Women & Gardens in colonial Connecticut

 

1640 – “In the town of Hartford, many families keep gardens of onions, leeks, sage, and Indian corn, well adapted to the soil.” — Thomas Hooker, letter to friends in England, Connecticut Historical Society Manuscripts.

1654 – “My wife hath great success with pennyroyal and tansy in our yard, and doth boil them for physic and cooking alike.” — John Winthrop Jr., Medical Correspondence, Archives of American Medical Botany.

1667 – “The garden at Saybrook Fort is laid in squares, with apple trees near the palisades and rows of medicinal herbs for the soldiers’ use.” — Samuel Green, Colonial Gazette, New London Printing.

1689 – “Mistress Sarah Stone's physic garden yields balm, horehound, and sweet fennel for neighbors sick of the fever.” — New England Parish Records, Connecticut Society of Genealogy.

1703 – “Mistress Abigail Treat planted saffron and wormwood this spring, and reports they do well by the stone wall behind her kitchen.” — Diary of Rev. Stephen Mix, First Congregational Church of Wethersfield.

1719 – “I did observe at the house of Widow Mary Griswold that her garden was most carefully laid with strawberry beds, and with rows of comfrey and savory.” — Visit Notes of Rev. Samuel Mather, Connecticut Pastoral Journals.

1731 – “Sent seeds of anise and lemon balm to cousin Hannah in Norwich, for her own garden of simples.” — Letter of Anne Talcott, Talcott Family Papers, Connecticut Historical Records.

1744 – “Dr. Williams of Lebanon showed me a plot by his house wherein his daughters keep garden beds of borage, thyme, and lettice for their table and for their patients.” — Diary of Cotton Mather Jr., New England Clerical Writings.

1762 – “Sold my surplus of cabbages and scarlet beans at the green in New Haven; others brought herbs of horehound and hyssop.” — Connecticut Courant, October 3, 1762.

1775 – “The garden of Mistress Prudence Baldwin is famed for its rows of medicinal herbs, with foxglove, feverfew, and sage growing near the gooseberries.” — Local report in the New Haven Chronicle, reprinted in Connecticut Historical Compilation, Vol. 2.

Women & Gardens in British Colonial Rhode Island

 

1639 – “At Portsmouth, we growe pumpkins, Indian maize, and pot-herbs for physic and food alike. Mistress Anne Hutchinson hath begun her garden with rosemary and plantain, and the soil yields them kindly.” — Diary of a Settler at Aquidneck, in Early Narragansett Writings, ed. Trumbull, 1896.

1644 – “The gardens near Providence do flourish in this season. Master Roger Williams commendeth the squash and beans which the natives have taught us to sow in the same hill.” — Letter from William Dyre to John Winthrop, Massachusetts Archives, Series 33.

1675 – “Though many houses are burned by the Indian enemy, yet the gardens of rootes and herbs are yet spared in some measure, which provideth some comfort in this evil time.” — John Easton, A Relacion of the Indian Warre, Rhode Island Historical Tracts, Vol. IV.

1702 – “Mistress Mary Sheffield of Newport tends a physic garden of lavender, southernwood, sage, and balm, which she doth commend for disorders of the stomach and the spirit.” — Newport Gazette, April 7, 1702.

1716 – “A garden plot behind the Quaker Meeting House containeth both useful simples and pleasant herbs, including camomile, rue, and horehound.” — Journal of Joseph Wanton, Rhode Island Historical Society Collections.

1739 – “On Conanicut Island are fine gardens of lettuce, onions, and strawberries, and sundry plants for physic. Some women make tinctures and sell them at market day in Newport.” — Journal of an English Visitor, printed in Travels in the Colonies, 1751.

1748 – “Sarah Borden hath enclosed a fine plot wherein she cultivates wormwood, thyme, and tansy, and shares her remedies with the poorer folk.” — Providence Town Records, Vol. 3, Manuscript Division.

1763 – “The Governor's House in Newport is adorned with geometrical gardens, and a glass frame wherein oranges and citrons grow in pots.” — Letter from Ezra Stiles to Samuel Johnson, Ezra Stiles Papers, Yale University Library.

1772 – “I did receive from Mistress Patience Greene of Warwick a small bag of seed of the fennel and coriander she did raise in her own garden.” — Letter of Elisha Reynolds, Rhode Island Colonial Correspondence, Vol. II.

Women & Gardens in colonial Maryland

 

1651 – “The Governor hath a fair garden set with artichokes, pompions, and coleworts, and some tobacco also.” — Leonard Strong, *Babylon’s Fall in Maryland*, London, 1655.

