Smith, Abby (1797–1878)

American political activist and social reformer. Name variations: Abba. Born Abby Hadassah Smith, June 1, 1797, in Glastonbury, Connecticut; died July 23, 1878; dau. of Zephaniah Hollister Smith (cleric turned lawyer, died 1836) and Hannah Hadassah Hickok Smith (died 1850); sister of Julia Smith (1792–1886); never married; no children.

Lifelong social and political reformer who, with sister Julia Smith, refused to pay taxes unless she could vote and in consequence had livestock seized; moved back to Glastonbury with family (1795); lived at home with parents and 4 other sisters, learning and teaching; did charitable work among free blacks (1819); with family, joined Hartford Anti-Slavery Society, hosted abolitionists, distributed literature, initiated petitions (1830s–60s); helped Julia translate the Bible 5 times (1847–1855); unfairly taxed by town of Glastonbury (1869), traveled with Julia to Connecticut Woman's Suffrage Association in Hartford (1869); after Julia tried to register to vote and was denied (1873), joined her in refusing to pay taxes (1873); spoke before town meeting (1873); with Julia, spoke in public on suffrage (1873–78) and bought back 7 Alderney cows beloved as pets which were seized for auction by the tax collector, causing a sympathetic uproar across the region and then the nation (1874); addressed a crowd outside town meeting from a wagon, after having been refused a voice inside the building (1874), and spoke before the Woman Suffrage Committee of the Connecticut State Legislature (1874); with Julia, fought town's attempt to auction off Smith land (1874), then bought back cows seized for auction twice more (1876); with Julia, won court appeal and regained land (1876).

See also Kathleen L. Housley, The Letter Kills But the Spirit Gives Life: The Smiths—Abolitionists, Suffragists, Bible Translators (Historical Society of Glastonbury, 1993); and Women in World History.