Anne Bradstreet was the role model for the American Puritan woman, though few could claim her accomplishments in both words and deeds. Yet her loving example, especially as a Christian, is a remembrance of how strong our American forewomen were and had to be to survive early life in this country.

Anne was born in England in 1612, to Thomas and Dorothy Dudley, who were stewards of the Earl of Lincoln. Thus, Anne and her family knew wealth and its advantages. She was tutored in dancing, music, languages, and several other subjects.

When she was 16, Anne married Simon Bradstreet, son of a Puritan minister. Although they could have lived a comfortable life in all ways in England, they chose to leave with Anne's parents in 1630, to serve their God in America under John Winthrop's leadership.

Anne and her husband did not have children at the beginning of their marriage. Later they raised eight children. At first, instead of caring for children or when her husband was away on business, she wrote poetry during her household duties. And because her father, then her husband, became governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, her household became an influential one in the new land.

When her book of poetry was published, ten years after moving to America, Anne Bradstreet could claim having the first book of poetry published in America and the first women to be published in America. The book's name was The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, By a Gentlewoman of Those Parts.

Her poetry was born of hardships, tragedy, and pain in her new world. Yet her poems focused on God and His matchless plan and love for her. The following as a few verses from her poem, "Verses Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666":

Thou has an house on high erect,
Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished,
Stands permanent though this be fled.
It's purchased, and paid for too
By him who hath enough to do.
A Price so vast as is unknown, Yet, by his
Gift, is made thine own.
There's wealth enough, I need no more;
Farewell my Self, farewell my Store.
The world no longer let me Love,
My hope and Treasure lies Above.

Anne suffered repeated sicknesses during her 40 years in America. Yet, she knew life was testings and hardships, and she thanked her God for bringing her closer to Himself through her illnesses.

She died in 1672.

Painting of Anne Bradstreet by Ladonna Gulley Warrick

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