Martha McTier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha (Drennan) McTier
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1742 |
| Died | 1837 |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | School teacher, hospital visitor |
|
Notable work
|
Collected correspondence |
| Movement |  Society of United Irishmen |
Martha "Matty" McTier (born around 1742 – died October 3, 1837) was an important Irish woman. She worked to improve women's health and education. She also believed in making government fairer for everyone. Her many letters to her brother, William Drennan, and other leaders of the Society of United Irishmen help us understand the big political changes happening in Ireland in the late 1700s.
Contents
Early Life and Family Connections
Martha McTier was born Martha Drennan in Belfast, Ireland, in 1742 or 1743. She was the oldest of three children. Her father, Reverend Thomas Drennan, was a minister at the First Presbyterian Church in Belfast.
Martha was greatly influenced by her father's ideas. She read many books on philosophy and literature. These included works by famous thinkers like Rousseau and Hume. She also enjoyed books by writers such as Edgeworth.
In 1773, Martha married Samuel McTier, a businessman from Belfast. After her husband died in 1795, Martha and her stepdaughter, Margaret, faced financial difficulties. Even so, Martha tried to help her brother, William. She convinced a cousin to leave William money. This allowed him to stop working as a doctor and move back to Belfast in 1806.
Helping Women and Girls
Supporting Women's Health
In 1793, Martha McTier became the secretary of a new group called the Humane Female Society. This society helped set up and support Belfast's Lying-in Hospital, which was a maternity hospital. Martha stayed active with this group for many years. She worked hard to make sure women had good care when having babies.
Starting a School for Girls
In the same year, Martha started a small school in her home. It was for girls from poor families. To teach them well, she read many books about how to educate girls. She was inspired by writers like Mary Wollstonecraft and Elizabeth Hamilton.
Martha also used new teaching methods. She believed in gentle teaching, not harsh punishments. She also liked the idea of older students helping younger ones. She was proud that her students could read about important political figures like Fox and Pitt.
In 1795, Martha and Lady Harriet Skeffington suggested a bigger plan. They wanted to open a boarding school for girls. This school would provide food and clothing. Some people opposed the idea, but Martha and Lady Skeffington succeeded. Two years later, their Union School was helping twenty-one girls.
Role in the United Irishmen
A Confidante and Supporter
Martha McTier wrote many letters to her brother William for over 40 years. She was his close friend and shared his political secrets. When her husband became the leader of the United Irishmen in Belfast, Martha became involved too. Important leaders of the movement, like Theobald Wolfe Tone and Thomas Russell, often met at her home.
Martha knew it was hard for women to have their own political voice. She felt that women connected to famous men were often seen as just repeating their ideas. She tried to avoid political arguments in social gatherings. However, rumors spread that she was a "violent republican." Some even said she had helped recruit many men for the United Irish cause.
Facing Suspicions
In 1797, Martha's brother warned her about a rumor. People in Dublin thought she was writing for the United Irish newspaper, the Northern Star. Martha wrote back, denying it. She wrote her denial carefully, suspecting that the local postmaster might be opening her letters. She had even received a threat before, warning her about her "high flown letters."
Martha also exchanged many letters with her close friend Jane Greg. Jane was active in supporting the United Irishmen. The Belfast Postmaster even told officials that Jane was "very active" and leading "Female Societies" in Belfast. A letter, supposedly from the United Irishwomen, was published in the Northern Star. It blamed England for the violence in the American and French revolutions. Martha felt she was under suspicion because of this.
To protect herself, Martha wrote a letter to her brother denying any involvement with the United Irishwomen. She said it was strange that an unknown woman like her would be noticed. However, in her earlier, more open letters, it was clear Martha was very active. For example, in 1792, she wrote to her brother about a meeting. They all agreed that the Catholic Committee should demand full rights for Catholics.
Martha's Political Beliefs
Belief in Fair Government
Martha McTier shared her husband's and brother's strong belief in a fair government for Ireland. She read many radical writers of her time, like Thomas Paine and Mary Wollstonecraft.
One minister in Belfast argued that giving everyone a fair say in government meant "every woman" should have the right to vote. Martha's brother, William Drennan, even agreed that he had never heard a good argument against women voting. This shows Martha's influence on his thinking.
Martha clearly believed in democracy. In 1795, she wrote about Belfast's Jacobin Club. She liked that ordinary people were coming forward with new ideas. She felt they were showing up those who thought they were better.
Martha also believed in real education for everyone. She saw how much people enjoyed reading newspapers. So, she planned to open a free newsroom with warmth and light for poorer people. She thought this idea could have a huge impact if done in other towns. This idea was very forward-thinking for her time.
Views on the Union with Britain
Martha had always supported a free Ireland. So, she strongly opposed the Act of Union in 1801. This act joined Ireland with Britain under the British Crown and Parliament in Westminster. She felt it was "degrading" for Ireland. She hoped Irish people would stay strong and watchful, waiting for a chance to regain their freedom.
However, Martha also worried about the growing number of Catholics in Belfast. As a Protestant, she felt less secure. In 1802, she wrote that Catholics were becoming a "large though poor and unknown body." She even said she was starting to "fear these people." This concern led many northern Protestants to accept the Union with Britain.
Later Life and Lasting Impact
In Belfast, Martha McTier continued her charity work and school commitments. She sometimes worked with Mary Ann McCracken, whose brother was executed in 1798. Martha continued her work until she lost her eyesight in old age. She passed away on October 3, 1837.
Martha and her brother's letters cover 40 years and include 1,500 messages. These letters are a very important source for understanding Irish politics and history. They tell us about events like Grattan's parliament, the 1798 Rebellion, and the passing of the Act of Union.
