A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 Chapter Summary & Analysis - Introduction Summary

Introduction Summary

Martha Moore was born and raised in Oxford, Massachusetts in 1735. Martha married Ephraim Ballard in 1754 and became Martha Ballard. Martha's husband was a surveyor and fourth generation miller. Martha had nine children. She moved to Maine with her husband and five of her children in 1775 because of his milling and surveying work and eventually settled in Hallowell before the diary begins. Martha's last child, a son, was born in Maine.

Martha was one of the oldest women in the area, and her abilities as a midwife became almost instantly apparent. Martha spent her time along the Kennebec River, delivering children for approximately forty years. Martha started her diary in 1785, although many are sure there were diaries prior to the 1785 diary. Martha faithfully kept her diary until a few months before her death in 1812. By that time, she had delivered 816 children, moved several times...
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