Founding Mothers: The matriarchs of American independence

Religion was an integral part of the lives of "America's founding mothers," if only because the late 18th century featured a religious fever in many communities.

A look at the lives of these patriotic women reveals not only strong beliefs in God, but some struggles with interfaith issues too.

America was a melting pot for different religions.

For example, Betsy Ross, who sewed the first American flag, was a Quaker. She even attended a Quaker school. The problem came when she fell in love with John Ross, the son of an Episcopal assistant rector at Christ Church in Philadelphia. Since Quakers frowned on interfaith marriages, the two eloped. She eventually attended Christ Church with her husband where George Washington would often sit in a nearby pew.

Laura Collins Wolcott was another "Founding Mother." Oliver Wolcott wrote in a letter to his wife on April 10, 1776, some strong beliefs in America's divine destiny:

"It is most evident that this land is under the protection of the Almighty, and that we shall be saved not by our wisdom nor by our might, but by the Lord of Host Who is wonderful in counsel and Almighty in all His operations."

Below we offer short profiles of four of the nation's most notable Matriarchs.

— Lynn Arave

Martha Washington

Raised in the Church of England, Martha Dandridge Curtis Washington remained devout throughout life to weekly church attendance and her Anglican/Episcopalian beliefs of duty to God and family.

She leaned heavily on her faith with the death of her first husband of eight years and the premature passing of their four children — two in childhood, one at age 17, the other at 27.

Raising her children and grandchildren in her religion, her daily routine included an hour of Bible study after breakfast and more Bible verses, prayers and hymn singing before retiring each night at 9.

Her faith took action during the Revolutionary War as she spent winters with her general husband, George, and his troops — darning socks, making bandages and uplifting their spirits.

One winter at her request, the boarded-up and abandoned Christ Church in Cambridge, Mass., was restored and reopened in time for a New Year's Day church service. Soldiers sung to the accompaniment of a viola and clarinet, since the organ pipes had long since been pulled to be used as ammunition.

Prior to her final communion and death in 1802, she spoke to her assembled grandchildren and other relatives of the value of religion as "the great comforter of the soul."

— Scott Taylor

Abigail Adams