Martha Washington to Eleanor Parke Custis, c. February 1797. In which Washington warns her granddaughter that her dress may not arrive from Philadelphia in time for a Virginia ball. Featuring Dr. Alexandra Garrett, Assistant Professor of Histo

Episode 49: Deposition of Phillis Tatton

Mar 19th, 2024 42m 56s

Deposition of Phillis Tatton, 3rd November 1837 In which Phillis Hinkley Saunders Tatton appeared before the County of Probate in the state of Connecticut in an attempt to secure a pension for her late husband’s service during the American Revo

Episode 48: Political Subjects are too often at Variance

Feb 21st, 2024 33m 51s

Elizabeth Willing Powel to Elizabeth Parke Custis, February 28, 1816. In which Powel advises Martha Washington's pro-French granddaughter to avoid talking about politics with pro-British family members. Featuring Samantha Snyder, Research Lib

Episode 47: To Persevere In Grace & Faith

Jan 16th, 2024 39m 29s

Phillis Wheatley to Obour Tanner, October 30, 1773 in which Wheatley discusses faith, her book, and a trip to England.

Episode 46: The Ambassadress Is Nothing But Blunt

Dec 19th, 2023 35m 8s

Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 16 Febuary 1786. In which Abigail reports from London to her son on dining with wealthy South Carolinians and the tribulations of her daughter Nabby in matters of the heart. Featuring Dr. Miriam Liebman of th

Episode 45: You Must Not Complain Of My Silence

Nov 21st, 2023 35m 3s

Elizabeth Mason to Mary Barnes Mason, 3 March 1811. In which Elizabeth attempts to update her daughter Mary on the latest news from home while her family distracts her.

Episode 44: I Am An Idiot About Play

Oct 17th, 2023 40m 13s

Lady Georgiana Spencer and Caroline Howe, a series of correspondences. In which they discuss Lady Spencer’s gambling problem. Kathryn Gehred is joined by early American historian and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of Scotland Dr. Julie

Episode 43: That B**** Maria Goodwin

Sep 19th, 2023 45m 42s

Sarah E. Nicholas to Jane H. Nicholas Randolph, March 30, 1821 In which Sarah E. Nicholas writes to her sister Jane H. Nicholas Randolph about an incident in the streets of Baltimore. Kathryn Gehred is joined by Amelia Golcheski, the CEO and Ex

Trailer

Season 3: A Season of Wit

Aug 29th, 2023 2m 41s

We are excited to announce that on September 19 Your Most Obedient & Humble Servant will be back with a new season. We found some great letters to share with you this season that highlight the extraordinary wit of women in the 18th and early 19

Episode 42: A Woman of Extraordinary Ability

Aug 15th, 2023 25m 14s

The travel diary of Elizabeth House Trist, 1783. In which Elizabeth House Trist records her journey down the Mississippi River in 1783. In 1783, Philadelphian Elizabeth House Trist left for Pittsburgh, beginning a journey that would take her

Episode 41: Very Eccentric & I Think a Little Crazy

Jul 25th, 2023 27m 22s

Phoebe Pemberton Morris to Rebecca Wistar Morris Nourse, 28 February 1812. In which Phoebe Pemberton Morris writes to her sister Rebecca Wistar Morris Nourse about the many social events she is attending in the Federal City, including the birth

Episode 40: How Dare You Not Answer My Letter

Jun 27th, 2023 34m 27s

Eliza Monroe Hay to King Louis Philippe of France, 1839 In which Eliza Monroe Hay, James Monroe's daughter, requests assistance from the King Louis Philippe of France because of the aid her parents provided his mother during the French Revoluti

Episode 39: Not One Single Subject To Entertain You With

May 23rd, 2023 37m 4s

Jemima Grey, Amabel Grey, and Mary Grey to Catherine Talbot, 15 November 1765 In which Jemima Grey and her two daughters, Bell who is 14 and Mouse who is 9, provide a very comical update about their life near Cambridge. Kathryn Gehred is joined

