A Midwife's Tale Summary

Laurel Ulrich’s A Midwifes Tale is a book over Marth Ballard who was a New England women living in America. Ulrich uses Marth Ballard diary entries along with other historical documents from the eighteenth century to show her audience the life of women specifically a midwife in the American society, and the sexual standards that were present during the eighteenth century.
Martha Ballard the wife of Ephraim Ballard was midwife during the eighteenth century in Hallowell, who not only played the role of a midwife in the society, but also the role of a wife and a mother. Ulrich starts to book by talking about scarlet fever epidemic that had taken places in Hallowell during the summer of 1787. During the time of the fever and after the epidemic had ended, Martha played the role of an important member in the community, even though the social structure in Hallowell was giving more importance to male doctors. Then Ulrich talks about the roles that women played in the economy during this time period. By stating of how Martha Ballard along with her daughters would spin wool at home to make money. Then in 1789 Martha’s neighbor who is a powerful member of the community was accused of rape. Ulrich uses the diary of Martha Ballard, and the The trial of Atticus to inform about the court system during this time period. After the court case in 1792 Sally pierce had filed a paternity suit against Martha’s son Johnathan. Ulrich uses this event to show the

As each of the chapters started off with the events that were written in Martha’s diary, and then expanded into detail by the author. Another primary source that Ulrich uses is The Trial of Atticus to show why during times of rape in the Eighteenth century it was difficult for women to press charges. Ulrich used The Tale of Atticus and other maps and charts, because it was difficult to paint the history with just Martha Ballard’s