Early Life / Childhood

Lucy Stone was born in West Brookfield Massachusetts on August 13th 1818. This is a photo of the house she was born in. Lucy was the eigth of nine children and third of four daughters. She was always drawn to her country home, it was said she missed it dearly when she was at college and traveling. McMillen said at the end of her life she returned to the house,"seeking tranquility, crisp air, fresh spring water, and a chance to reconnect with this place she loved".

Not too many details of her early life are known because she had no need to write to anyone since everyone close to her was in her home. Her mother Hannah Stone, was a role model to her. She saw how hard her mother worked around the house and tried to help as much as she could. Her father was like many other men at this time. He had a drinking problem and ran the household with a stern hand and ruled the dependants in it. All of the Stone children had chores around the house from a young age. She looked up to her older siblings and listened when they lectured her. Lucy would steal sips of the alcohol her father drank, she was caught by her brother Frank and he told her to stop. She learned quickly and according to Sally McMillen it was the last time she touched alcohol.

Overall she had a happy childhood and enjoyed the vast land that her farm house was on. She was a fearless girl, which came to her aide in the future, along with being proud and everso honest. She attended school and church but sometimes questioned what the Bible preached. She enrolled herself into Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary in April 1839. This was the same year Lucy was confirmed an abolitionist. She became a profound teacher before heading to Oberlin.

¹Sally G. McMillen. 2015. Lucy Stone : An Unapologetic Life. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

by Madison Cramer