Abigail Abbot Bailey

Abigail Abbot Bailey (1746–1815) was an early American memoirist who documented her experiences with domestic abuse and incest.

Upon learning that her daughter was being sexually abused by her husband in 1788, she insisted that he leave their home and eventually secured a divorce in 1792.

Asa had apparently seduced the woman, and Abigail fired her and confronted him, demanding that he make repentance.

Abigail may not have fully grasped the extent of the incestuous relationship, but made indirect attempts at stopping it.

[1] She suffered health problems relating to childbirth, but after she gave birth to twins in 1790, she became insistent that the incestuous relationship end or she would be forced to petition for divorce.

The family moved to Bradford in February 1792 and the next month both Abigail and Asa left to travel to a buyer for the farm in Connecticut.

At first, he refused to settle their property per the demands of the court, but Abigail's threats to take the matter to New Hampshire convinced him to relent.

Following her death, the memoirs were brought by family and friends to the Reverend Ethan Smith of Haverhill, who had been the pastor of the church where she converted.

[1] Smith edited and published the memoirs, writing that "few lives of christians, in modern days, have afforded such rare materials for instructive biography.

[6] Written in the style of a woman's religious autobiography, its tone and content place it within the tradition of American captivity narratives.