Bingham, Sybil Moseley (1792–1848)

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Bingham, Sybil Moseley (1792–1848)

American missionary. Born in Westfield, Massachusetts, Sept 14, 1792; died in Easthampton, Massachusetts, Feb 27, 1848; dau. of Pliny and Sophia (Pomeroy) Moseley; m. Hiram Bingham (missionary), Oct 11, 1819; children: Sophia Bingham (1820–1887, who m. William Augustus Moseley); Levi Parsons (1822–1823); Jeremiah Evarts (1824–1825); Lucy Whiting Bingham (1826–1890, who m. Charles Olmstead Reynolds); Elizabeth Kaahumanu Bingham (1829–1899); Hiram II (1831–1908); Lydia Bingham (1834–1915).

With new husband, set sail from Boston for Hawaii to lead a mission (1820); helped found the 1st Christian mission established in Hawaiian Islands by New England Congregationalists; during her 21 years of service, used her talent as a teacher to establish the 1st school on the islands; planned, supervised, and participated with students in the construction of an adobe brick schoolhouse, which was completed in 1835; often made the treacherous journey to missionary posts on neighboring islands to assist with childbirth or other medical emergencies; worked with the other missionaries to turn the islanders' vocal sounds into written words through the formation of an alphabet.

See also Women in World History.

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