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originally published: 05/16/2023 

John and Abigail, photo credit: American Historical Theatre

(HADDONFIELD, NJ) -- Abigail and John Adams – one of America’s first power couples – will take the stage on Thursday, May 25 for a spirited debate about women’s rights and more during the colonial era. Held at The Haddon Fortnightly, this event features actors in period attire in a program that builds excitement for June 3’s Haddonfield Skirmish, a day-long, family-friendly colonial festival and Revolutionary War reenactment, featuring  soldiers, horses, and clashes between colonists and redcoats.

America’s first vice president and second president, John Adams, was constantly refuted by his firebrand wife, Abigail, an educated, upper-class woman with well-articulated opinions on government, politics and life. She boldly stood by not putting such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands, and is remembered for warning John to “…remember the ladies…” in his governing.

Abigail once said: “If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.”

Abigail Adams will be portrayed by Kim Hanley and John Adams by Peyton Dixon. Their company, the American Historical Theater, also brought the popular Alexander Hamilton-Thomas Jefferson debate to Haddonfield in 2022.

This event comes on the heels of the “Unheard Voices of the American Revolution” free lecture series, which is addressing underrepresented groups including Black people, Quaker pacifists, loyalists, Jewish people, Freemasons, and women, as well as the role of diseases during wartime.

Tickets cost $17.76 and are available for purchase online. The event takes place on Thursday, May 25 at 7:00pm at The Haddon Fortnightly, 301 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, New Jersey.

Haddonfield’s Revolutionary History

In 1777, the New Jersey Assembly, fleeing from the British, met in session at Haddonfield’s Indian King Tavern and declared that the “Colony” of New Jersey was now the State of New Jersey (per https://haddonfieldhistory.org). Both British and American forces encamped at Haddonfield or marched through it during various campaigns. Lafayette was among the leaders of the Revolution who was known to have stayed in the town during the war. In 1903, the Indian King Tavern became the first historic site purchased by the State of New Jersey. More on Haddonfield’s revolutionary history here. 

The Skirmish is made possible thanks to support from their loyal sponsors.

The Skirmish is hosted by The Friends of the Indian King, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which works to preserve and advance the Indian King Tavern Museum, the first New Jersey State historic site, and to raise public awareness of the museum and its educational programs.

 

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