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Part of the American
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Rebecca Sanford Barlow
Rebecca Barlow was the daughter of Eli Nathan Sanford of
Reading, Connecticut by her marriage to Aaron Barlow she became
the sister-in-law of Joel Barlow, the poet, philosopher and
politician who, it is believed, owed much of the formation of
his mind and character to this wife of his elder brother. Much
of his time in early life was spent in the society of this
sister-in-law, who was a woman of strong mind, and he has
admitted that he wrote the "Columbiad" and other works under her
inspiration.
When the stirring scenes of the Revolution began, both brothers
felt called upon to act their part. The husband of Rebecca
Barlow entering the service of his country was in a short time
promoted to the rank of colonel. His military duties requiring
long absences from home, the young wife was left in the entire
charge of their estate and of their helpless little ones. At one
time a rumor came that the British army was approaching and
would probably reach her town that very night. The terrified
inhabitants resolved on instant flight and each family,
gathering together such of their effects as they could take with
them, left the village and traveled the whole night to reach the
only place of refuge available. Mrs. Barlow could not carry away
her children and to leave them was out of the question. She
therefore remained to protect them or share their fate in the
deserted village. No enemy, however, was near, the groundless
alarm having been excited by the firing of some guns below.
The story of Mrs. Barlow's heroism in remaining alone in the
village when the attack from the British was expected reached
the ears of bluff General Putnam, then in command of a brigade
of American troops in the vicinity. It is said that feeling a
curiosity to make the acquaintance of a woman whose character so
met with his strong appreciation, he took a stroll over the
fields toward her house, wearing the clothes of a countryman,
his ostensible errand being a neighborly request that Mrs.
Barlow would be kind enough to lend him a little yeast for
baking. Without ceremony he entered the kitchen, where the
matron was busily engaged in preparing breakfast, and asked for
the yeast. She had none to give, and told him so each time his
request was repeated, without stopping her employment to look at
the face of her visitor. It was not until after his departure
that she was informed by her old black servant who it was who
had asked the favor with such importunity. "I suppose," was her
remark; "had I known him I should have treated him with rather
more civility, but it is no matter now." General Putnam came
away from the interview declaring that she was the proper
material for the matrons of the infant nation.
A few years after the war ended Colonel Barlow with his family
removed to Norfolk, Virginia, where he subsequently fell a
victim to the yellow fever, and after the burial of her husband
and daughter Rebecca Barlow returned to her former home in
Connecticut, where she died at an advanced age. Some of her sons
have rendered important services to their country as statesmen.
The youngest, Thomas, accompanied his uncle Joel, when serving
as Minister Plenipotentiary at the court of France, as his
secretary, and after the death of his uncle, in the winter of
1813 escorted his wife who had been left in Paris, to America.
The remains of the Minister were brought with them and placed in
the family vault at Washington.
Women of
America
Source: The Part Taken by Women in
American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle
Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.
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