Abigail Adams

by Janelle Pavao
(formatting by Dad)

Abigail Adams was one of our country's greatest silent heroes. She went through war, pain, hardship, disease, and much more for the sake of the country she loved so much.

When she was young she did not receive a proper education due to her poor health, but she spent most of her time in her father's library. This is how she did most of her learning. Later, while her husband—future president John Adams—was away at the Continental Congress, the troops of the continental army camped out in her yard, and were cared for by Abigail and her children.

When the small pox epidemic came through she had a doctor give her and her children a vaccine, which in their day was severing a bit of skin, inserting some of the pus from the pox, and tying a bandage around it. This was not always the safest thing to do, but it was safer than not being immune and living with close to three hundred who all have the disease.

This went well for all except her oldest daughter, who came down with the disease so badly that they wondered if she would make it. This disease caused large pus-filled boils all over her body, and gave her a very high fever, which left her shivering in bed night and day.

In spite of how badly she contracted the disease, she healed up perfectly, but not without scars from the pox.

Abigail Adams, Munitions Manufacturer

When the British fired on Boston's harbor and left the continental army with nothing to defend themselves with, Abigail could see it from the window of her house. She could feel the vibrations from the cannons as she held her children close and hoped that what she told them true—it would all be fine in the end.

Soon after the devastating event a few officials from the army finally received what they had been requesting for so long, weapons. Unfortunately, they received muskets, but to their dismay they did not come with bullets or gun powder; they were still defenseless.

To the rescue came Abigail Adams. She went home immediately, gathered all the silver and steel in the house, melted it down, and with the help of her ever-present children made bullets for the army. After seeing the bravery of this young mother the army was heartened for the first time in a long while. This beautiful act of loyalty gave inspiration to some of the authorities in the army. They heroically took up arms, went to one of the British bases, and stole gun powder and three large cannons.

Abigail Adams, Example for Us All

Abigail Adams was an inspiration to all and was one of the most influential people in a time when women were nothing. She overcame the greatest obstacle, birth, and she became a great hero for this country, in spite of being a woman.

It takes great courage to help out an army when it could mean the death of not only you, but also your children.

When you have to live with your daughter contracting small pox; your sons being scared to death because the house is shaking from cannon fire; having a still born baby because you overworked and it died—when you have to deal with all of this and you still stand strong and show courage for your children, I call that bravery.