Episode 38: A Rumor That You Abandoned Me

Mar 14th, 2023 34m 36s

Jannote Roustant to Jean Roustant, 1 July 1745 AND Johanna Fredericha Teller to Ambrosius Teller, 28 May 1798. In which two separate women deal with the fallout of their absent husbands. I'm thrilled to post this episode that I recorded last Ju

Episode 37: Wounded The Feelings Of A Lady

Feb 7th, 2023 38m 34s

Sarah Livingston Jay to Samuel Lyon, 14 Nov. 1794 In which the wife of a diplomat writes to a man about a horse, and things get REALLY messy, really fast. Many thanks to my wonderful guest, Robb Haberman, for talking about this letter with me!

Episode 36: I Should Be Glad To Leave The School

Jan 3rd, 2023 53m 32s

Mary Secutor to Eleazar Wheelock, 28 July 1768 In which a woman of the Narragansett tribe politely but firmly departs from Moor's Indian Charity School. Thank you so much to my guest, Dr. Ivy Schweitzer, professor of English and Creative Writin

Episode 35: George Wiseacre Parke Custis

Nov 10th, 2022 28m 32s

Eleanor Parke Custis (Lewis) to Elizabeth Bordley (Gibson), 14 May 1798 In which rumors are dispelled, patriotic songs are sung, and girls draw on large mustaches with burnt cork. Many thanks to returning guest Samantha Snyder for coming on the

Episode 34: That Evil Genius

May 5th, 2022 36m 3s

Ellen Wayles Randolph to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 29 March 1819 In which Ellen Wayles Randolph passes quite a few judgments on some ladies in Richmond, and asks an old friend for a favor. My guest this week is the incomparable Danna Kelley, t

Episode 33: Any Dandridge That Ever Wore An Head

Apr 19th, 2022 23m 5s

The Testimony of Anne Moody Part the last of Martha Washington's In-Laws! In which Anne Moody explains how she came to own so much silver plate with engravings of parrots. Also featuring: John Custis IV, and this time, he's REAL cranky. Further

Episode 32: Think My Dear Mistress

Apr 5th, 2022 23m 53s

Sarah Stewart to Dolley Madison, 5 July 1844 In which an enslaved woman who has been arrested (because Dolley Madison's son was in debt, and she and her community were held as collateral) writes to her enslaver. This week I am joined by Hilarie

Episode 31: Vile Names and Ill Language

Mar 22nd, 2022 24m 15s

In which John Custis IV and Frances Parke make an attempt to live "peace quietly" together. Part IV of the Martha Washington's in laws series. References: A Marriage Agreement. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Jul., 1896, Vol. 4,

Episode 30: Elizabeth Sharaf-un-Nisa

Mar 8th, 2022 48m 2s

Elizabeth Sharaf-un-Nisa to "Philo" In which a Mughal woman who co-habitated with and eventually married a white employee of the East India Company writes to her son about fat babies and beautiful black pigs. I am joined by Dr. Megan Robb, the

Episode 29: The Sinning Part

Feb 22nd, 2022 18m 12s

John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough to Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough, 13 Aug. 1704 In which Daniel Parke meets his Tragical End. References: I used the ODNB for research but because of capitalism that's behind a paywall. So he

Episode 28: The Quiet Tenor Of Our Lives

Feb 1st, 2022 41m 34s

Selina Powell to Rebecca Powell, 7 Jan. 1850 In which a modern day accountant finds more in common with a Virginia family from the Civil War than she might have expected. Alison Herring joins me this episode to discuss her work in transcribing

Episode 27: Two Amorous Turtles

Jan 18th, 2022 24m 1s

William Byrd II to Lucy Parke aka “Fidelia”, ca. 1705-6. In which there are a lot of old timey fart jokes. This is the second part of the Martha Washington’s In-Laws series, featuring a letter from Colonial Virginian slave-holder and satirical