368:. She stated that her husband had not participated in the war and would not aid the enemy. Washington did not give him a pass. Hugh was appointed by General Howe to work in Philadelphia as the commissary of prisoners. In June 1778, Hugh went with the British army to New York. He was charged with treason and when he was banned from America, he sailed for London. He never returned to Elizabeth, and she did not move to England as her husband asked. In 1777 and 1778, Elizabeth carried a letter from
311:. The poem had four parts: hope, solitude, doubt, and adversity. The poem traces the progress of her grief as she feels abandoned by her husband. In part one, Fergusson is angry at her husband, Hugh, because he deserted her but, more importantly, because there were rumors he had impregnated a servant. Eventually, Ferguson realizes that she is not alone in her anger and grief. She realizes that she has many things in common with other loyalist women such as
157:, Commander of the British land forces, to be a commissary to patriot prisoners in Philadelphia. He was charged with treason and banned from America. Elizabeth decided to stay in Pennsylvania and her estate was confiscated for her husband's treasonous activities and her attempts to get Washington to give up the war and have the colonies enter into a peace settlement.
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In 1779, Elizabeth was forced to vacate the property and for two years lived with various acquaintances and family members. Elizabeth
Ferguson wrote letters to get help regaining her property after it was confiscated. These letters tended to be forceful and vigorous in order for her to get the help
352:
Elizabeth met the younger Scot, Hugh Henry
Fergusson (b. 1748), and they were married on April 21, 1772, in Philadelphia, without her father's knowledge or approval. Hugh left Philadelphia for Scotland in the summer. Her father knew that the couple wanted to marry, and he suggested they wait until
237:
While in
England, Elizabeth learned that her mother died on May 29, 1765. Back at Graeme Park, Elizabeth assumed the role of female head-of-household. Ann Graeme Stedman, her sister, died soon after their mother, and Elizabeth raised Ann's children. Elizabeth was then her father's lone surviving
353:
Hugh returned from
Scotland. Elizabeth's father died on September 4, 1772, of a stroke, never having learned of his daughter's marriage. By September 21, having not heard from her husband, Elizabeth made a public announcement of her marriage, as advised by John Dickinson, a lawyer.
31:
225:
In 1764, Elizabeth traveled to London at the urging of her mother, whose health was failing. Another reason to travel to London, was to lift her spirits from the recent breakup. There until 1765, she met esteemed literary and scientific people. In London, Elizabeth met
189:. Although there were no public schools for children, she was among upper-class Quakers, who were more likely to make a good education available for girls. Beginning at age 15, Elizabeth wrote to entertain her readers. She shared her works — like songs,
372:, at her husband's urging, that requested that Washington give up the fight against the British and end the war and she tried to bribe an official to arrange for a peace settlement. Graeme Park was confiscated in 1779 for her and her husband's
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After two years of petitioning the government, Elizabeth finally regained the right to her property and moved back to Graeme Park in 1781. In 1791, however, Elizabeth could no longer afford the upkeep of the property and was forced to sell.
394:, meaning that all of her property belonged to her husband when they were married. Since Hugh was abroad, she petitioned the government in 1781 to act as a surrogate patriarch and return the estate to her.
145:
In 1772, she married a
Scotsman, Hugh Henry Fergusson, who spent much of their first five years of marriage abroad. When he returned to the Philadelphia area by September 1777, Elizabeth asked General
692:"The Most Learned Woman in America: A Life of Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson. By Anne M. Ousterhout. (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2004. xx, 391 pp. $ 35.00, isbn 0-271-02311-2.)"
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After her sister Jane's death, Elizabeth raised and educated her niece Anna Young Smith and her nephew. She also raised her sister, Ann Graeme
Stedman's, children after her death.
