Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/150

Rh show the sympathy that existed between them, and his confidence in the strength of their Republican principles. His opinions and wishes on all subjects are openly expressed to them, showing how thoroughly women of this period of struggle and stress were taken into partnership, not only, as was necessary, in the dangers, but in sharing the ambition and confidences of the men, when the exigencies of the times demanded that they should know how to fight as well as to pray. Elizabeth Clay, the mother of Henry Clay, was born in the county of Hanover, in Virginia, in 1750. Her early education was such as was attainable at that period in the colony. She was the younger of two daughters who were the only children of George and Elizabeth Hudson, and before she was fifteen years old she had married John Clay, a preacher of the Baptist denomination. She became the mother of eight children and Henry Clay was among the elder of these. Her husband died during the Revolution, and some years after Mrs. Clay contracted a second marriage with Mr. Henry Watkins, and in course of time eight more children were added to her family. The cares devolving upon her in the charge of so many children and the superintendence of domestic concerns naturally occupied her time to the exclusion of any participation in matters of public interest. She must, however, have borne her share in the agitations and dangers of the time, in behalf of those who claimed her maternal solicitude and guidance. She died in 1827, having survived most of her children.

Mrs. Hancock was one of those who, by her courtesies to the officers and ladies of the British army when Burgoyne was under the convention of surrender, made Cambridge a brilliant center of hospitality and fashion. She was the daughter of Edmund Quincy, of Massachusetts, and was born in 1750. At the age of twenty-four she married John Hancock, one of the great men of the age, and, aided by the lustre of his fortunes, she became a leader in society, filling her station with rare dignity and grace. At her table there might be seen all classes; the grave clergy, the veteran and the gay, the gifted in song, or anecdote or wit. The dinner hour was at one or two o'clock; three was the latest for formal occasions. The evening amusement was usually a game of cards, and dancing was much in vogue. There were concerts, but theatrical productions were prohibited. Much attention was paid to dress; coats of various colors were worn by the men. All of which shows that the new country was capable of a salon and much pretentious social intercourse, notwithstanding the war they had just passed through and the hardships they had endured.