Elizabeth Howard

Elizabeth "Betsy" Howard was born on September 16, 1772, in Quincy Massachusetts.¹ She became Abigail Adams’ preferred lady’s maid. Betsy accompanied Abigail Adams to the President’s House in Philadelphia in spring 1797, alongside fellow lady’s maids, Becky Tirrell and Betsy Marshall.² 

When Abigail Adams moved into the White House in the fall of 1800, Betsy accompanied her, sleeping in her own room on the Ground Floor.³ Betsy married William Shipley on January 11, 1801, in Washington, D.C. A letter written by Abigail Adams indicates that the wedding likely took place at the White House, “Betsy Howard and her Lover have chosen to Signalize their Marriage by having it performed whilst in the Family of the President.” In March 1801, the couple returned to Quincy, Massachusetts at the end of John Adams’ presidency. They had four children.⁴ Betsy died on March 9, 1852, in Lawrence, Massachusetts and was buried in Hancock Cemetery.⁵