ESSAY: "On the Equality of the Sexes"

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 1792: The acclaimed Massachusetts Magazine publishes Judith's groundbreaking essay, "On the Equality of the Sexes" in two parts (March and April).

She continued her subject in essays included in The Gleaner, the book she self-published in 1798 making her the first American woman to do so.  Those essays will be posted here at a later date. 

My introduction to "On the Equality" goes into more detail. Many thanks to CITA Press for making Judith's essay available!



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JSM Timeline

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 Judith Sargent Stevens Murray Timeline ca. 1640 — Thomas Saunders of England, Judith’s maternal ancestor, settles at Cape Ann, Gloucester, Massachusetts. 1678 — Earliest record of JSM's paternal ancestor, William Sargent of England, in Gloucester. 1727 — JSM's father, Winthrop Sargent, is born in Gloucester. 1731 — JSM's mother, Judith Saunders, is born in Gloucester. 1750 — JSM's parents marry in Gloucester. 1741 — JSM's first husband, John Stevens Jr., is born in Gloucester. 1741 — JSM's second husband, John Murray, is born in Alton, England. 1751 — May 1: Judith Sargent is born in Gloucester. 1753 — JSM's brother, Winthrop, is born in Gloucester. 1755 — JSM's sister, Esther, is born in Gloucester. 1757–8 — JSM's sister, Catherine, is born and dies in Gloucester. 1758–9 — Another sister named Catherine is born and dies in Gloucester.   1759 — (The Rev. James Relly of Wales publishes Union: or a Treatise on the Consanguinity and Affini...
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17 June 1775 Judith Sargent Stevens to John Murray Letter 18    to Mr Murray    Gloucester    June 17th 1775   You demand an account of our last week's peregrinations, and solicitous to evince my readiness to fulfil the duties of a punctual Correspondent, I hesitate not to meet your wishes — We commenced our little tour on this day, the morning was beautifully serene, and the earth was cloathed in its richest verdure — At a short distance from Gloucester, we were accosted by a person of a decent appearance.  You will conjecture his character, from the ensuing conversation — as our party consisted only of my sister, and myself, I suppose he felt authorized to address us very familiarly    "Ladies your most obedient — You ha[v] it very pleasant" — Rather warm we think Sir — "Pray where are you from Ladies?" — From Gloucester Sir — "Pray are you driven from thence?"  No Sir, we drive — "Ah — Pray are not most of the people driven from...
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