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Abigail Goodrich Whittlesey


Other Name:
Abigail Goodrich
Gender:
Female
Born:
November 29, 1788
Died:
1858
Home Town:
Ridgefield, CT
Marriage(s):
Samuel Whittlesey (November 10, 1808)
Biographical Notes:
Abigail Goodrich Whittlesey, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Ely Goodrich of Ridgefield, Connecticut, was born November 29, 1788. Around 1804 it is believed that Abigail may have attended Sarah Pierce's Female Academy in Litchfield, Connecticut. In November of 1808 she married Samuel Whittlesey of New Preston, Connecticut, and the couple had seven children during their marriage. Samuel, a minister and educator, believed in female education as strongly as his wife. He and Abigail served as principals of the Ontario Female Seminary and of Utica Seminary. Abigail was the founding editor of "Mother's Magazine" in 1833, and one of their sons served as a missionary in India. After leading a full life Abigail passed away in 1858.

Education
Years at LFA:
c.1804

Profession / Service
Profession:
Educator; Editor

help The Citation of Attendance provides primary source documentation of the student’s attendance at the Litchfield Female Academy and/or the Litchfield Law School. If a citation is absent, the student is thought to have attended but currently lacks primary source confirmation.

Records for the schools were sporadic, especially in the formative years of both institutions. If instructors kept comprehensive records for the Litchfield Female Academy or the Litchfield Law School, they do not survive. Researchers and staff have identified students through letters, diaries, family histories and genealogies, and town histories as well as catalogues of students printed in various years. Art and needlework have provided further identification of Female Academy Students, and Litchfield County Bar records document a number of Law School students. The history of both schools and the identification of the students who attended them owe credit to the early 20th century research and documentation efforts of Emily Noyes Vanderpoel and Samuel Fisher, and the late 20th century research and documentation efforts of Lynne Templeton Brickley and the Litchfield Historical Society staff.
CITATION OF ATTENDANCE:
[We are currently working to update and confirm citations of attendance.]

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