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Esther de Berdt Reed (October 22, 1746 – September 18, 1780) was active in the American Revolutionary War as a civic leader for soldiers' relief, who formed and led the Ladies Association of Philadelphia to provide aid for George Washington's troops during the war. ==Early life== Esther De Berdt was born in London, England, into a family descended of Protestant refugees from Ypres, who had fled the "Spanish Fury" led by the Duke of Alba. Her family called her Hette or Hettie and she loved books very much. At the age of twenty-three Esther married Joseph Reed, an American who had studied law in London. Thereafter, she and her widowed mother followed him to Philadelphia in the American colonies. Joseph became a prosperous lawyer and a local political leader, and the couple entertained members of the Continental Congress, including George Washington and John Adams.〔 Reed later served as Washington's secretary and aide-de-camp. ==Role in Revolutionary War== Though she was English by birth, Esther was exceptionally devoted to the revolutionary cause. During the Revolutionary War, she helped organize the daughters of liberty in Philadelphia which raised more than $7000 in support of the war. At the suggestion of General Washington, the group then used the funds to purchase linen and sew clothing for American troops. DeBerdt had wanted to give the men gold or silver coins, something above and beyond what they would normally receive, but Washington feared the money would be used for liquor. He also had each volunteer seamstress, whether married or unmarried, sew her name into the clothing she made. More than 2,200 shirts for the soldiers were created from the funds and the labor of these women. For de Berdt's efforts in support of the American cause, she was recognized as a Daughter of Liberty. Unfortunately, Reed did not live to see her efforts fully realized. Reed died on September 18, 1780, at the young age of 34. The daughter of Benjamin Franklin, Sarah Franklin Bache, took over Reed’s position and finished the patriotic project. Though she did not see the project finished, Reed’s efforts did not go unacknowledged. She was recognized as a Daughter of Liberty, and women in several colonies, including Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia, followed her example by starting similar fundraising organizations. Her commitment to the Revolution is especially noteworthy because she was British; she had lived in America only a few years before the war against her homeland began. In writing about her reasons for this unusual action, Esther Reed made it clear that freedom was her motivation, and that women also were capable of publishing political thought. Esther DeBerdt Reed was born in England on October 22, 1746. Her father, Dennis DeBerdt, was a successful merchant who traded with the colonies. The DeBerdt home was often a meeting place for Americans who had come to England to study business or law. In 1770, she married Joseph Reed, an American lawyer, and moved to Philadelphia. Joseph served as George Washington's secretary and aide-de-camp during the early years of the war and became the governor of Pennsylvania in 1778. Esther regularly wrote to her brother, Dennis DeBerdt in England, and her husband, and openly expressed her political thoughts and ideas. She wrote that she believed America had been wronged by the English Parliament and their tax acts. As the war started, Esther shared her passion for the American cause as she discussed the strength of public commitment and her belief in the Americans' eventual victory. This set her apart from many colonial women of her time, who chose not to discuss politics, nor experience it through the men around them. Instead, she used her domestic role to further her own opinions and ideas about the Revolution. The Reeds entertained many important Patriots at their home. While the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, the Reeds held several events with its members. One member from Connecticut called Esther a "daughter of liberty." Esther developed The Sentiments of an American Woman and the Philadelphia Ladies Association just after giving birth to her sixth child and while recovering from smallpox. The year 1780, when the broadside was published, marked the sixth year of the Revolutionary War. The soldiers of the Continental Army had just faced another harsh winter without proper supplies, clothing, or nourishment, leading to low morale, desertions, and attempts at mutiny. In the spring of 1780, British General Clinton had attacked and captured Fort Moultrie at Charleston, South Carolina. This was a significant American defeat, since Fort Moultrie was home to the southern American Army. Meanwhile, General Washington faced an attempted mutiny of two Continental regiments in Morristown, New Jersey, who demanded their payment of salary that was five months late and full rations. While the French had pledged to assist the Americans, their involvement did not show positive effects until July 1780. Joseph Reed had received news of the deteriorating conditions of the army from several sources and Esther Reed was well informed. Esther felt something had to be done to help the soldiers. Realizing that morale was at a perilously low point among the Continental Army, Esther wrote The Sentiments of an American Woman as she saw a need for colonial women to contribute to the war effort. She wanted to reward the soldiers for their past services and inspire them for the future. Publication of the broadside marked the beginning of an organized women's movement in Philadelphia. Three days after publication, 36 women met in Philadelphia to show their support. This organization became known as the Ladies Association of Philadelphia and was most active between the years 1780-1781. The immediate plan of action was to conduct a fundraiser to benefit the troops that would involve all the colonies, carried out through the efforts of patriotic women. They kept highly detailed records of the monies collected. By July 4, 1780, the women had collected $300,000 in paper currency. That July, The Sentiments of an American Woman was published in newspapers throughout the colonies and encouraged women in other colonies to organize their own committees. While arranging how the money was to be distributed and working to create local committees in other towns, Esther contracted dysentery and died on September 18, 1780. After her death, the Ladies Association of Philadelphia, under the leadership of Sarah Franklin Bache, completed George Washington's request by sewing more that 2,000 shirts for the troops with the money raised. The Sentiments of an American Woman is often viewed today as an example of "female patriotism." Colonial and Revolutionary era women were expected to restrict themselves to the "private sphere" of the home. Female patriotism, such as that exhibited by Reed and her associates, provided a means by which women could participate to some extent in the "public sphere" of politics and business. The women who worked on the campaign wrote circular letters explaining their activities to women in other towns. This led to similar campaigns in New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. The campaign in New Jersey raised $15,488 for George Washington's troops. According to the historian Linda Kerber, the female patriots that organized and participated in these campaigns did not actually emerge from the women's private sphere. According to Kerber, they used their gender to tease or flirt to get contributions. However, Kerber admits that the broadside, The Sentiments of an American Woman, which accompanied the campaign, provided an ideological justification for women to enter the political realm of the public sphere. During an evacuation of Philadelphia she fled with her six children to Flemington, New Jersey. She is buried in the Arch Street Presbyterian Church cemetery in Philadelphia. Her epitaph reads: In memory of Esther, the beloved wife of Joseph Reed 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Esther de Berdt」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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