The Adams Women:

Abigail and Louisa Adams,

Their Sisters and Daughters

Paul C. Nagel

New York: Oxfrd University Press, 1987.

pg 133

"William and Nancy moved to Washington in 1795. Two years later the enterprise was bankrupt, leaving young Cranch destitute. The entire Greenleaf family was also ruined, for James had persuaded all his relatives to back his venture. There were also major losses to many Boston friends. The ambitious team of Greenleaf and Morris was imprisoned for debt in Philadelphia, a fate Mary Cranch's son barely escaped. The Cranch family was devestated. Not only was their promising son apparently implicated and disgraced; James' brother John Greenleaf, a blind musician who had recently married William Cranch's sister Lucy. had also lost everything. Mary Cranch suddenly had a son and daughter who were penniless.

This tragedy particularly distressed Aunt Elizabeth Peabody since she had sought to discourage young Cranch from following the lure of city riches. "All in life is vanity," Elizabeth reminded Abigail. "Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward." Having watched Colonol Smith's deluded career, Abigail was especially fervent in her condemnation of "this spirit of speculation." One feature of William Cranch's plight, however consoled both Abigail and Elizabeth

They admired the courage displayed by Nancy greenleaf Cranch, William's wife, as she exemplified the strength women often had to show in marriage. When her husband's misfortune left him in a seriously depressed mood, Nancy displayed her own version of the Greenleaf family's mettle. Abigail Adams, who was not easily impressed, informed her nephew, William Cranch, that he had a mate of whom they were all proud. Nancy now ranked high in Abigail's "esteem and regard" for "her prudence, her discretion, and many other excellent qualities."

Back in Quincy, Mary and Richard Cranch worried themselves into illness over their far-off son, whose extravagant ventures were beyond his parent's understanding. The only hope of saving William seemed to involve Mary's perpertua benefactor, the first lady. "What do you think?" Mary asked Abigail. "I know so little myself". Abigail proceeded at once to the rescue. First, it was necessary to rouse young Cranch from his "melancholy", as Abigail described it. She shared her concern with Elizabeth and suggested she not even hint to Mary how dangerous William's mood was. But Mary recognized what was happening and announced that William was destroying his usefulness "for want of fortitude and resolute spirit."

Positive thinking was Abigail's remedy, so she tried to convince William that he could still succeed. All he needed to do was "think himself the most sensible and capable man with whom he was acquainted." This was a tactic Abigail had dependably emplyed with her husband and sons when they lost self-esteem, a frequent malady among dams males. William Cranch also received much practical counsel from Aunt Abigail, usually concerning the needs at hand. Ought he not, Abigail asked pointedly, accept his brother-in-law Noah Webster's offer of a positin in a Massachusetts publishing venture?

The rescue of William Cranch was suspenseful, and ended thrillingly. Time was short, for Abigail's capacity to help required John's continuing as president, already an unlikely prospect in 1799. The first lady tried immediately to have her nephew selected as clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court. The plan failed early in 1800 when an undeniably superior canidate was chosen. This let direct presidential intervention as the last resort. William's Uncle John bowed to Abigail's prodding and named his nephew to be a Disctrict of Columbia commissioner, a position calling for the supervision of property and buildings. While not particularly glamorous this job seemed the best Abigail could manage. THen came President Adam's decision in the last moments of his administration to appoint twenty-three federal judges. Thanks to Abigail, William Cranch found himself taking a seat on the District of Columbia Circuit Court in March 1801.

William did not dissapoint. The opportunity provided by his Adams relatives was all his naturally hardworking nature seemed to equire. He recovered his spirit and performed so well in his new post that the next president, Thomas Jefferson, appointed hijm chief judge of the district judiciary in 1805. William Cranch served in this capacity for fifty-four years, becoming one of America's most respected practitiners and authors in the field of jurisprudence. With Nancy, he also received another reward. Thirteen children were born to them, which did not keep Nancy Greenleaf Cranch from living to 1843, famed till the end for her happy playful nature...."

My Analysis: I need to read the whole book, because this author gives a wonderful history of the women in the family. His only slight failing is that as the last paragraph shows he continually falls back to the biological achievements of women, their capacities as mothers. He misses the point of what I hope my thesis to show: the complexities of women and men's relationships particularly at moments of failure. I should read Nancy's diary at the Library of Congress to find out more about how she helped William Cranch with his melancholy. This sounds remarkably close to Isabella's story, minus the presidential executive for whom to turn towards aid. In addition, what does it mean that as soon as she remarries Beale takes over. Do I have a new concept here or am I simply proving old theories through an analysis of a new area. Or am I rendering a more complete narration of the creation of the DC of Columbia. Neverheless, this provides the "data" Professor Dietz wanted me to get (ie more sources): Nancy Cranch, Abigail Adams, Mrs. Deblois, Mrs. Law. I feel that I am quickly racking up a series of women. Now are all of these women elites? Are the Clark's Middle Class who go broke or are they even father up the power spectrum. Also see Abigail Adam's quotes against speculation. Rocky wants me to see if the women are only conferred upon after the husbands loose everything or are they strong partners before. I am not quite sure. Clearly Abigail Adams was constantly vocal but at the same time, her true authority as First Lady is not invoked until Willaim becomes insolvent.