The National Society of colonial Dames plans to add at least 250 Founding Females as qualifying ancestors by its 250 th anniversary in 2025. While over half that goal has been reached, each discovery is an exciting one. 

Rhode Island is cheering on and adding the recognition of colonial women who ran taverns, inns, mills, and businesses. They published newspapers and broadsides; delivered babies, healed the sick; educated both boys and girls, enslaved and free.  They preached; settled and founded towns and villages leaving us diaries, plays and poetry.   

Theirs are storied lives – women who enriched life through their own achievements and by fostering talents in others. 

Even before this national project was underway, Rhode Island recognized Anne Hutchinson ( Founder of Portsmouth) and Mary Dyer ( Founder of Aquidneck and preacher) as women worthy to be in included on the Register of Ancestors (ROA). We have now added more: 

Ann Smith Franklin, publisher and printer 

Sarah Updike Goddard, business owner, printer and newspaper publisher 

Johanna Slocum Mott, minister

Hallelujah Brown Olney, midwife

Elizabeth Hubbard Stiles , midwife

Mary Turner , midwife and healer

This is just the beginning.

If you have become a Colonial Dame or applying, look at your Rhode Island ancestor.  Ask your self  what did he do ? who was his wife? Chances are she deserves to be recognized as important to the founding of the nation. Submit her name and we will take it from there.