Episode 216: Lisa Wilson, A History of Stepfamilies in America

by Emily SneffDecember 11, 2018

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What do George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Abraham Lincoln have in common?

They all grew-up in blended or stepfamilies.

Lisa Wilson, the Charles J. MacCurdy Professor of American History at Connecticut College and author of A History of Stepfamilies in Early America, takes us through the creation and interactions of blended and stepfamilies in early America.

This episode originally posted as Episode 027.

About the Show

Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.

It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.

Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.

Ben Franklin’s World is a production of the Omohundro Institute.

Episode Summary

Like many 21st-century Americans, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Abraham Lincoln all had to navigate the world of blended and stepfamilies.

In today’s episode, Lisa Wilson, the Charles J. MacCurdy Professor of American History at Connecticut College and author of A History of Stepfamilies in Early America, leads us on an investigation of blended and stepfamilies in early America.

During our conversation, Lisa reveals how and why early American men and women chose to remarry and form stepfamilies; the origins of the “evil stepmother” myth and the truth about early American stepfathers; And, what happened when blended families came together.

What You’ll Discover

What drew Lisa to investigate stepfamilies in early America
Reasons early American men and women chose to remarry and form stepfamilies
Information about family size in early New England
Legal implications of remarriage for both early American men and women
Why many early American women tried to remain single after the death of a husband
What characteristics early American men and women looked for in second husbands and wives
What the idea of partnership looked like in the 18th century
Origins of the evil stepmother myth
 The transition from evil mothers to evil stepmothers in fairy tales
Why women and children feared stepfathers in the early 18th century
They myth of evil stepfather
The story of Silas Deane and his role as a stepfather
How early American stepchildren received their new stepmothers and stepfathers
Details about the relationships between half and step-siblings

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Time Warp Question

In your opinion what might have happened if George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, or Abraham Lincoln had not been raised in stepfamily situations? Do you think their history and the history of the early United States might be different?