My Heroes... Elizabeth Hartwell Sherman and Rebecca Prescott Sherman

My earliest memories of American history... okay, my few memories of American history during my formative years were movies, like Johnny Tremain and 1776. In 1776, there's a line about Roger Sherman being a shoemaker. He was, when he married Elizabeth. He was the county surveyor. He had little education but excelled at mathematics. He made the calculations for an almanac published in New York. Elizabeth bore seven children, two of whom died in infancy. She was known for her gentle nature and good Christian character. At the time of her death, Roger was studying law.

There was 22 years between Roger and Rebecca. She was a spirited young woman. She sewed the first flag in the state of Connecticut. According to Wives of the Signers, quoting a niece in the Journal of American History, Roger said that he liked to consult an intelligent woman when faced with a perplexing question, and the opinion he preferred was Rebecca's. She bore eight children, of which only one didn't survive.

As I read about these women, I've noticed that several were deeply respected by their husbands. They were true partners. Each had their role, even as they depended on each other. These weren't women who were downtrodden or belittled or dismissed. They were strong, educated, intelligent, self-reliant, courageous... the things I wish I were.