Pioneering Woman of Law – The Spinster, the Rebel, & the Governor by Charlene Bell Dietz

This book is both a find and an inspiration. It is the introduction to the imagined inner and community life, based on research through factual court and other records, of Margaret Brent, the woman whose extraordinary accomplishments in law, at a time when no woman could officially become an attorney, inspired the Margaret Brent Award of the American Bar Association, an honor received by women with accomplished and storied careers in the judicial arena. Brent is largely unknown except by those in the legal field, but once you read this historical novel, you will not soon forget her.

At thirty-six, Margaret Brent left her comfortable home and most of her family in England to start a new life in Maryland in the first half of the seventeenth century. Just the ocean voyage alone would have been daunting, but to come to a small colony of male landowners, some with wives, but many without, a number of servants (most of whom were working off their passage in an indentured arrangement), and the surrounding Native American communities, some hostile, some not, would have been too intimidating for most people, particularly single women.

Margaret and her sister Mary, and their brothers Fulke and Giles, immigrated to the colony of St. Mary's City, Maryland in 1638. They were just four of the children of a large family of Catholic landed gentry in Gloucestershire, England. There was great turmoil in England over religious issues, which began the previous century when Henry VIII abolished the authority of the Pope and made himself head of the Church of England. Both Catholics and Puritans, who were Protestants who objected to the practices of the Church of England, experienced prejudice and repression – hence the establishment of the Puritan colony in 1620 of what became Plymouth, Massachusetts – and families like the Brents, who, despite their wealth and prestige, were living fearfully, as their religious practices were outlawed. 

As single women, Margaret and Mary were able to become landowners in Maryland (if a woman married, her property became her husband's). One of the major themes of the book is Margaret's conflict between her desire for independence and the ownership of her property, versus her feelings for Leonard Calvert, the governor of the Maryland colony.

In addition, the novel presents how Margaret, both well-read and bold, and with a strong sense of justice, began to challenge the all-male government system of the colony, and advocate for those who had been wronged in various disputes. She made appearances before what was the court system of the time, and served as the attorney for those in need. She was also deeply involved in the financial affairs of the colony, and as executrix, managed the affairs of the estate of Leonard Calvert after his death. This too was extraordinary for a woman of her time. 

In the list of historical figures that opens the book, the author shares that Margaret presented over 125 cases to the governing body and that the title of "Attorney" appears in the official records of the time. This accomplishment led to a number of honors in her name in Maryland, and in Virginia, where she later moved.

As presented, Margaret's story and achievements are fascinating – no doubt she was an amazing woman in real life, as well as in fiction. The novel incorporates this historical material in an understandable and accessible writing style, and this woman of the 1600s feels very much alive, with a personality and accomplishments that would make her a powerful figure if she were with us today.

Early Americans at Odds, 1689 – Out Front the Following Sea by Leah Angstman

A novel of American history from before the American Revolution, and before the time of the French and Indian War which made George Washington a future leader... The year was 1689 and King William's War had begun, a fight between the Protestant English colonists of what we know as New England, and the Catholic French colonists of what was referred to as New France. As you probably realize, the English eventually pushed the French back to beyond the Mississippi River, and north to Acadia (central Maine and beyond into what are now the provinces of Canada). South of New England, the Dutch were colonizing present-day New York, and northern New Jersey, and were also a threat to the English. The various Native American tribes were being impinged upon by all of the Europeans, and at various times, aligned with the different colonists in order to retain their lands and autonomy. As we know, they were not successful.

This was the era of pirates and highwaymen, witch trials, and violent punishments for small and large infractions. Women, of course, had no rights to own property, and in fact, were the property of their husbands.

Ruth Miner, a brilliant young woman of English background, was accused of witchcraft in her town, along with the murder of her parents, and had to flee in self-preservation or be put to death. Her only hope and friend was a young sailor, Owen, of French descent, with whom she had been raised, and now shared a mutual attraction. She stows away on his ship as it travels along the Connecticut coast to Stonington (located just south of Rhode Island), and finds refuge there.

A series of shocking and unfortunate events spin out, with Ruth experiencing violence, abuse, and heartbreak, though she makes a friend of a Pequot Indian she meets in the woods, and the Stonington couple who take her in. Owen moves in and out of her life in unexpected ways.

In the end, despite tremendous suffering and loss, Ruth endures.

This is a rich and beautifully written book by historian Leah Angstman, whose obvious efforts in research of the period gives this story authenticity, vividness, and no shortage of drama. Highly recommend.

Remember the Ladies – Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation by Cokie Roberts

Cokie Roberts is a journalist who is known for covering the political scene in Washington, DC. Her voice is familiar to many due to her commentaries on National Public Radio (NPR) and her years working for ABC News. She comes from a leading political family, the Boggs. Both her parents served as US Representatives from Louisiana, and her ancestry includes a number of prominent lawmakers reaching all the way back to the period of the Louisiana Purchase.

She has written a number of books with a political and/or historical focus, but this is the first for me. I found it to be an enlightening, lively account of some of the leading ladies of the Revolutionary Period, with special attention paid to Martha Washington and Abigail Adams. There has been so little attention paid to the women of the time, who generally stayed behind the scenes due to the conventions of society, that it is not easy to find a non-fictionalized account of their lives that is truly readable. 

I enjoyed the audio book as read by the author, but I would have liked to have heard even more about the remarkable women who were the subject of her book. I will be researching and adding some biographies of them to my reading list soon.