The Extraordinary Suzy Wright: A Colonial Woman on the Frontier

by Teri Kanefield

Children are taught much about the men who shaped early America, but history-shaping colonial women remain largely unknown and undiscussed.

The Extraordinary Suzy Wright sets about to change that, telling the little-known story of Quaker Susanna (Suzy) Wright (1697–1784), a renowned poet and political activist.

Suzy helped settle the Pennsylvania frontier, where she acted as legal counselor to her less literate neighbors, preparing wills, deeds, indentures, and other contracts. Surviving documents and correspondence between Suzy and a host of her contemporaries—including Benjamin Franklin; James Logan, Pennsylvania’s governor and chief justice; and a few signers of the Declaration of Independence—reveal that Suzy, from her home on the frontier, exerted considerable influence in the highest circles of Pennsylvania government.

This fascinating and inspiring story includes an author’s note, bibliography, and index.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Juvenile, Historical, Childrens, Teen

64 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2016

About the author

I started out teaching English at the college and university level while writing novels, short stories, and children’s books. Then I went to law school, dedicated my law practice to defending people who could not afford to pay, kept writing books, took a detour into writing legal analysis for The Washington Post and other mainstream media outlets, wrote more books, and here I am.

Along the way, my writing has earned numerous awards and honors, including the Jane Addams Book Award, the Orbis Pictus Honor, and the Carter G. Woodson Middle-Grade Level Book Award.

For more about me and my writing, please visit www.terikanefield.com

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, how I wish this book had existed when I was a student in elementary school! I can remember asking my fourth grade teacher where all the women were in our history books. What were they doing and why were they absent from the stories we were reading about great moments in history?
If I'd read this book back then, I'd have been thrilled to point to Suzy Wright as one of the movers and shakers of colonial America. Not only did she leave behind the family home in Lancashire to move across the ocean with her family as they searched for religious freedom, but she held fast to her Quaker beliefs after they settled in Pennsylvania. While Suzy enjoyed city living, she moved to a rural part of the state when her family needed her to do so. That turned out to be something of a blessing in disguise since she was able to live a more independent life than she might have lived in an urban area. Thus, she chose to never marry and hold onto that independence afforded her by circumstances and her own education. The author includes lines from her poems and correspondence between her and various luminaries of the period, including Ben Franklin. Not only did she function as a lawyer, but she also was a social activist sympathetic to the plight of Native Americans and slaves. Additionally, she was a savvy businesswoman who made her opinions about issues and candidates for public office known. I found her story fascinating and inspiring and loved examining all the archival materials presented in the book. I only wish that readers could be privy to more facts about her life and thoughts during those times. The book stands on its own as a example of one woman who lived life on her own terms, but it should also be cherished because of the uniqueness of its subject matter.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suzy Wright accomplished incredible feats in the 1700s, during a time when women held little power. Remaining unmarried throughout her life, she owned her own home and vast holdings along the Susquehanna River. Her Quaker background influenced her strong belief in equality amongst all people. This translated into her desire for women to have the same opportunities to vote as men. She practiced law, wrote poetry, became a business women and scientist raising silk worms, and producing silk skeins sent to England to make fabric. The list of her accomplishments appears endless. It is not surprising that she became a close friend of Benjamin Franklin, and was a great help to him when he needed support for his projects along the frontier where she lived. Suzy championed for the rights of the poor, and spent her life improving the condition of human rights through pacifism guided by her passion to continue to learn and help others. This beautifully written narrative non fiction title includes an Afterword about Suzy's projects motivated by her Quaker beliefs, during her time in Philadelphia and the aftermath of her influence for Quaker ideals to continue to empower Philadelphians long after she lived. There is also an author's note about Suzy's archives of writing, in many historical locations in Pennsylvania, notes, index, and a lengthy bibliography. This is an outstanding title dedicated to an extraordinary "Colonial Woman of the Frontier."

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
This was a really good story! It was a kids story so a bit of an overview of the time period and Suzy Wright. She was super amazing, smart Quaker woman. She was very influential in Pennsylvania history and it was so interesting to read about her and the things that she did to forward the civilization of Pennsylvania. She did great things for settlers, Native Americans, Quakers. So glad I read it. I don't know when/why I added this to my list but I am glad the library had it.
Also I know it's their right but I'm a bit sad the people that have control of her letters/papers are not letting the public access them. She needs to be known by everyone! And her letters need to be read by everyone so they can see how amazing & smart she is. She is cool. She read a lot, stayed single, acted in the law, supported her family and the government around her. You should at least read this book because it might be one of the only books about her.
I also wish we could read her poems. But many of them were lost to time.

Quotes:
"The strongest friendships I formed there were only dissolved by death, which must sooner or later break every human tie."(Suzy Wright 4/5/1762. p. 12).

