Hannah Mather Crocker facts for kids

Hannah Crocker (June 27, 1752 – July 11, 1829) was an American writer. She was one of the first people to speak up for women's rights in America. She also helped women get involved in groups like Freemasonry. Her book, Observations on the Real Rights of Women (1818), was the first American book about women's rights.

Early Life and Family

Hannah Mather was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on June 27, 1752. Her father, Samuel Mather, was a minister. Her mother was Hannah Hutchinson.

Hannah came from a very famous family of ministers called the Mathers. Her ancestors included Richard Mather, Increase Mather, and Cotton Mather. These men were important Puritan leaders. They were involved in big events like the Salem Witch Trials and discussions about vaccines.

Hannah's uncle was Thomas Hutchinson. He was the Governor of Massachusetts before the American Revolution. Hannah grew up in a religious home and kept her strong beliefs throughout her life.

Her father believed that girls should also get a good education. This idea helped Hannah become passionate about women's rights. She studied many subjects, including languages, history, and literature.

Helping the Revolution

When Hannah was a teenager in 1775, she helped the American rebels. She hid letters from her father under her clothes. She then secretly carried them out of British-controlled Boston. She delivered these important letters to Joseph Warren, a leader of the rebel forces.

Marriage and Family Life

On March 18, 1779, Hannah married Joseph Crocker. He had studied at Harvard College and was a captain in the Revolutionary War. Joseph also believed in women's rights.

Hannah and Joseph had ten children between 1780 and 1795. During her marriage, Hannah became interested in Freemasonry. This was a group that followed certain principles. She worked to improve women's place in society.

She started a group called St. Anne's Lodge. This was an all-female organization. It followed ideas from Freemasonry. The group helped women learn about literature and science.

Later Years and Legacy

Hannah Crocker also became a well-known writer and poet. She supported the Federalist Party in politics. In 1812, she started the School of Industry. This school taught useful skills to "the female children of the poor in the Northern district of Boston."

Hannah died in Dorchester, Massachusetts, on July 11, 1829. She was buried in the Mather family tomb. This tomb is in Copp's Hill Burying Ground in Boston.

Hannah Crocker's Writings

Hannah Crocker wrote several important works. She used her writing to share her ideas about women's rights and history.

The North Square Creed

In 1787, Hannah wrote something called the North Square Creed. This writing was never published. It was like a promise or pledge. It was meant for husbands of women who joined St. Anne's Lodge. It encouraged them to commit to certain principles in their marriage. The title used secret language that members of Freemasonry would understand.

Observations on Women's Rights

Hannah published her most famous book in 1818. It was called Observations on the Real Rights of Women, with Their Appropriate Duties, Reminiscences and Traditions of Boston, Agreeable to Scripture, Reason and Common Sense.

In this book, she argued that men and women had equal mental abilities. She believed that if girls and boys received the same education, they would learn just as well. She wrote:

...although there must be allowed some moral and physical distinction of the sexes agreeably to the order of nature, still the sentiment must predominate that the powers of the mind are equal in the sexes.... There can be no doubt that there is as much difference of the powers of each individual of the male sex as there is of the female; and if they received the same mode of education their improvement would be fully equal.

Even though she supported equality, some of her views were still traditional. For example, she believed women should focus on their homes and families. She also defended Mary Wollstonecraft, another writer who supported women's rights.

Reminiscences and Traditions of Boston

Between 1822 and 1829, Hannah wrote her detailed history, Reminiscences and Traditions of Boston. In this book, she described and analyzed events of the American Revolution. She helped explain why the Revolution happened and what it achieved.

She combined political ideas with historical descriptions. She also showed how important public protests were. For example, she explained that the Boston riots against the Stamp Act were similar to older anti-Catholic parades. She wrote as if she was a witness to the events. This made the reader feel like they were there.

This manuscript was found after her death. The New England Historic Genealogical Society acquired it in 1879. They finally published it in 2011.

Other Works

Hannah Crocker also wrote other works. These include A Series of Letters on Free Masonry and The School of Reform; or, Seaman's Safe Pilot to the Cape of Good Hope.