Esther de Berdt Reed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Esther de Berdt Reed
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| First Lady of Pennsylvania | |
| In role December 1, 1778 – September 18, 1780 |
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| Governor | Joseph Reed |
| Preceded by | Elizabeth Smith Bryan |
| Succeeded by | Sarah Lloyd Moore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 22, 1746 London, England |
| Died | September 18, 1780 (aged 33) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5, including Joseph Reed |
Esther de Berdt Reed (born October 22, 1746 – died September 18, 1780) was an important leader during the American Revolutionary War. She helped soldiers by creating and leading the Ladies Association of Philadelphia. This group worked to provide help for George Washington's army during the war.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Esther de Berdt was born in London, England on October 22, 1746. Her family had moved there from another country to find religious freedom. Her family called her Hette or Hettie. She loved to read books.
When she was 23, Esther married Joseph Reed. He was an American who had studied law in London. After they married, Esther and her widowed mother moved with Joseph to Philadelphia in the American colonies.
Joseph Reed became a successful lawyer and a local political leader. The couple often hosted important people, including George Washington and John Adams. Joseph Reed later worked as Washington's secretary and helper during the war.
Helping the War Effort
Even though she was born in England, Esther Reed strongly supported the American Revolution. During the war, she helped start the Ladies Association of Philadelphia. This group raised more than $7,000 to support the war. That would be about $30,000 today!
General Washington suggested that the group use the money to buy linen fabric. The women then sewed clothing for the American soldiers. Esther had wanted to give the soldiers gold or silver coins. She thought this would be a special gift. However, Washington worried the money might be spent on alcohol.
Washington also asked each woman who sewed to stitch her name into the clothing she made. This way, the soldiers would know who made their shirts. The women created over 2,200 shirts for the soldiers. Because of her hard work for the American cause, Esther Reed was recognized as a Daughter of Liberty. This was a special honor for women who supported the Revolution.
Esther's Legacy
Sadly, Esther Reed died young, at age 33, on September 18, 1780. She did not live to see the end of the war or the completion of her project. Sarah Franklin Bache, who was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin, took over Esther's role. She made sure the patriotic project was finished.
Even though she died early, Esther Reed's efforts were remembered. Women in other colonies, like Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia, followed her example. They started similar groups to raise money for the soldiers. Her dedication to the Revolution was very special because she was British. She had only lived in America for a few years before the war against her home country began.
Esther Reed wrote about why she supported the American cause. She made it clear that freedom was her main reason. She also believed that women could share their political ideas.
During a time when Philadelphia was evacuated, Esther fled with her five children. They went to Flemington, New Jersey. She was first buried in Philadelphia but later moved to Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Women's Role in the Revolution
Esther Reed also helped write "The Sentiments of an American Woman." This was a special paper published in Philadelphia in January 1780. It asked women to support the war. It also stated that women were just as patriotic as men.
This call to action was very successful. The Ladies Association of Philadelphia became the largest women's organization during the Revolutionary War.
