Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 25.

[p. 32] The lightening of hearts and promising outlook caused the governor to proclaim a day of public thanksgiving. It was not after the manner of the one two years previous, but more like a day of supplication. The dreaded visitor, famine, was gone, never to return to the fireside of Plymouth. And where the comforts of all the men had depended on the hands of a few women, now many workers made all tasks lighter.

Spinning was a regular occupation. Besides domestic duties the women enthusiastically helped in planting and harvesting. Even while making their evening neighborly calls their fingers would ply the knittingneedles, for even in recreation the women could not afford to be idle. This was the gayest winter Plymouth had yet known.

Now we will observe some passing events which were of special interest to the women.

In the early summer, into John and Priscilla Alden's home came Elizabeth, called the first-born daughter of the Pilgrims. Then came a wedding of special interest. All Plymouth rejoiced when Patience Brewster married Thomas Prence. Destiny had woven for her a beautiful pattern, with childhood in Scrooby, girlhood in Leyden, and womanhood in Plymouth. A bright, particular star in the galaxy of the women of Plymouth colony. Her young husband reached the important place of governor in a few years.

Gray days and golden days passed over Plymouth, each one finding the women busy with the household duties, which did not end with the sunset gun, as the men's labor might. Let us look for a moment at the list of occupations which kept them busy. Candle making; pickling eggs; preserve and cordial making; distilling of herbs; ale or beer making; soap making; laundering and dyeing cloths and yarns; braiding mats of rushes; sweeping and sanding the floors; cleaning wooden and iron utensils; scouring and polishing pewter, brass and silver articles; pounding corn; butter and