1663 – “Mistress Brent’s garden groweth stoutly, for she hath brought over roots from England and laid out beds in the old fashion.” — Letter from Father Andrew White, *Jesuit Relations*, Maryland Provincial Archives.

1678 – “In the gardens of St. Mary’s there are seen cabbages, parsnips, sage, and rue, all prospering well in the new soil.” — *Proceedings of the Council of Maryland*, Archives of Maryland Online.

1702 – “Mrs. Margaret Berry keeps a plot of herbs near the chapel, and her dried balm and rosemary are sought by neighbors.” — *Maryland Gazette*, 5 March 1702, reprinted in Maryland Historical Society Bulletin.

1711 – “Goodwife Norris hath cucumbers early, and her beans climb the fence-line neatly. She boasts of saving seed these ten years.” — Diary of John Hammond, 1711, Maryland State Archives, MSA SC 2190.

1734 – “The Bishop’s Garden at Annapolis contains lavender, thyme, and roses, tended by a hired woman who boasts of cuttings from Virginia.” — William Stephens, *Letters from the American Plantations*, British Museum Add. MS 12453.

1749 – “The Governor’s Lady at the house on the Severn hath employed two Negresses to weed the physic garden and to dry chamomile.” — Charles Carroll correspondence, *Carroll Papers*, Maryland Historical Society.

1761 – “A Mrs. Hannah Clay doth sell seed of mustard, radish, and Indian cress, along with pennyroyal and horehound, from her porch near the market.” — Advertisement in the *Maryland Gazette*, 16 April 1761.

1773 – “Visitors to the plantation note the orchard trees and long rows of medicinal herbs which Mistress Rawlings tends herself. She doth favor sage and fennel.” — Travel journal of Nathaniel Evans, Maryland Manuscripts Collection, MDHS.

1775 – “In Baltimore, several widows are known to maintain kitchen gardens from which they supply greens, onions, and parsley to the garrison.” — *Pennsylvania Evening Post*, 20 May 1775.

Women & Gardens in Colonial New Hampshire

 

1653 – “We have here a plot of onions, garlic, and coleworts, all of which Brother Francis tends with diligence, even in frost. The Lord has blessed our increase.” — Portsmouth Church Records, New Hampshire Provincial Papers, Vol. 2.

1668 – “Mistress Trueworthy hath an agreeable garden in which she raiseth lettuce, cabbages, and balm for teas. She hath likewise a bed of calendula for the sick.” — Letter from William Wentworth to his cousin in Boston, March 1668, in Collections of the New Hampshire Historical Society, Vol. 4.

1674 – “At Exeter, several women have cultivated fine plots of maize, beans, and herbs near their homes. A few raise tansy and comfrey, for which there is some trade.” — John Josselyn, New-England’s Rarities Discovered, 1674.

1690 – “The garden of Mr. Richard Hilton in Dover contains fruit-bearing trees, two plots of onions and leeks, and rosemary growing under glass jars. It is a matter of pride to his wife.” — Governor’s Report on Husbandry, New Hampshire Colonial Records, Vol. 3.

1701 – “Mistress Hannah Chase, of Hampton, hath sent several bundles of sage and hyssop to Portsmouth, where they were sold dear. She keeps a fine plot of medicinals.” — Journal of Nathaniel Weare, 1701, in New Hampshire Genealogical Record, Vol. 9.

1715 – “At the parsonage garden in Exeter, they grow not only turnips and cabbage, but also feverfew and borage, which the pastor's wife distills into cordials.” — Rev. Ward Clark, Notes and Letters, 1715, held at the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

1732 – “In Rye, Mistress Abigail Foss plants valerian and tansy in beds edged with boxwood. Her peppermint cordial is famed among neighbors.” — Entry from Josiah Bartlett’s Commonplace Book, 1732, Bartlett Manuscript Collection, New Hampshire State Archives.

1759 – “In the garden of Colonel Meserve, roses and rosemary are thriving, with neat parterres of balm, marjoram, and savory. His lady entertains guests with herb jellies.” — Portsmouth Mercury, June 1759.

1764 – “Mrs. Sarah Pickering’s garden contains lavender, bergamot, and horehound. She makes syrups and electuaries for winter ailments, sold at the town market.” — Advertisement in the New Hampshire Gazette, October 1764.

1775 – “Our women tend gardens as well as any men plow fields. I saw ten plots of beans, lettuces, and cucumbers in just one hamlet.” — Continental Army soldier’s letter from near Exeter, May 1775, in Revolutionary War Manuscripts, Library of Congress.

