1732-1758
Esther Edwards Burr was the mother of 3rd Vice President Aaron Burr Jr. Stephanie Ernst writes, “Burr’s writings reflect her intelligence and strength, as demonstrated by her spirited defense of women’s engagement in intellectual discourse.”
Esther married Aaron Burr Sr., pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Newark and founder of Princeton University (then the College of NJ), in 1752. In June she traveled to Newark where she had two children Sally and Aaron Burr Jr. Historic Newark talks about the townspeople’s excitement when she arrived, so much that they painted her likeness on teacups.
Esther stayed in Newark until the family and the university moved to Princeton in 1756. Esther died two years later of fever(smallpox) in 1758 at age 26. Esther Edwards Burr’s journal provides one of the earliest accounts of a colonial American woman’s daily life. There are several fictionalized versions of the journal online, that circulate in addition to the real one.
Esther wrote on Newark, “Newark people are as difficult as New York and some will not like this or the other man because such and such persons like him etc.” (pg 38) and “Newark looks like a garden…tis so pleasant I can’t stay home all day” (pg 199-200).
Bibliography
Atkinson. History of Newark.
Fidelity Union Trust. Historic Newark.
Esther’s Journal: https://archive.org/details/estherburrsjourn00rankiala/page/58/mode/2up
New Jersey Women’s Project. Past and Promise Lives of NJ Women.
https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/8828
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/esther-edwards-burr