181:. Ann educated Elizabeth, teaching her to read and write, needlework, and social graces. Her father taught her Latin, German, and Greek. He also shared his impressions of the
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In
September 1775, Hugh went to England on personal business, and from there sailed for Jamaica in February 1776. He arrived in New York on July 19, 1777. Hugh arrived in
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from the original French. She worked on it from 1765 to 1768, in part to manage her depression after losing her mother and sister. In the same time period, she wrote
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185:. She was taught French by a tutor in Philadelphia and also learned Italian. Elizabeth was rare among other colonial girls for receiving an education in the
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asking for his assistance to allow Hugh to return to their home at Graeme Park, 12 miles (19 km) north of
Germantown along a southwest branch of the
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said it was "the most distinguished intellectual salon in
British America." The weekly meetings were based upon the French salon. Talented writers like
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315:. In the second part of her poem, she writes "My Shattered Fortunes I with calmness Bore / A Loss in Common but with thousand more".
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Davidson, Cathy N.; Wagner-Martin, Linda; Ammons, Elizabeth; Harris, Trudier; Kibbey, Ann; Ling, Amy; Radway, Janice, eds. (1995).
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in 1757. The father and son went to
England and Elizabeth's relationship with William ended in 1759, as desired by both families.
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449:, Commander of the British land forces, sailed from Staten Island to Chesapeake Bay on July 20, 1777. Hugh sailed with Howe.
234:. While she was in England, she kept a travel journal, which was later circulated and read among her peers in Philadelphia.
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Elizabeth Graeme, the sixth of nine children born to Dr. Thomas and Ann Diggs Graeme, spent much of her youth at
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1064:. Dumbarton Oaks Colloquium Series in the History of Landscape Architecture. Harvard University Press. p.
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As her health declined, she was cared for by Betsy Stedman. Elizabeth died February 23, 1801, at the Billet at
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338:. Biographer David S. Shields said, "No other author did as much to encourage womens' [
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After the death of her sister (Jane), Elizabeth became the guardian and educator of her niece,
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for her elite male and female acquaintances which was among the earliest American salons. The
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Her poems showed her emotional side. One of her longest and most emotional poems was
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1041:. Britannica Guide to World Literature. The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 62–63.
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Aside from writing poetry, Elizabeth's main literary project was the translation of
107:; (February 3, 1737 – February 23, 1801) was an American poet and writer, known for
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in Philadelphia. Some of her siblings and her parents were buried at the cemetery.
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841:"Elizabeth Graeme married Hugh Henry Fergusson, April 21, 1772, Philadelphia",
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729:
Cypess, Rebecca (2022). "Reading Musically in the Salon of Elizabeth Graeme".
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The most learned woman in America : a life of Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson
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For the final ten years of her life, Elizabeth lived with friends and wrote
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Milcah Martha Moore's Book: a commmonplace book from revolutionary America
115:
called "attic evenings", based upon French salons. Her attendees included
521:. In Davidson, Cathy N.; Wagner-Martin, Linda; Ammons, Elizabeth (eds.).
186:
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Quarter of a Millennium: The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1731–1981
901:
In Dependence: Women and the Patriarchal State in Revolutionary America
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793:. New York: Palgrave Macmillan US. pp. 145, 146, 147, 148, 152.
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Women's Narratives of the Early Americas and the Formation of Empire
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James, Edward T.; James, Janet Wilson (1974). Paul S. Boyer (ed.).
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Pennsylvania Marriage Records, Pennsylvania Archives Printed Series
410:, publishing some of her poetry and participated in the writing of
177:. Her mother, Ann Diggs, was the stepdaughter of colonial governor
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to give him a pass so that he could return to her at her estate,
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558:"Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson, 18th-century, Philadelphia, poet"
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645:. The Pennsylvania State University Press. pp. xii, 99.
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425:. Elizabeth is buried on the south side of the churchyard of
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Blecki, Catherine La Courreye; Wulf, Karin A., eds. (1997).
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The Oxford companion to women's writing in the United States
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The Oxford companion to women's writing in the United States
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Notable American Women 1607–1950: A Biographical Dictionary
735:. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 279–325.
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was dedicated to Elizabeth as a sign of her gratefulness.
