Today we sit back and gripe about our political system and corrupt politicians and say it isn't worth the bother to vote. We must not forget the long hard battle fought by courageous women to ascertain the right to vote for us. Margaret Brent immigrated from Gloucester, England to Maryland in 1638. She purchased 70 acres of land. This was not the usual case for immigrating women. Margaret happened to be the wealthy niece of Lord Baltimore. Margaret was named executor for Gov. Leonard Calvert in 1647. She applied to the state assembly of Maryland, demanding two votes -- one as a freeholder of land, the | other as an executor or landowner's attorney. They said no to the freeholder vote, even though a male freeholder would be allowed to vote, but gave her a vote as Gov. Calvert's attorney. They did not, however seat her in the assembly. In 1651 Margaret moved to Virginia and helped develop that colony by being the ruling woman of a large manor, speculating on land and acting as agent and attorney for her brothers. By then Maryland had ended the right of female attorneys to represent clients, which might have been the reason behind her move. |
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