Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/226

Rh Among the other ladies intimate with Mrs. Washington besides Mrs. Morris were Mrs. Knox, Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Powell, Mrs. Bradford, Miss Ross and Mrs. Otis. Mrs. Otis was the wife of the Secretary of the Senate and mother of Senator Harrison Gray Otis. She was remarkable for her beauty and grace of demeanor, wit and powerful intellect, and she was a prominent figure during the administration of Washington. Mrs. Stewart was the wife of General Walter Stewart. Miss Ross was the daughter of Senator Ross, from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Bradford was the only child of Elias Boudinot and married William Bradford, who was afterward Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Their house was one of the noted social centers and they were distinguished for their cordial hospitality.

Mrs. Carroll, was Harriet Chew, daughter of Benjamin Chew, Mrs. Walcott, of Connecticut, was noted for her graceful manners, culture, intelligence and refinement. It is hardly necessary to mention the Carroll family, so well known are they. The family of Charles Carroll had been settled in Maryland ever since the time of James the Second, and Charles Carroll was among the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. His patriotism is illustrated in an incident which was told as having occurred at this time. When he had signed merely as "Charles Carroll," someone remarked: "You will get clear; there are so many of that name"; he added to his signature "of Carrollton," so there should be no question as to which Carroll had sustained the country in its fight for independence.

The wife of Thomas Jefferson was Mrs. Martha Skelton, a rich widow who, at the time of her second marriage, was but twenty-three years of age, of good family, beautiful, accomplished and greatly admired. Their (laughter Martha was entrusted to the care of Mrs. Adams when in Paris and made