The book is an incredible history of the life of the average midwife of late 18th Century New England. This is an area of information that has been overlooked and understudied for many years. The book starts out with a history of Martha Ballard up until the time she and her husband, Ephraim, move to Hallowell. The diary begins in Hallowell and explains the remainder of Martha's life through her midwife practice; her garden; travels taken by herself, family, and neighbors; trading; weaving, and trials.
Each chapter is representative of just one aspect of the life of a woman in the late 18th Century. It explains how the women of the community worked to help provide for their families. Martha had two businesses: weaving and midwifery.
The next section delves into the community of Hallowell. It explains the.....
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