Founding Mothers Entertain Seniors

On April 15, some 145 seniors met for the Lunch with Friends at the Marco Lutheran Church, visibly less crowded as friends and family members left the Island for the summer.

The seniors were treated to a classic dish of pasta and meatballs served with salad greens and rolls courtesy of Mister Crab Cakes. In addition to the traditional Maryland Crab Cakes, Mister Crab Cakes also does specialty catering. For the pièce de résistance, guests indulged on platters of specialty desserts courtesy of the JW Marriott! It was definitely a midday indulgence for the seniors who raved on both the artistic presentation and the taste!

The Marco Island Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and members of the Marco Island Historical Reenactors presented a short play on the overlooked stories of women who broke barriers during the American Revolution.

When we think of the American Revolution, we always think of the Founding Fathers: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Just as important are our Founding Mothers, who broke social barriers and challenged traditional gender expectations.

Key takeaways from OUR FOUNDING MOTHERS:

The Founding Mothers managed businesses, raised families, and fundraised for the cause.

Abigail Adams used her writings to influence public opinion and in March 1776, she urged her husband, John Adams, to “remember the ladies” when drafting new laws and “to be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.” Unfortunately, the ladies would have to wait for the Vote – it would be another 144 years!

The wives were also fearful of their involvement in the rebellion, but they were hopeful that the new nation would afford them greater rights, better education, the ability to own land, and to vote.

Moderator Michelle Hennessy set the stage. “On July 4th, 1776, the 13 colonies sent 56 delegates to Independence Hall in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House. Here, they planned to sign their names to a document that outlined their intentions and the reasons for their actions. The document was called, The Declaration of Independence.”

Let’s imagine the scene: Betsy Adams, wife of Samuel Adams, is seated on a bench outside Independence Hall to support the cause. Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams and cousin to Sam Adams, joins the group. Dorothy Hancock, wife of Continental Congress president John Hancock, Annis Boudinot Stockton, and Julia Stockton Rush, wives of two more signers joined the conversation. Julia Rush is only 17 years old and married to Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the youngest signers of the Declaration of Independence. Soon, someone yelled, “Hear Ye, Hear Ye, the Declaration has been signed.”

After the signing of the Declaration of Independence, fighting continued for seven more years until the Treaty of Paris was signed by King George and the United States Delegation. Four years later, the United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

An interesting trivia tidbit from the play came from Abigail Adams, who said that her husband, John Adams, was elected as the second president of the United States and their son, John Quincy Adams, was elected as the sixth president. She and Barbara Bush were the only two women in history to be both first ladies and mothers of presidents.

The Cast of the Founding Mothers

Narrator: Michelle Hennessy.

Abigail Smith Adams: Wife of John Adams, portrayed by LuAnn Schieferdecker.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Wells Adams: Wife of Sam Adams, portrayed by Judith Daye.

Dorothy Quincy Hancock: Wife of John Hancock, portrayed by Susan Smith.

Annis Boudinot Stockton: Wife of Richard Stockton, portrayed by Valinda Bilbrey.

Julia Stockton Rush: Wife of Benjamin Rush, portrayed by Carolyn Rosenfeld.

Soldier: portrayed by Timothy Smith.

A big thank you to all the volunteers from Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, Al’s Pals, and to the many sponsors such as Marco Lutheran Church, the YMCA, and JW Marriott.