Mary Bernard Williams (born ca. 1609, died ca 1676). emerged from the windswept religious ground of early 17th century England to become a pivotal partner in the founding of what would become the colony of Rhode Island. Born in England she was the daughter of the Reverend Richard Barnard, a noted and often controversial theologian. She taught both to read and write, which set her apart from most women of her time.
She married Roger Williams on 15 December 1629 in the parish of High Laver, Essex. Within two years they emigrated to New England, arriving ca. 1631, and eventually established themselves in what is now Providence, Rhode Island. While she knew what life was like as a religious outlier, her early life could not have been more different than what she was to face in the often-inhospitable lands of New England. She had been trained to run a manor house now found herself in a one room house with a growing family and often absent husband.
While Roger Williams was away, Mary was called up to mediate land claims, attend to the indigenous and settlers’ illness and scratch out a meager living for herself and six children.
Her death is not precisely documented, but she appears to have died after 1676 in Providence
What little we know of Mary and other colonial women, we understand that early life in the fledging colonies was filled with risks and hardship. Thriving was aspirational and enduring was often an elusive goal.
