Mary Upton Ferrin: Earliest Massachusetts Pioneer in Woman Suffrage by S. M. Smoller
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A Woman's Defence

Upton Ferrin petitioned the legislature between the ages of 38 and 42 years.  When she was 55, her Aunt Phebe died and bequeathed her a $500 trust fund.  Phebe's executor, Jonathan King, contested the legacy inherited by Mary, as well as that belonging to one of Phebe's grandchildren.  In April 1866, the Essex Supreme Judicial Court at Salem, Massachusetts, directed King to pay Upton Ferrin the legacy given to her in trust.

When she was 59 years of age, she joined the National Woman's Suffrage Association.  It was considered a new, militant organization that lobbied Congress for a 16th amendment to the Constitution that would grant women the vote nationally. The group also sponsored demonstrations at the polls and spoke out on a range of women's issues - wages and working conditions, education, marriage., and the controversial subject of divorce.  Critics accused the National Association of favoring free love.

In 1869, Upton Ferrin also wrote a pro-suffragist tract A Women's Defence: A Reply to Horace Greeley's Lecture.  It was published in Peabody Square by Charles D. Howard, the former publishers of the South Danvers Wizard.

Horace Greeley, the editor of the New York Tribune, gave a speech in Providence, Rhode Island in which he outlined reasons why women should be denied the franchise.  He maintained that along with the right to vote came the duty of jury service, aiding the sheriff when needed, and being drafted for military service.  Greeley said women chose not to have the right to vote so as to be exempt from these other responsibilities.

In a Supplement to the Daily Evening Traveller, Greeley is quoted as saying, "When woman of this entire free country shall desire to vote, the day of the enforcement is not far distant.  If every woman in the Republic were required at this hour to say, each to herself, will you accept and exercise the right of suffrage with the resulting right to be chosen to and hold office, on condition that you be drawn to serve on juries, summoned to the aid of the sheriff in case of exigency, warned out for training and drafted out to fight indiscriminately with men, I do not believe that one woman in one hundred would sincerely answer yes."

In addition to being one of the first to call for the right of women to serve on juries, Ferrin refuted Greeley's anti-woman suffrage arguments systematically, one by one, using pathos, humor and the Bible.

"Indeed, sir, you treat woman as though she was less than idiotic.  If this mighty effort emanated through your ignorance, it is excusable; if through your want of courtesy, go on; in due time you will find your proper level.  Woman knows the right of suffrage is hers, inalienably; it can neither be accepted from or conferred by any such existing power, nor can it be abolished by such.  Her right to office is the same as man's."

"No one questions his right to elect her.  When allowed to exercise her existing right, to be her own juror, be assured women will not hang each other, nor will they execute man, as he has Mrs. (Mary) Suratt and hosts and hosts of others of woman's unoffending sons and daughters; nor will she bore his tongue and ears nor brand him with red hot irons; never was the time when twelve woman in this free country would have done it.

"No pen can portray the sufferings man has inflicted upon woman's lacerated, bleeding heart.  How often has he compelled her to summon the aid of the sheriff for her own and her children's protection?  Your faith in woman will be mightily shaken when convinced that she will not hesitate to defend man, to the extent of her power, when she has borne, always at the risk and often at the sacrifice of her own life. What is man's experience in an occasional war, compared with woman's daily experience sustaining in silence without a murmur? Nothing, virtually nothing.  While man brings death to thousands, woman brings to life millions.

" 'Tit for tat, is it?' By no means, living or dying, the honor is man's alone, so long as he is the sole appointed engineer.

"Shaken, too, when convinced that she is even now exercising a mightier weapon than any sword that man ever wielded, or had the power to invent.  In the exercise of her rights, she will settle other subjects as she is now settling this mighty question of the rights of one half of the human race, convulsing not only this national but the whole civilized world with her invisible power and her mild persuasion.  Man has fought out, with his sword, the privilege, for himself, of exercising the right of suffrage.  At every sacrifice woman let him her indispensable aid.  Where would have been his independence had she opposed him, even as he now opposes her?  Echo answers, where?  And yet, woman walks up to this with a firmness and determination that are strengthened by every apparently adverse influence.  Knowing the right, woman dares maintain it."

The tract concludes with Upton Ferrin's proposed "Woman's Ceremonies" for marriage and divorce.

Woman's Ceremony for Marriage

"Inasmuch Sir, as you acquit yourself honorably, I will honor you; while you retain the affection you have won, I will love you; in all things wherein my judgment dictates, I will obey you; so long as you perform faithfully the duties of husband, I hold myself obligated, as a wife, and no longer to assist you to the extent of my ability, in every laudable pursuit.  In presence of these witnesses, I hereunto subscribe my name, as being married.

Women's Ceremony for Divorce

"Having failed to perform faithfully the duties of a husband, you have forfeited every claim, on my part, to the duties of a wife; I hold myself obligated to you, as such, no longer.  My children are my own; while needy of a mother's protection, I shall extend it; if inclined to contribute to their support, I will accept it; if not, the community will do this, if need be, with whose approbation and the advice of my friends, in presence of these witnesses, I hereunto subscribe my name, as being divorced, and free from any existing obligation to you, as a wife.

"The newspaper will read thus:

Married: Dead: Divorced: - for, 'What God hath joined together, death hat separated, and man, circumstances, has put asunder.'

"If these ceremonies are too long, then let the parties signify their will in the presence of witnesses, seeing that such is recorded.

"Does man doubt woman's ability to rule herself?  Let him change sides and see if she will not wield the sword, the sceptre, and the pen, with as much efficiency as he will the needle, the cradle and the broom.  If she fails in this, and needs his aid, allow her to ask it, if you please."