Luminaries of Early West Barnstable by James H. Ellis

Author:James H. Ellis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The History Press
Published: 2014-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Statue of Mercy Otis Warren on the lawn of the Superior Courthouse, Barnstable. Courtesy of John Burke.

Mercy retreated to her desk and writing, always a comfort. Her book needed renewed attention. Despite repeated personal setbacks and other discouragements, she persisted toward her goal. Macaulay’s earlier visit in 1784 provided lasting motivation. Along the way, old friend John Adams stepped in and encouraged her project. “I hope you will continue [it], for there are few Persons possessed of more Facts, or who can record them in a more agreeable manner.”109 She maintained a brisk correspondence with friends such as Gerry, Henry Knox and Benjamin Lincoln, seeking background information and piling up notes. Winslow’s death would be a lasting wound. However, Mercy recalled, he had encouraged and promoted her book project more than others. “‘Revise & correct and make it perfect,’ he had said, ‘for which you ought to appropriate a number of hours every day.’”110

The divisiveness in the country in the last decade of the eighteenth century discouraged Mercy. An unhappy ending to the great experiment would not be a fitting conclusion to her history. Then, as the new century began, unthinkable news arrived from Maine. After an illness of more than a month, son George passed away. Once again, Mercy handled grief by concentrating on her writing. By this time, her eyesight had begun to fail. Son James Jr., still in the house, helped her address the handicap. Dr. James Freeman, minister of King’s Chapel in Boston, provided considerable editorial assistance and guidance, acting in the ways of a modern agent. In addition, he proved effective as a solicitor of subscriptions.

The fact that so many histories on the Revolution began to appear gave greater urgency to her task. The history authored by John Marshall offered stiff competition. Warren thought that she could separate from the pack by putting forward the truth in an objective manner. But she found it difficult to maintain impartiality. Her tone became Republican, and her sketches of the key actors proved plainspoken. Friend John Adams presented a bewildering hurdle. Hands down an early Patriot, his public conduct now demonstrated a predilection for monarchy. Her treatment of Adams led to a further cooling of their relationship, although in her final years, the two restored their valued friendship.

Finally, in 1805, the first volume of History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution, Interspersed with Biographical, Political, and Moral Observations appeared. Mercy decided on the title early in the project. The third and final volume came out in 1806. A mixed reception followed. Jefferson, of a similar political bent, liked the work and purchased copies for his close circle. Federalists, however, did not appreciate her political tone. In the end, the work proved to be about Warren as much as about the Revolution.

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