Daughters of Liberty

The Daughters of liberty was a successful Colonial American group that consisted of women who displayed their patriotism by participating in boycotts of British goods following the passage of the Townshend Acts. Using their feminine skills of the time period, they made homespun cloth and other goods to fill the need for British imports.

   The Daughters of Liberty used their traditional skills to weave yarn and wool into fabric, known as "homespun". They were recognized as patriotic heroines for their success, making America less dependent on British textiles. Proving their commitment to "the cause of liberty and industry" they openly opposed the Tea Act. They experimented to find substitutes for taxed goods such as tea and sugar. Discoveries like boiled basil leaves to make a tea like drink helped lift spirits as well as allowed for kept traditions without the use of British taxed tea.

  They also had a large influence during the war. For example, in the countryside, while Patriots supported the non-importation movements of 1765, and 1769, the Daughters of Liberty continued to support American resistance. In 1774, the patriot women helped influence a decision made by Continental Congress to boycott all British goods. 

Women Associated with the Daughters of Liberty

Deborah Franklin was a daughter of liberty along with Abigail Adams. Sarah Bradlee Fulton has been called the "Mother of the Boston Tea Party". Her brother, Nathaniel Bradlee, a patriot, held many meetings in his home. A group of Boston citizens disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians in the Bradledhryte home with the help of Mrs. Bradlee and Sarah Bradlee Fulton and afterwards returned there to bathe and remove their makeup.

 Thomas Hickey, one of General Washington's bodyguards, had been convinced to join the British side and was conspiring to kill Washington. Phoebe Fraunces, George Wasington's black housemaid, noticed that Hickey was putting poison onto Washington's peas. Fraunces soon informed Washington of his evil plans. Hickey was convicted of conspiring to kill the General and was hung.

Esther de Berdt, a London-born woman who worked to raise money in Philadelphia, went with over three dozen women door to door in support of the Revolutionary War, more specifically to address General George Washington's complaints. She helped to organize a women's group, which used the money to sew linen shirts for the soldiers of the Continental Army. She was married to Joseph Reed, one of George Washington's aides-de-camp, and later a delegate to the [[Continental Congress].Hi-Xu