NAWSA        SUBJECT FILE        TAX Protests

The sister of Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, in 1778, had entered her protest against taxation without representation. Frances Wright of Scotland had lectured in the United States in 1820, and again some years later, on political economy and other subjects, and made a plea for equal right for women. The Grimke sisters also had spoken for woman's rights. But all of these women had pleaded this cause only incidentally to other radical subjects, which were their main theme. 


Jan 31-18/4
Page 39
Taxation Resisted in New Hampshire. Editor Woman's Journal: - I have long since felt a deep interest in the subject of Woman's Rights, and some fifteen years ago I resisted taxation two successive years. The second year I worked out my highway tax, for which crime I brought down upon my guilty head a severe persecution from both men and women, from clergymen and lawyers, as well as other classes of my fellow townsmen. The tax-collectors came into my house and attached furniture 

and sold it at auction in order to collect my tax, one of whom made me all the costs the laws would allow.  The most incensed town officers threatened that if I resisted taxation the next year, they would take my house and sell it at auction. One of the tax gatherers asked me what I thought I could do alone in resisting taxation. He said he did not believe there was another woman in the state of New Hampshire who possessed the hardihood to take such a stand against the laws. 
Mary L. Harrington
Claremont N. H.

Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.