"Suzy missed Philadelphia and her friends there, where life had been easier, but she understood that she had to accept the lot given to her:
'Ah! how unlike those days of peace
By earlier prospects given!
But hush, my heart, thy murmurs cease,
And take thy lot from heaven.'" (p. 21).

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did a good job of giving an overview of what Suzy Wright accomplished and worked towards. Since I like to take my time and go slow when reading non-fiction, I liked that this book was short with a fairly large text size and barely took up any time for me to read. That being said, I had a difficult time staying engaged and interested in what was being written throughout the book. Because there was so much background knowledge being given to the reader about issues that Wright partook in, the writer tended to go off on a tangent and talk about the other events that were going on at that time period. For example, since Wright was faithful to the religious Quaker beliefs, the writer takes a page to explain Quaker history. Although this is understandable since the writer needs to inform the reader on what is being mentioned, I found that I was learning a lot more about events during the time period that Wright was alive rather than specifically Suzy Wright herself.

[Broughps · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have liked more detail about Suzy's life.

[Virginia Serna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of another forgotten woman of the early US.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are plenty of biographies of leaders and military people from the colonial period that were men. It's refreshing to read the biography of a woman from that time period. Suzy Wright came to the colonies from England with her family at age 16, in 1714. They settled in Pennsylvania, which was founded for and by Quakers, and the family became active participants in the intellectual and social circles of Quaker life there. Suzy apparently was an amazingly accomplished autodidact. Her knowledge of Latin, Italian, French, and her interest in conversing on many political and academic topics made her a popular participant in social life of Philadelphia. As she got older, she also operated as a de facto lawyer for many in her community. Benjamin Franklin was one of her frequent mail correspondents. She opted not to get married, and as a single woman she could own her own property and do many other things that married women could not do. The description of her accomplishments as a single woman is such an interesting part of her story. The author has done extensive primary research from original sources, and has included notes, art, maps, facsimile letters, a bibliography and an index. What's missing, and is acknowledged by the author, is a portrait of Suzy Wright. As a Quaker, she would not allowed it.

[Kelly]

Until the end of the book in the author's note, there's literally no context for the "why" of this book. We get a collection of anecdotes about Wright and her influence in early Pennsylvania and the surprising freedom she had, in part because she was an unmarried Quaker woman. Which, the stories are fine, but there's zero thread holding them together, and worse, the design of this book is a mess. It's a larger size, like a picture book, and it's clear there's not enough text to support the size. At times, mid-sentence, there's a half-page designed pull quote that has no purpose except to take up space. It could have been made a normal size and there could have been better images . . . or a smaller trim size.

I can see appeal for those who love colonial history, especially about women of this era, but the negatives of writing, of context, and poor design outweigh everything else. Likewise, there's sure a lot of skimming over the way "Indians" (a word that kept being used in text without an explanation as to why -- which, as a reader, I took to be because of the historical documents used to create the book) were treated. Apparently everyone in this story was nice and friendly to them which is a nice revision of what the likely truth is: they were just less awful.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm happy I read this middle-grade nonfiction volume on Suzy Wright, a woman who made a name for herself in Colonial America. This book serves an important curricular need in my classroom and it presents information accessibly. Suzy Wright was a jill-of-all-trades on the colonial frontier: a lawyer, a poet, an advisor, and a stateswoman of sorts.

One of the issues in telling her story is the lack of primary source materials available, both because not many of Suzy's letters still exist, and, as I learned in a fascinating author's note, the materials that do exist are being kept privately.

I rarely say this, but I wish the book were a little longer and provided more research on Colonial America through the story of Suzy Wright. I wish there was more commentary on the author's decision to use the word "Indians" when that term isn't widely used in social studies classrooms any more, and I would have liked to have learned more about the challenges that women faced in Colonial America. I also found the design of this book -- the peach background with handwriting - distracting to reading the text.

[Briony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm dead smack in the middle of giving it 3.5 or 4 stars. Kanefield does a nice job of introducing young readers to a part of history that is generally unexplored in juvenile history-women in colonial America. Suzy Wright was an exceptional woman and this was the first time I ever heard about her. Kanefield's highlighting of Wright's accomplishment showcases Wright's influence in Colonial America, especially for a woman.

I think my only complaint was that I really wanted more. However, this is not the fault of Kanefield. She references a librarian who said that piecing together Suzy's life was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together with many of the pieces missing. She also had limited access to primary documents, as the current owners of Suzy's house are refusing access to Suzy's archive.

Altogether an interesting book and I learned some tidbits about United States history that I never knew before.

