Continuing our posts from the new NCFHS publication, "Charity Cook: A Liberated Woman" (https://www.ncfhs.org/product/charity-cook-a-liberated-woman/): "Charity Wright was born 11-13-1745 near Monocacy Creek, a few miles south of Frederick, Maryland....For some strange reason, the account of Charity's birth given in the records of Cane Creek Monthly Meeting of Friends erroneously reports the date as 11-13-1742, just one day after the birth of her sister Margaret....Knowing as we do something of birth control or the lack of it in the 18th century, it would be uncommon for a five-year gap to occur in the growth of the Wright family [which eventually numbered 13]. Other accounts of Charity show that she was born in 1745. John and Rachel Wright, her parents, kept assiduously to the baby business for just over 20 years, during which time the stork visited their cabin on an average of once every 19 months." (fb)

Over the coming days, we'll be sharing excerpts from NCFHS's exciting new publication, an updated edition with index of Algie Newlin's "Charity Cook: A Liberated Woman." The book can be purchased at: https://www.ncfhs.org/product/charity-cook-a-liberated-woman/. From the back cover: "Explore the remarkable life of Charity Cook (1745-1822)....A backwoods country woman, Charity Cook rose in the 18th century to become one of the foremost traveling ministers holding the Society of Friends together in what was becoming a new nation. She traveled on horseback, often in winter, to minister to meetings and families from Carolina to Massachusetts. Later, she did the same in England, traveling on a ship boarded by pirates, and in Ireland, where she nearly died from smallpox. Crossing the channel to France and Germany, she and her companions came close to being arrested as spies during the 100 Years War. Charity Cook was a courageous woman who had the faith, boldness, and family support necessary to be liberated, freed, from the traditional married woman's role more than 200 years ago." (fb)