Women's Issues: Colonial Style

Women, women everywhere.

Turn on the television and that's all you seem to hear on the news shows.

"This candidate is more attractive to women."

"Woman are now warming up to this candidate."

"That comment about rape is probably not endearing himself to women."

Well, just in case you didn't know, women have been with us for a long time now.

And if you think women have it bad now, you should have seen how things were in the 18th century.

For example, did you know Ruth Potts, wife of Pottstown founder John Potts, gave birth to 13 children and sill manager to outlive the old boy by nearly 20 years?

But, as this poster for a program at Pottsgrove Manor Saturday notes: "not all women were so fortunate."

Fortunate?

13 kids?

I can barely manage one who just finished his 13th year.

But if you want an idea of what life was like for women in the colonial era, make some time Saturday at 1 p.m.

That's when historian Nancy Webster will give a talk on the subject. (A $2 donation is suggested.)


The talk is titled: “Women’s Woes: Childbirth, Life Stages, and Challenges to Female Health in Colonial America.”

This lecture is being held in conjunction with the museum’s current exhibit, “Matters Personal, Details Private: Cleanliness, Hygiene, and Personal Pursuits in the Colonial Home.” After the presentation, a guided tour of the manor house and the exhibit will be offered. This will be one of the last opportunities for the public to tour the “Matters Personal, Details Private” exhibit before it ends on Nov. 4.

As you should know by now, Pottsgrove Manor, the manse of John Potts, is located at 100 W. King St. in Pottstown.