR er eFOO ot afw Tia (o adi ni b ton ot (boves KAHOTJO 2. Does Esther do all of her housework alone? What does this say about her social class? 3. What activities draw Esther from the house? 4. Describe Esther's social life. 5. What often worries Esther? Do modern women have these same concerns? Why or why not?

{NOVEMBER 21, 1754} THURSDAY NOVBR. 21. You may remember that this day week I told you I was very poorly, and so have been ever since, some of the time very bad. The Doct was affraid I was taken with the long fever, and is still affraid it may prove that or some other bad fever. I have not been able to walk alone for almost a week past, but today as our people were all at meeting...I crawld as far as the case of drawers and got my paper and thought I would try to write a little but can no more. ... [65] {DECEMBER 11, 1754} WEDNSDAY EVE. Mr Tennent looks at me and says, "Poor creature, she is to have no comfort in life I see! but always to be hurried to Death." But Mr Tennent is mistaken for even in my being hurried I take pleasure, for it has always been recond by me amongst my greatest pleasures to wait on my friends. Tis true sometimes I have those to attend on that are not the most agreable, but how many I am rejoiced to see enter my doors-Went down to Elizabethtown with Mr and a Mrs Tennent, dined at Mr Woodruffs, drank Tea at the Governors. . . . [71–72] {JANUARY 16, 1755} THURSDAY EVE. I am realy my dear, very uneasy, and much concernd that I hear nothing from you for long a time-Are you alive? You are sick, and have kept your Chamber this six weeks, and per-mit vard to haps will die before I can hear one word from you.... [81] o aonh9 dens2brsnt reseob {MARCH 1, 1755} SATURDAY MARCH 1. DAY be.omit smses16 meit to ynsm enibnsa nod A woman here Ironing for me, and I am very busy mending stockings and one thing and srwez bns another, so would beg your pardon for this day. [95] {APRIL 27, 1755} SABBATH EVE Tis several days since I have said one word to you, but my heart has been at Boston with you very often. My dear Little Sally has been very sick and as we feard near to death... but Gods goodness is continued and repeated in spareing her as yet, perhaps only to give us time to prepare us for the sore tryal we have apprehended so nigh. She is still quite low and as I apprehend not out of dainger. The Doct think she has had somthing of a Pleursy, to be sure she has had a very violent feaver. She has been extreamly tendsome, would go to no stranger, so Sukey and I have been obliged to watch every Night ever since her sickness [so] that I am almost got to be as bad as the Child. 1. What duties does Esther have around the house? Does she have much leisure time? Iylims7 Ens pnibmuo1 3o sigueb sds SA lo siw ant so to drigusb wROM TAGEUTAR er eFOO ot afw Tia (o adi ni b ton ot (boves KAHOTJO 2. Does Esther do all of her housework alone? What does this say about her social class? 3. What activities draw Esther from the house? 4. Describe Esther's social life. 5. What often worries Esther? Do modern women have these same concerns? Why or why not?