Esther de Berdt Reed

Esther de Berdt Reed (October 22, 1746 – September 18, 1780) served as first lady of Pennsylvania during her husband Joseph Reed's term as president of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a role analogous to Governor of Pennsylvania, from 1778 to 1780. She was active in the American Revolutionary War as a civic leader for soldiers' relief. She published Sentiments of an American Woman which called for financial sacrifice and an increased role of women in public service. Along with Sarah Franklin Bache, the daughter of Benjamin Franklin, she co-founded the Ladies Association of Philadelphia which raised money to provide resources for George Washington's troops during the war. She was recognized as a member of the Daughters of Liberty post-mortem for her efforts in support of the American Revolution.

Early life
Esther de Berdt was born in London, England on October 22, 1746, to Dennys and Martha (Simon) de Berdt. The family descended from Protestant refugees from Ypres, Belgium. Her childhood nickname was Hette or Hettie. On May 22, 1770, Esther married Joseph Reed, an American who studied law in London. In October 1770, she and her widowed mother followed him to Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania.

Career
Joseph Reed became a prosperous lawyer and served as a member of the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1778. The couple were forced for flee Philadelphia due to British military activity on three separate occasions and lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and Flemington, New Jersey. They had six children together, five of which survived to adulthood. Esther cared for the children while Joseph served as aide-de-camp for George Washington.

In 1778, Joseph was elected president of the Pennsylvania government, a role akin to Governor of Pennsylvania. Esther served as first lady and was known as "Mrs. President".

During the American Revolutionary War, she helped organize the Ladies Association of Philadelphia which raised more than $300,000 in support of the war. She and Sarah Franklin Bache, daughter of Benjamin Franklin, became frustrated that expensive balls and galas were being held in Philadelphia, while soldiers fighting the war were ill equipped. On June 12, 1780, Reed published Sentiments of an American Woman, which called for financial sacrifice and an increased role for women in public service. Her work inspired women in other states to implement similar fund-raising organizations including ones in Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia.

At the suggestion of General Washington, the group used the funds to purchase linen and sew clothing for American troops. Reed had wanted to give the men gold or silver coins, something above and beyond what they would normally receive, but Washington feared the money would be used for liquor. The volunteer seamstress sewed their names into the shirts to show their support for the troops. More than 2,000 shirts were delivered to the troops.

Reed died from dysentery on September 18, 1780, at the age of 33. She was initially interred in the Second Presbyterian Church cemetery in Philadelphia. In 1868, both her and her husband's remains were reinterred to Laurel Hill Cemetery. Reed was recognized as a Daughter of Liberty after her death for her efforts in support of the American Revolution.

Additional reading

 * Roberts, Cokie. Founding Mothers: The Women who Raised our Nation, New York: Harper Collins, ISBN 0-06-009025-1, pp. 118–130