07/01/2026
Happy 4th of July Everyone!
On this 250th Anniversary of our amazing country, The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in New Jersey is celebrating the Women of the American Revolution. Many women of the time were strong patriots. British General Cornwallis wrote, “We may destroy all the men in America, & we shall still have all we can do to defeat the women.” Here are a couple examples of New Jersey women patriots, featured in 2026 Colonial Dames programs:
Annis Boudinot Stockton was one of the first published female poets in America. As the British invaded New Jersey, Annis secretly collected important papers that had been left nearby at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and buried them with the family valuables in her garden – an act for which she was made the only woman member of the Whig Society. Her husband, Richard Stockton, signed the Declaration of Independence and was taken prisoner by the British in November of 1776; his release was secured by George Washington in mid-January, 1777.
Margaret Hill Morris was one of the first American women to practice medicine and treated both British and American soldiers during the Revolution. While others fled their homes, she stayed in harm’s way at her home in Burlington, NJ, and kept an intricate diary of her experiences during the American Revolution. Morris’s diary chronicles the events that led to the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776. Her accounts of the Revolution provide not only a perspective of the presence of troops in the colonies but also shed light upon the hardships of women during the war.
If you would like to know more about The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in New Jersey and our headquarters, Peachfield Farm, in Westampton, NJ, please visit our website: https://peachfield.org/
How will YOU celebrate?
