Saturday's Salute

Fearless Females

The female ancestors in our families of long ago are an important part of our family history. Researching them takes certain strategies and techniques to find them. It is possible though, so don’t give up on finding them. You can learn about finding them here. 

Women have had an influential role in the prosperity and growth of their communities. Females' roles were varied depending on that geographical area and the time in which they lived.

While researching your male ancestors, you have most likely found that those records were easier to find; however, when you research your female ancestors that isn't the case. Females’ roles were household duties. Seemingly, the females' traditional roles kept them quietly working behind the scene including preparing and serving the meals, sewing their clothes, taking care of the children, seeing to the education of the children, in some cases working the garden and crops, and housekeeping chores. If the family had the wealth, then the wife had help with her duties. Otherwise the wife performed her duties until her daughters were of age to help. Women worked extremely hard. There was always something to for the woman and mother of the household. Usually they worked from sun up to sundown.

There were no trailblazers in the families that I have researched. Although, their occupation of farming was an important part of the early days of colonial America. They were trailblazers to their families, though. While the men were working, the fearless females were at home performing their duties. As well as, protecting their families from the dangers during that era. It took all kinds of occupations to get through those difficult years, and the "stay at home moms" were a part of that era. 

March is Women's History Month and a fantastic way to honor your female ancestors, relatives, or fans (friends, acquaintances, and neighbors) in your ancestor’s family. Lisa Alzo, The Accidental Genealogist, has again posted her Fearless Females Blogging Prompts series for 2017. For those of you who do not know of Lisa Alzo she is a teacher, writer and genealogist. You can checkout Lisa's Fearless Female prompts here.