Lydia Longley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (February 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Lydia Longley, (Sainte-Madeleine), (1674 – 20 July 1758), known to many as "The First American Nun" after Helen A. McCarthy Sawyer of Groton, MA published her biographical novel, The First American Nun in 1958. Lydia's grandfather first moved to Groton, MA from Lynn, MA in 1663. The Longley's lived there untouched by the Indians until King Phillip's War of 1676 when Lydia's family was forced to flee to Charleston. After several years of life away from their home in Groton, they returned.

The Longley household was a large farmstead. Lydia's mother died early in her marriage with Lydia's father but he quickly remarried. The upkeep of the Longley compound was a team effort. The children helped maintain the cattle and the fields. They received education at home, and the boys did receive some formal education.

The Longley's lived with out incident until 1694 when the Abenaki Indian tribe invaded the Groton area. The Longley's were not so lucky to escape this time. The cattle was brutally murdered and all but Lydia and two of her siblings were slain. Lydia and the two remaining were then taken as captives and brought to Canada. Unfortunately, the youngest child died along the way. It was in Canada where Lydia delved into her career as a Catholic nun. She flourished in Canada and when she had the option to return to the United States, she declined.