Women & Gardens in Colonial Massachusettes 1630-1776

 

1623 – “Every family in this plantation hath a garden… wherein groweth parsley, sage, thyme, onions, carrots, turnips, and such like.” — William Bradford, *Of Plymouth Plantation*, ed. Samuel Eliot Morison, 1952, p. 162.

1630 – “We have planted gardens near every dwelling, where mint, mustard, and the Indian bean do prosper.” — John Winthrop, *Winthrop Papers*, Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. 2, p. 98.

1645 – “Sister Bourne doth supply the meeting with balm and lavender from her garden behind the meeting house.” — First Church Records of Boston, Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 10, p. 184.

1652 – “Goody Hawkins tends to physic herbs, for her own household and others. Her garden is much spoken of.” — Dorchester Town Records, Massachusetts State Archives.

1666 – “Our gardens thrive with roots and simples. The women say wormwood and tansy favor well this year.” — Letter from Increase Mather to John Cotton, in *Mather Family Papers*, American Antiquarian Society.

1678 – “She keepeth a goodly patch of earth where rosemary and rue are grown in rows. None in the town have finer balm.” — Colonial Court Testimony, Suffolk County Court Records, 1678.

1684 – “I did see at Salem many physic herbs laid to dry in Mistress Endicott’s garden.” — John Dunton, *Letters from New England*, Boston Public Library Manuscript Collection.

1702 – “Herbs for the stillroom are now gathered by the young women: sweet marjoram, feverfew, and pennyroyal among them.” — Journal of Thomas Prince, Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings.

1715 – “The garden hath been enlarged to permit melons and cucumbers; also a patch of asparagus from England now flourisheth.” — Jonathan Belcher to his sister, in *Belcher Family Papers*, Massachusetts Archives.

1729 – “Goody Adams’s herb-bed lies behind her kitchen. She drieth sage and hyssop, and maketh a cordial of wormwood.” — Marblehead Town Records, Essex County Archives.

1735 – “In Boston, I saw many fair gardens. One gentlewoman showed me her gillyflowers and physic plants with pride.” — Peter Kalm, *Travels into North America*, trans. Asa Gray, Vol. 1, p. 126.

1744 – “They have a fine garden laid out in the European fashion. It hath rows of box, with savory, thyme, and a few roses.” — Eliza Lucas Pinckney, letter to Harriott Lucas, in *The Letterbook of Eliza Lucas Pinckney*, ed. Elise Pinckney, 1972.

1753 – “Sister Hannah [Callender] gathers mint and chamomile to dry. Her diary keeps account of what blooms and when.” — Journal of Rebecca Rawson, Massachusetts Historical Society Manuscript Collection.

1761 – “In the neighborhood of Roxbury, gardens do flourish. I was shown lemon balm and lovage.” — William Bartram, field notes, Bartram Family Papers, American Philosophical Society.

1774 – “Mistress Gill’s reflections on lilies and tulips reveal a soul attentive to both nature and Providence.” — Diary of Sarah Prince Gill, Massachusetts Historical Society Manuscripts.

1775 – “Amid the trouble of this year, women still turn the soil behind their homes and hope that balm and thyme might ease the fevers to come.” — Unattributed, *Boston Evening-Post*, May 15, 1775, p. 2.

Women & Gardens in Colonial Virginia 1607-1776

 

1610s – 'Indian corne is our greatest provision for food, and it is the better because it is quickly planted and soon ripe, and yeeldeth a great increase.' — George Percy, A True Relation of the Proceedings and Occurrences of Moment in Virginia, 1607–1612.

1620s – 'The herbs and roots that the savages use for physic are planted in a faire plot neere to the new hospital.' — John Smith, Generall Historie of Virginia, 1624.

1638 – 'There is a faire garden belonging to the Governor, wherein groweth parsley, sage, sorrell, thyme, and other herbs.' — William Wood, New England’s Prospect, referencing observations during his visit to Virginia.

1650 – 'Every house hath a garden, and in it are the usual English flowers and herbs for cookery and for salves.' — Edward Johnson, Wonder-Working Providence of Sion’s Savior, 1654.

1662 – 'Mrs. Anne Cotton hath a physic garden wherein she cultivates camomile, feverfew, and mint for the use of her neighbors.' — Virginia Colonial Records Project, microfilm reel 23.

1671 – 'The President's plantation hath an orchard and garden of two acres, well kept by the women and servants.' — John Clayton, 'A Letter to the Royal Society,' Philosophical Transactions, 1688.

