Abigail Smith Adams

Abigail and Molasses Raisin Cookies

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First Ladies - 1700s

Abigail Smith Adams*

President John Adams*

Abigail Adams*
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First Lady Abigail & President John Adams
First Lady - 1797 - 1801
Quote from Abigail - 

• "If we are meant to have heroes, statesmen and philosophers, we should have learned (educated) women."

Factoid - Abigail melted down pewter tableware to make bullets for soldiers.
Bio -

• Like most girls of her time, Abigail had no formal education. Her father taught her to read and write in their large home library. Her education at home made her a lifetime advocate for women's education.
• Abigail married John Adams when she was 19. He was a lawyer, an they lived in Boston.  They had five children together, including future President, John Quincy Adams.
• Abigail understood politics.  When John was based at the 1st Continental Congress and when he was minister to France, he and Abigail wrote letters frequently to each other, giving us an insight into her understanding of politics. Later, throughout John's presidency, Abigail was a strong influence on political issues, particularly for Women's Rights.
• At 52 years old, Abigail became First Lady in 1797.  Her vocal political thoughts led her to the nickname of "Mrs. President".  As First Lady, Abigail lived in the temporary capital of Philadelphia and later in the brand-new White House in Washington.  Parts of the White House weren't even completed; Abigail hung her laundry to dry in the East Room.
• Abigail was a champion for Women's Rights - way ahead of her time!  She wrote this to her husband as he helped to write the Declaration of Independence:  " ... I desire you would remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of husbands.  Remember all men would be tyrants if they could." 

About John - John Adams was the 2nd President of the United States.  He played a key role in the American Revolution and helped draft the Declaration of Independence.  As President, he faced tensions with France during the Quasi-War and passed the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts. Adams was also the first President to live in the White House.

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Molasses Raisin Cookies

Molasses raisin cookies and cakes were a favorite at the White House during this time period.  Molasses and dried fruits were easy to use to sweeten desserts, when sugar was not always available.

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
(Sub: 1 & 1/2 tsp vinegar + milk. Let sit for 10 minutes.)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 &1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 cup raisins

Steps
Set oven temp. to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets.
Cream shortening and sugar together. Pour in molasses. Stir.
Add egg to mixture. Stir.
Add baking soda to buttermilk in a cup. Stir. Add buttermilk to mixture.
Measure flour, salt, and the 3 spices into sifter. Sift. Put sifted ingredients into mixture. Stir slowly. Stir only till flour disappears. Add raisins to mixture.
Spoon batter onto cookie sheet. Let cookies stay in a mound. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
*If you don’t have sour milk, put 1-1/2 teaspoons of vinegar into glass measuring cup. Pour in enough fresh milk to make 1/2 cup. Let sit for 10 minutes.

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Portrait Credits*
Abigail Adams- Oil painting by Benjamin Blyth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Lithograph by Walker, Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
John Adams- John Trumbull painting, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institute; Public domain