Happy Mother’s Day to the First Ladies of our house!

Last but not least Happy Mother’s Day to the First Ladies of our house!! Ms. Emma!! J. And Sohpia Moore! Emma was the wife of the honorable Chancellor. She was born in 1791 and a mother to five children. She was amazingly stylish with her silk headdress and off the shoulders Pleated dress in the Portrait. Not much is known about her because they didn’t keep records of women in the 1800s but we do know that she was on the reception committee of the Ball given to the Marquis of Lafayette. Marquis of Lafayette was the last surviving French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War. Apparently he thought she did a great job with the reception because he sent her a gold needle case from France as a souvenir and thank you gift.

Lieutenant General Lafayette must have been very impressed with her to send her something from France!!

Sophia Moore was the paid servent of the house. She was born in 1786 and was “a faithful servant and friend“ to the chancellor and his family. She worked for the chancellor up until her death in 1851 and was buried in the chancellor’s family cemetery less then 30 feet away from Emma and the chancellor. We recently confirmed she was African American and a mother to a male child. Unfortunately that is all we know as of right now but our research is constantly evolving as we discover new things about the people who once lived here every day. Happy Mother’s Day to these late women of the past and of our home. We remember and celebrate you today.