A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Mott, Lucretia
MOTT, LUCRETIA,
Widely known for her philanthropy, and distinguished as a preacher among her own sect of "Friends," or "Quakers," is a native of the Island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Her parents were Thomas and Anna Coffin; the latter, born Folger, was related to Dr. Franklin. Lucretia was in childhood instructed to make herself useful to her mother, who, in the absence of her husband, had the charge of his mercantile affairs. In 1804, when she was about eleven years old, her parents removed to Boston, where she had the advantage of attending one of the public schools. At the age of thirteen, she was sent to a "Friends' boarding-school," in the State of New York, where she remained three years, during the last year being employed as an assistant teacher; which shows how great her proficiency and faithfulness must have been. Her parents had, meantime, removed to Philadelphia; there she joined them, and at the age of eighteen was married to James Mott, who also belonged to the "Society of Friends," and subsequently entered into mercantile partnership with her father. Thus early was Mrs, Mott settled in life; and it is but justice to her to state, that she has been attentive to discharge well the womanly duties devolved on her—has been the mother of six children, five of whom are living, and do credit to their mother's former care. She has also, in the chances and changes of an American merchant's life, been called to help her husband in the support of their family; and she did it, as a good wife does, willingly, with her whole heart. But these duties did not engross all her time; her active mind, directed and developed by the peculiar teachings of her sect, took a wider range than has yet been usual with her sex.