Mothers...

Mother Teaching Child, Sir Alfred Gilbert 1881, marble

Family trees are unweildy beasts however I've been thinking about the common thread of motherhood throughout the centuries and this has led me to far off branches of the expansive tree.

In giving thanks to the mothers in our lives, let's take a moment to think of those, known or unkown, that have gone before... I do often wonder about the challenges they faced, the joys they appreciated and the common threads of birth, love and motherhood.

As such, a 'roll call' of the mothers who have blazed the trail for me...

Margaret Bates b1450, Mildred Ward b1521, Judith Ansel b1562, Elizatheth Bates b1601, Elizabeth Pratt b1638, Matchowitch b1593, Keshechoo b1520, Canonicus Narragansetts b1569, Mary No-Pee b1597, Anne Greenway b1515, Emma Revell b1536, Alice Aires b1574, Mary Sarah Newland b1604, Miss Hassell b1583, Katharine Sare b1556, Ellen Elliott b1583, Ruth b1620, Mary Harvey b1605, Ruth Rogers b1643, Ruth Goodwin b1622, Mary Fetch b1533, Agnes Mannock b1572, Margery Evered b1589, Rebecca b1623, Elizabeth Rose b1658, Mary Bennett b1692, Mary 'Little Dove' Hyanno b1624, Mary Lee Howland b1635, Experience Howland b1668, Rebecca Bearse b1713, Martha (Patty) Pratt b1740, Polly Beardsley b1729, Catherine Rosier b1764, Lucretia Welton, b1755, Fanny Chard b1786, Huldah Hubble b1815, Azubah Ann White b1846, Bertha Amelia Wescott b1880, Sophia b1847, Florence Brown b1881...

And those who have known, taught and loved me in my lifetime, Grace Millicent, Naomi Jane and Eva Linda Mae.

with love and appreciation, j