[Annie Oosterwyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a "must purchase" for any library with students covering the colonial period and Revolutionary War.
I had never heard of Suzy Wright but she was considered the most accomplished and brilliant woman of her time in Philadelphia. Suzy refused all marriage offers knowing that it would impede her freedom to make decisions and own property. She had the ear of Benjamin Franklin and advised him on local matters, she acted as legal counsel in her county and advocated for her Native American neighbors.
As a Quaker, she could only contribute to the revolution in peaceful ways, but she helped as she could. In her 70s she taught herself how to raise silkworms and manufacture silk, sending cloth for a dress to the Queen of England via Benjamin Franklin.
This book is a welcome change from the usual female biography of the time, ie. knitting socks for soldiers, and shows a woman able to direct her life and participate in the "male" realm as an equal.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've long been fascinated with Martha Ballard, an eighteenth century midwife, and Suzy Wright shines as another woman on the colonial frontier. A poet, lawyer, land owner, and silk grower, she never married. Her single status, her frontier location, and her family's Quaker respect for education and equality afforded Suzy opportunities that she took full and capable advantage of.

Author Kanefield traces what is known about Suzy Wright and places it in context. The resulting text reminds readers that women have long been full participants in human history, even when their accomplishments are ignored and forgotten. It is both gratifying to see Suzy Wright brought to life, and tremendously irritating that her story was ever lost to begin with.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite quote from this book: "Woe betide to anyone who went against Aunt Suzy."

In history class what you learn about colonial women is centered around the Salem witch trials and then Abigail Adams reminding her husband to "remember the ladies." You typically don't learn about Suzy Wright which is unfortunate because what a person. She was a poet, a scientist, a woman of law, a pacifist and a friend to many. A regular Renaissance woman. A book that tries and succeeds in putting together the puzzle pieces of her life. I interloaned the book to see if I would buy for my library. I'm buying.

[Angela Lambkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Yes, She sure was very Extraordinary Gal!

I found this to be a very interesting and profound story of her life and the treat impact that she evidently had even over important men. So for this reason and for all the photos too I feel this needs to be a five star rated children's book. I received this ebook for free and recommend it for kids especially ages 8-12 and anyone else who maybe a history buff of say women like Suzy Wright and. in return here is my honest review. Thanks Teri and super job! By Angela

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I appreciated the information provided within this book, I felt that the organization of this book was lacking. Certain pages were easy to read and follow the information, however, other pages made the eye jump all over the page, not knowing where to begin. Also, I did not understand the need for the majority of quotations throughout the book to be a large font and colored red. I found this to be confusing and distracting, especially with the background provided throughout. A good book for content, but it is very distracting and not easily read.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly good account is made in this book about Suzy Wright, a colonial, quaker woman, who accomplished much during her life time! As a Children's biography I would say it is for older children, even teens. The research that Teri Kanefield did lends itself to a well established portrayal of this woman, who purposely didn't get married so that she could retain her rights to own land, and do as she willed. She was skilled in law, language, science and ethics. I wish I had known her. I would have enjoyed her company. I would recommend this JB for middle school on up.

[Betty Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read on a woman who helped settle the Pennsylvania frontier. A good book to help children needing a report on women in history. Susanna Wright may be an inspiration to young girls. It also includes Quaker beliefs since Susanna was a Quaker and was politically active. She was involved in many aspects of colonial life. Very interesting read for those who like history or women who made a difference.

[Martha Trzepacz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few people have heard of Suzy Wright, one of the earliest female political activists on the early colonial frontier. She was well respected by her contemporaries, Ben Franklin, James Logan, Dr. Bejamin Rush and other political leaders. Suzy was truly a "scholar" in many fields, land management, science and poetry. This book is a "must have " in every elementary and middle school library especially PA

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this immediately upon getting it in the mail from Teri. The book is so beautiful; the pictures and the pages are so well done. I loved the concept of the book and enjoyed learning about Suzy. I think this book could be a great addition to any library for young readers interested in our country's history.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content-wise this book was wonderful. It's short enough in length to not be overwhelming, and overall is totally accessible to is audience.

However, I did find the layout of the book confusing. Quotes are in a big bold red font throughout the book. While the intention seems to be to highlight primary source material for students, I instead found this distracting.

[Tracey]

A great book about a colonial Quaker frontierswoman and the choices she made to stay true to her beliefs. I wish that we had access to more of her letters and poetry. We need to know more about Ms. Wright, her life and her influences.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great look at a little-known but highly accomplished Colonial American woman, and a good bit of insight into the influence of Quakers on American history.

[Mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book was interesting, it just didn't seem to flow very well.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's book, but I learned a lot.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, well-documented children's book about Susannah Wright and her role in early America.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Filled with lots of good info on Suzy Wright

[Dawn Moews]

(18-19: 1, 0, 0)