Patriot Hearts - Bev Russell, Library Director

(This column appeared in the August 19, 2007, Star-Herald)

I am a sucker for well-researched, historical novels. I read Barbara Hambly’s "The Emancipator’s Wife" some time ago and enjoyed it so when the library purchased "Patriot Hearts: A Novel of the Founding Mothers" I was anxious to read it as well. While a reader may disagree with the conclusions she draws, Barbara Hambly does her homework and her suppositions are based on her extensive research. In "Patriot Hearts" author Hambly turns her imagination and writing talent to Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Sally Hemmings, and Dolley Madison. Three were our first-First Ladies and Sally Hemings was a slave, rumored to be Thomas Jefferson’s concubine. (Hambly uses the term concubine in its "original literal meaning, that of a servant or slave-woman who sleeps with the master on a regular or semiregular basis".)

Again as she did in "The Emancipator’s Wife" Hambly moves back and forth in time, tracing the four women’s lives and their interaction with each other. Each woman is given a narrative voice. While the men in their lives played on the large public stage during this tumultuous period, the women participated behind the scenes, supporting their men and dealing with homes and families.

Martha Washington left her family behind to be with George at his Revolutionary War headquarters. She was noted for using her Southern hospitality to ease political turf wars and bolster her husband as he united a squabbling nation. However, she dealt with the guilt of leaving behind the children and grandchildren who needed her.

Educated Abigail Adams was John Adams soulmate. She discussed politics and literature with him but also endured his long absences, which often stretched into years. During those absences she alone held the responsibility for running their farm and raising their children. When she joined her husband in Europe, she left her young children behind in the care of family members. Later, she coped with the alcoholism and early death of her son Charles.

Quaker Dolley Todd Madison faced ostracism from her Congregation because of her marriage outside the faith to James Madison. She served as a charming hostess for Thomas Jefferson during his presidency, and as her husband’s First Lady saved many important documents during the British invasion of Washington in 1814. However, her only child Payne Todd impoverished his parents with his gambling debts and debauchery.

Barbara Hambly builds Sally Hemings’ story more on conjecture. The true nature of her relationship with Thomas Jefferson will never be known; however, what is known allows Barbara Hambly to fill in some blanks. Sally lived with Thomas Jefferson as his slave at Monticello and in Paris. She bore several children—some of whom looked remarkably like Jefferson. Her oldest son was named Tom. Her daughter Harriet passed for white and later married a white man. At Monticello her family received preferential treatment, compared to that of Jefferson’s other slaves. During the 1800 election Jefferson’s political foes accused him of fathering children with her. Finally, Jefferson freed her family (and only her family) at his death.

I found some remarkable similarities in the emotions these women dealt with and those of modern women. All four balanced their dedication to their husbands/lover against their duties of home and family. While they did not work outside the home (except for Sally Hemmings), their duties as hostesses, helpmates and housekeepers were extensive. They all confronted feelings of guilt about abandoning or neglecting their children. All three wives raised children/grandchildren who underachieved or just plain disappointed them. The notable exception to this is John Quincy Adams who like his father served as President. Like many modern mothers, the Founding Mothers must have wondered where their duty really rested. Barbara Hambly’s "Patriot Hearts" sheds a worthy perspective on four of our nation’s Founding Mothers.

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