Bridget Richardson Fletcher

Bridget Richardson Fletcher (1726–1770) was a hymn writer and religious poet. Her songs provide insight into the life of Colonial women, providing insight into times of sadness and joy. She describes her views on the ideal couple, where women are prized and women submit to men. Her works were among the first women's poems in Colonial America.

Personal life Bridget Richardson, the daughter of Sarah and Captain Zachary Richardson, was born on April 23, 1726, in Chelmsford The Fletchers lived in Westford, Massachusetts, a town neighboring Chelmsford. Their six children included Jesse, Josiah, and Elijah Fletcher. Elijah's daughter Grace, was the first wife of Daniel Webster. Sons Josiah and Jesse moved to Ludlow, Vermont with Jesse's wife Lucy Keyes and their baby about 1782.

Fletcher died on June 8, 1770. She is buried at Fairview Cemetery, Chelmsford, Massachusetts. In 1773, her son published her liturgical work. (Snodgrass says that the book was published in 1774.) It is said that the book was published at the request of her friends. Fletcher did not likely intend that the songs would go beyond her circle of friends and family. Most of her works conform to standard ballad stanza and meter of the 18th century. Writing hymns about women at the time was considered a "landmark in American hymns".

Legacy Susanne M. Zweizig wrote in her American National Biography article about Fletcher,