Throughout the course of American history, Washington County women have been often-overlooked players at the center of each era’s conflicts, from the Revolution to civil rights, art and literature.

In honor of Women’s History Month, let’s explore women’s history through the lens of influential local figures including Grandma Moses, Susan B. Anthony, Sarah Bates and more!

Jane McCrea

During the American Revolution, many Washington County women played a critical role in shaping our nation’s history. One of the most famous examples is Jane McCrea, who was a young woman engaged to a Loyalist officer. In 1777, she was killed by Native American allies of the British in Fort Edward, NY.

News of her death spread like wildfire, sparking widespread outrage across the Colonies. In fact, this angry energy was used to fuel anti-British sentiment, turning many colonists who’d been on the fence to begin supporting the Patriots’ cause. Over time, Jane’s murder rallied local support for the the freedom fighters, ultimately contributing to the British defeat in Burgoyne’s Saratoga Campaign. Even in the years that followed, McCrea’s tragic story lived on in legend, widely retold in poems, plays and art, making her a lasting folkloric figure of our region’s Revolutionary era.

Beyond Jane McCrea, countless female colonists toiled throughout the late 18th century to establish homes and farms in the Washington County frontier, laying the groundwork for the communities that followed.

Modern associated locations: A marker near where she was killed, and interpretive signage near her final resting place in Union Cemetery. You can also learn more at the Old Fort House Museum in Fort Edward, NY.

Pictured: The Murder of Miss Jane McCrea A.D. 1777 [Library of Congress]

Susan B. Anthony

By the mid-19th century, Washington County became closely intertwined with the growing women’s rights and reform movements. Susan B. Anthony, one of America’s most famous suffragists, spent her formative years in Battenville (near modern-day Greenwich). As a young woman, Susan experienced gender discrimination both in school and at work. Not only did her teacher refuse to teach her long division, but when she became a schoolteacher herself, she earned only a fraction of a male teacher’s salary. During that time, she also witnessed slavery firsthand in local communities. Combined with her Quaker upbringing, these experiences galvanized her commitment to social reform and passion for equality and women’s suffrage.

Although her family left the county when she was a teen, Anthony often returned during statewide campaigns. In 1894, while touring New York to advocate for women’s voting rights, she held a suffrage convention at Hubbard Hall in Cambridge.

Additionally, her sister Mary S. Anthony became an officer in the New York State Woman Suffrage Association, a strong voice in encouraging local women to organize. She helped establish the Easton Political Equality Club in 1891, using the sisters’ local roots to rally farm wives to the cause.

Thanks to these efforts, nearly every town in the county formed a suffrage group, ensuring rural women’s voices were heard. Local activists like Chloe Sisson of Easton and Bessie Taylor of Granville led these community clubs, exemplifying the grassroots spirit of the movement. Read more about the history of women’s rights in Washington County, NY.

Modern associated locations: Susan B. Anthony’s childhood home still stands proudly in Battenville, NY.

Pictured: Portrait of Susan B. Anthony [Library of Congress]

Mary Hubbard

One other the other influential Washington County women to emerge during this time was Mary Hubbard, who helped bridge activism and local culture. After her husband Martin built Hubbard Hall in 1878, he passed away. Defying the era’s norms, Mary Hubbard took over as the theater’s director. In a time when women rarely controlled public venues, she managed Hubbard Hall for 25 years, transforming it into a vibrant arts center that hosted world-class performers ranging from African choirs to acclaimed violinists.

In fact, Mary was also the one who brought Susan B. Anthony to Cambridge! As a fellow progressive leader and active suffragist, Hubbard and Anthony were friends, often traveling together to national women’s rights conventions.

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Mary faced legal challenges when the village tried to deny her inheritance of the property on the basis of her gender, but she fought back. Eventually, she won the right to own and operate the hall herself! Through her persistence, Mary Hubbard not only left a long-lasting artistic legacy in Cambridge, but was also a strong local voice in support of women’s economic and political rights.

Modern associated locations: Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education

Betty Wakeman Mitchell

Soon after, the early 20th century saw the fruits of these suffragists’ labor. New York State granted women the right to vote in 1917, three years before the 19th Amendment was ratified nationally. Naturally, Washington County women quickly took advantage of this new-found freedom. In this era emerged Betty Wakeman Mitchell of Fort Edward, a prominent local suffragist who turned to electoral politics. In 1918 – just months after women gained the right to vote – Mitchell ran for a seat in the New York Assembly.

Although she didn’t win, her candidacy itself was trailblazing, coming at a time when very few women even ran for public office. Beyond politics, Mitchell championed improvements in public health and campaigned for more rural nursing services to aid women and families across the state.

