Prior, Margaret (1773–1842)
Prior, Margaret (1773–1842)
American social-welfare worker. Name variations: Margaret Barrett Allen Prior. Born Margaret Barrett, 1773, in Fredericksburg, VA; died April 7, 1842, in New York, NY; dau. of William Barrett (farmer); m. William Allen (linen merchant), c. 1789 (died c. 1808); William Prior (merchant), 1814 (died 1829); children: (1st m.), several, but only 1 son survived infancy; (2nd m.) several who died young and 2 adopted daughters.
Operated soup kitchen for poor in Ninth Ward in New York (1819–19) and opened school for children of poor in NY (1822); served as member of board of managers of New York Orphan Asylum; was 1st female missionary for New York Female Moral Reform Society (1834–42).
See also Sarah R. Ingraham, Walks of Usefulness, or Reminiscences of Mrs. Margaret Prior (American Female Guardian Society, 1843).