Hannah Fayerwweather Winthrop was born in Boston on February 25, 1726. She married her first husband at the age of nineteen but was widowed. She married her second husband, John Winthrop. John Winthrop was a Hollis Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in Harvard College and a descendant of John Winthrop, Governor of Massachusetts (1631-1648). Hannah shared in her husband’s study of Astronomy and both were loyal patriots to the American Rebellion against the British Crown.
Most of what is known of Hannah Winthrop is what she wrote to her dear childhood friend Mercy Otis Warren. Through correspondence we can learn of historical events first hand. This is especially true of Hannah Winthrop’s letters to her friend where The two discussed many topics, including the American rebellion against the Crown.
Hannah Winthrop was educated as she came from an affluent family in the Boston area. She did not attend college but had access to academia through her marriage to John Winthrop. The couple enjoyed discussing and learning astronomy, philosophy and political ideas. Both were supporters of the American resolve to stand up to the Crown, as stated numerous times in her letters to her friend.
John Winthrop was 12 years older than Hannah and in 1775, he was elderly and frail. On April 19, word came that the British were marching toward Lexington and Concord and Hannah decided to move her husband to a different location for safety. They left with other refugees, mostly women and children. She described in vivid detail on the carnage and fear they experienced. She wrote of the grief that other women were experiencing by not knowing if their loved ones were dead or alive. They went first to a place a little way out of town named Fresh Pond. On the way, she was close enough to the conflict, she was covered with dirt and dust from the firing of the weaponry. They also passed the bodies of many slain. They eventually made it to safety in Andover. The letters continued and details were shared of different campaigns, meetings and events.
John Winthrop died May 3, 1779. Mercy was distraught over the loss of her husband and often referred to her despair in her correspondence. To add to her grief, after his death, Harvard retrieved all of the astronomical equipment so she could no longer track the celestial bodies, which she so enjoyed with her husband. She was not entitled to the equipment used by her husband in his work at Harvard.
One quote of Hannah Winthrop’s was from January 1774, “And it be known to Britain, even American daughters are politicians and patriots, an will aid the good work with their female efforts”. She proved this by making a continental loan in March 1780 to support the efforts of the Revolutionary War.
Hannah Winthrop is another example of strength and conviction during times of political turmoil. Our nation’s founding required so much sacrifice and had to fight a war to win their independence from the Crown. We still have to fight to preserve our liberties. Our battles are conducted through political campaigns, not through bloody battles. Learning about these important people and their actions will remind us and the future generations of the price paid for liberty we enjoy.
Benjamin Franklin knew how fragile our form of government was when he stated “a Republic, if you can keep it”? His knowledge of Greek and Roman history educated him as to how tyranny can easily creep into government. The Winthrops knew what could be gained in America by breaking from the Crown and working to establish a representative government in this nation.