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879:
845:, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1876 – via ancestry.com
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by September 29, when Elizabeth sent a letter to General
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about the wisdom of banning the import of British goods.
195:, witty yarns, and travel chronicles — with her friends.
1015:. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press.
953:"R.I.P. - Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson Mourned by Friends"
269:
Oxford Companion to women's writing in the United States
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She is known for the mentorship that she provided to
1106:. The Library Company of Philadelphia. p. 164.
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414:with a number of her female acquaintances, such as
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1085:The Power to Deny: A Woman of the Revolution Novel
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525:. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 316.
344:] writing in the eighteenth-century America."
1039:American Literature from 1600 Through the 1850s
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763:: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of August 2024 (
732:Women and Musical Salons in the Enlightenment
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1102:Wolf II, Edwin; Korey, Marie Elena (1981).
613:Dunk, Mary Maples. James, Edward T. (ed.).
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898:Beatty, Jacqueline (2023-04-25).
741:10.7208/chicago/9780226817927-010
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904:. NYU Press. pp. 2, 14–15.
690:Klepp, Susan E. (1 March 2005).
470:The "Other" Women of Graeme Park
199:Young adult, guardian, and poet
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981:Christ Church in Philadelphia
519:"Fergusson, Elizabeth Graeme"
1136:at Dickinson College Library
1128:"Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson"
1083:Long Stanley, Wendy (2019).
1037:Augustyn, Adam, ed. (2010).
1009:Ousterhout, Anne M. (2003).
615:"Ferguson, Elizabeth Graeme"
263:She hosted "attic evenings"—
1181:18th-century American poets
696:Journal of American History
380:Confiscation of Graeme Park
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621:. Harvard University Press
517:Shields, David S. (1995).
445:He arrived one day before
248:Les Aventures de Télémaque
111:(1768). She held literary
101:Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson
23:Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson
1130:at Friends of Graeme Park
295:attended her gatherings.
203:Elizabeth was engaged to
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680:, pp. 102, 105–106.
1176:Poets from Pennsylvania
1087:. Carmenta Publishing.
743:(inactive 2024-08-26).
583:Oxford University Press
332:Elizabeth Willing Powel
328:Annis Boudinot Stockton
293:Annis Boudinot Stockton
169:, the family estate in
133:Annis Boudinot Stockton
789:Tillman, Kacy (2016).
313:Grace Growden Galloway
183:Scottish Enlightenment
822:founders.archives.gov
423:Hatboro, Pennsylvania
402:Later years and death
173:, located outside of
171:Horsham, Pennsylvania
161:Early years and works
51:Horsham, Pennsylvania
1191:American women poets
597:The Internet Archive
447:General William Howe
155:General William Howe
939:, pp. 337–338.
873:, pp. 144–145.
861:, pp. 143–144.
220:An Ode to Gratitude
75:, Pennsylvania, US
1134:Biographical Note
1094:978-1-951747-00-8
1048:978-1-61530-233-8
1022:978-0-271-02311-3
911:978-1-4798-1215-8
581:. United States:
532:978-0-19-506608-1
488:, pp. 40–45.
412:commonplace books
362:George Washington
336:Mary Willing Byrd
309:The Deserted Wife
281:Francis Hopkinson
205:Benjamin Franklin
147:George Washington
127:, and her niece,
121:Francis Hopkinson
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1166:1737 births
957:Graeme Park
702:(4): 1441.
408:voraciously
391:feme covert
370:Jacob Duché
273:Jacob Duché
167:Graeme Park
151:Graeme Park
117:Jacob Duché
73:Graeme Park
1160:Categories
991:2011-04-27
962:2024-05-04
827:2024-05-04
625:2016-11-29
562:Britannica
457:References
358:Germantown
232:George III
67:Billet at
44:1737-02-03
759:cite book
230:and King
109:The Dream
84:The Dream
374:loyalist
348:Marriage
238:child.
187:classics
716:3660206
209:William
207:'s son
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765:link
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