Her activism reflected how Washington County women extended their influence beyond voting rights into broader social reforms. Beyond that, local women played key roles in church groups, temperance unions and charitable organizations, pushing for improvements in their communities. For instance, in Greenwich – a town with deep Quaker roots – women were pivotal in local abolitionist networks (such as the Underground Railroad) before the Civil War, and later in civic clubs. Their efforts in education, healthcare and civil leadership laid a foundation for later generations.

Sarah Bates

Of course, Washington County women also made an impact on arts and culture! One early example is Sarah Bates, born 1792 in Hartford, NY. She became a prominent member of the Shakers, a religious community known for their visionary folk art.

Bates was a schoolteacher-turned-artist; after joining the Shakers in 1808 and moving to their Watervliet community in 1811, she began writing songs and creating detailed spiritual drawings known as “gift drawings.” She is regarded as a seminal figure in the genre of Shaker art. Her surviving artworks are studied today as important examples of religious American folk art.

Though her work was largely within the Shaker society in Mount Lebanon, NY, Bates’ legacy as an accomplished artist from Washington County reflected the often overlooked creative contributions of 19th century women.

Pictured: Untitled (Shaker Inspirational Drawing) c. 1840-1860 by Sarah Bates [Philadelphia Museum of Art]

Grandma Moses

Not long after came the era of another local artist of renown: Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses. Born on a farm in Greenwich, NY, Moses lived the traditional life of a rural farmwife for decades. Remarkably, in her late 70s she taught herself to paint, soon becoming one of America’s most famous folk artists.

Grandma Moses’ colorful, nostalgic scenes of country life in upstate New York struck a chord nationwide. Her first solo exhibition opened in New York City in 1940, when she was 80 years old. Her popularity exploded soon after. During the 1940s and ’50s, reproductions were everywhere. In fact, in 1947 alone, an estimated 16 million greeting cards featuring Grandma Moses’ art were sold!

Over time, these images of Washington County’s pastoral landscapes and seasonal celebrations were embraced as symbols of an idyllic American past. She received numerous accolades in her later years, including honorary doctorates and national awards for her artistic accomplishments. In 1949, President Harry S. Truman even presented her with the Women’s National Press Club Award for outstanding achievement in art!

Today, you can see Grandma Moses’ paintings in many museums, including the large collection held at the nearby museum in Bennington, VT. She remains a point of local pride: a self-made artist whose talent blossomed on Washington County soil and who left an enduring legacy on American art.

Modern associated locations: Mt. Nebo Gallery, displaying the work of her descendant Will Moses on the Moses family’s original homestead

Pictured: Grandma Moses donating her painting “Battle of Bennington” to Mrs. George Kuhner who accept it for DAR [Library of Congress]

Dr. Lenora Ruth Barot (pen name: Radclyffe)

Naturally, the legacy of influential Washington County women continues into the present. Opportunities forged by earlier generations have allowed contemporary local women to excel in diverse fields, from agriculture and art to science, literature, music and more.

One final notable figure is Dr. Lenora Ruth Barot, better known by her pen name Radclyffe. A Hudson Falls native and valedictorian of Hudson Falls High School, Barot went on to become an award-winning author and a trailblazer in the publishing realm. As Radclyffe, she has published numerous novels and stories (primarily LGBTQ+ romance and mysteries), and has won multiple literary awards over her career. In 2004, she founded Bold Strokes Books, an independent publishing company devoted to LGBTQ+ fiction, giving a platform to many underrepresented voices. Radclyffe’s success – as a writer, business founder and openly gay woman – highlights the broadened horizons for Washington County women in the 21st century.

From the Revolutionary era to the modern day, women of Washington County have shaped the region’s history and identity. Their contributions span politics, social activism, business, arts, and community life. Pioneers like Susan B. Anthony pushed for societal change that benefited not only the nation but also left tangible marks at home.

Cultural leaders such as Mary Hubbard and Grandma Moses enriched the community’s artistic heritage, creating institutions and art that remain part of the local legacy. And countless everyday women – from farmwives-turned-suffragists, to teachers, nurses, and volunteers – improved life in Washington County through their dedication and vision. Each generation built on the last, ensuring that the role of women in the county evolved from “invisible” labor to visible leadership. Today, the stories of these influential Washington County women continue to inspire, reminding us that regional history is often driven by the determination and talents of its remarkable women.

If you’re looking for new adventures on historic grounds, you’ll find find many unforgettable experiences within Washington County, NY! Dive deeper into the past at our memorable museums, or relax and check out our scenic golf courses, world-class wineries, and unique artistic excursions.

Of course, you’ll also find welcoming places to stay, from unique historic stays to traditional bed & breakfasts. You may also want to check out our hiking, fishing, learning, and shopping opportunities. No matter what you choose, you’ll love exploring the incredible variety of experiences Washington County has to offer!