Explores true stories of thirteen women who lived during the colonial period of the United States, exploring their hardihood in an unforgiving environment and how they asserted themselves into a world run mostly by men--includes the stories of Elizabeth Ashbridge, an indentured servant turned Quaker preacher, Anne Bradstreet the poet and mother of eight, Sarah Kemble Knight the businesswoman, and Eve, a Virginia slave who escaped twice to freedom.

"Parts of this book were originally published as Good women of a well-blessed land, women's lives in Colonial America (Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publishing, 2003). It has been substantially revised, updated, and expanded"--Title page verso.

The natural inhabitants -- In this new discovered Virginia. Pocahontas, a life in two worlds ; Cecily Jordan Farrar, "ancient planter" of Virginia -- Goodwives to New England. Anne Hutchinson, "a woman unfit for our society" ; Anne Dudley Bradstreet, Puritan poet ; The captivity of Mary Rowlandson -- Weary, weary, weary, O. Elizabeth Ashbridge, from indentured servant to Quaker preacher -- Up to their elbows in housewifery. Margaret Hardenbroeck Philipse, she-merchant of New York ; The journey of Sarah Kemble Knight -- Daughters of Eve. Martha Corey, accused of witchcraft -- A changing world. Eliza Lucas Pinckney, a glimpse through her letterbook ; Eve, and others, belonging to the Randolphs ; Christiana Campbell & Jane Vobe, keeping a busy tavern -- A tapestry of lives.