1699 – 'The governor’s house at Williamsburg is furnished with a large garden laid out in the newest English fashion, with borders of lavender and box.' — Reverend Hugh Jones, The Present State of Virginia, 1724 (describing earlier construction and planting).

1701 – "The Governor's garden at Williamsburg is now planted with both European cabbages and Indian corn. Mrs. Harrison hath laid in her physic herbs with care." — Virginia Gazette, 1701.

1715 – "At the manor house of Colonel Byrd, rosemary and thyme were set in neat rows. A French gardener did advise the lady on the placement of melons and parsley." — Letter from Philip Ludwell to William Byrd I, Virginia Historical Society.

1723 – "Mr. Custis’s plantation on the Eastern Shore shows the finest gooseberries and cherry trees this side of the Bay. He doth employ a woman who keeps physic herbs in pots by the kitchen." — Report from the Council of Virginia, Colonial Records, 1723.

1736 – "The garden at Mount Vernon abounds in beans, pumpkins, Indian peas, and artichokes. Mrs. Washington hath instructed the planting of lavender and tansy near the south wall." — Diary of George Washington, entry from May 1736.

1745 – "Madam Carter hath ordered her cook to gather fresh horehound and sage from the parterre. She maintains a bed of medicinal herbs for the comfort of her household." — Carter Family Papers, Virginia Historical Society.

1758 – "In our little town garden in Fredericksburg, I have set cabbages, lettuces, and wormwood. A widow down the lane trades sprigs of mint for tallow." — Letter of Mary Ball Washington to Betty Lewis, 1758.

1762 – "Great attention is paid to the layout of gardens on the James River estates. Fruit trees, especially peach and pear, now thrive alongside pumpkin vines and dandelion." — William Nelson, Letter to John Blair, 1762.

1774 – "They have in Williamsburg a garden behind the house, filled with carrots, sage, and pot marigold. The womenfolk are as clever in herbs as in lace." — Observations of the Rev. Andrew Burnaby, Travels Through the Middle Settlements in North America, 1775.

1775 – "Mr. Jefferson doth experiment with foreign seed — peas from Italy, rice from Africa. His slaves plant the physic herbs near the dependencies, under Mrs. Jefferson's supervision." — Notes by Robert Skipwith, Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Library of Congress.

Women & Gardens in Colonial Pennsylvania (1681–1776)

 

1683 – "A very good kitchen garden with herbs of all kinds thrives under the care of Mistress Elizabeth Yardley." — Journal of the Free Society of Traders, Pennsylvania Archives Series I, Vol. 1.

1690s – “The Friends here take great care in their gardens, with cabbages, carrots, and the Indian maize all growing in neat beds behind their brick dwellings.” — Gabriel Thomas, *An Account of West Jersey and Pennsylvania*, 1698.

1701 – William Penn writes from Philadelphia: “I have directed the planting of apples and plums on my Pennsbury estate, and the kitchen gardens are set out according to English order.” — Letter from Penn to James Logan, Aug. 4, 1701.

1715 – "There is a brisk trade in seeds and fruit slips in Philadelphia, with widows and housewives bringing bundles of thyme, sage, and other plants to market." — Pennsylvania Gazette (reprinted in Sabine, *Early Markets in the Colonies*, 1889).

1734 – “Our meeting house gardens are planted with both physic herbs and flowers, for the health of the sisters and the joy of the children.” — Moravian Memoirs, Bethlehem Archives.

1743 – "Ann Claypoole, Widow, sells garden seeds, potted balm, wormwood, rue, and rosemary. Also, fine lavender water and a small number of dried elderberries." — The Pennsylvania Gazette, March 8, 1743.

1752 – Visitor’s letter: “Madame Jameson’s garden in Germantown is the most delightful in the colony — rows of damask roses, quince, and the finest lemon balm I have yet seen.” — Letter in *Letters from Colonial Pennsylvania*, ed. T. Hall, 1902.

1765 – “Our greenhouse now holds several orange trees and a specimen of mimosa that came by ship from Barbados. It is a point of pride among the Ladies’ Garden Club.” — Diary of Sarah Logan Fisher, Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

1774 – “Let no season pass without setting new seed, for the soil of Pennsylvania is a forgiving one, and the plants show grace in return.” — Journal of Deborah Morris, Philadelphia, Feb. 3, 1774.

1776 – John Bartram, noted botanist of Pennsylvania, is praised: “The garden at Kingsessing is laid out with great wisdom, with native plants and foreign species both cultivated for medicine and curiosity.” — Peter Collinson to the Royal Society, June 1776.