Smith, Julia (1792–1886)

American political activist and social reformer. Born Julia Evelina Smith, May 27, 1792, in Glastonbury, Connecticut; died in Hartford, Connecticut, Mar 6, 1886; dau. of Zephaniah Hollister Smith (cleric turned lawyer, died 1836) and Hannah Hadassah Hickok Smith (died 1850); sister of Abby Smith (1797–1878); m. Amos Parker, April 9, 1879; no children.

Lifelong social and political reformer who, with sister Abby Smith, refused to pay taxes unless she could vote and in consequence had livestock seized; moved back to Glastonbury with family (1795); did charitable work among free blacks (1819); taught at Troy Female Seminary (1823) and returned home (1824); with family, joined Hartford Anti-Slavery Society, hosted abolitionists, distributed literature, initiated petitions (1830s–60s); with Abby's aid, translated the Bible 5 times (1847–55); unfairly taxed by town of Glastonbury (1869); with Abby, traveled to the Connecticut Woman's Suffrage Association in Hartford (1869); tried to register to vote and was refused (1873); with Abby, refused to pay taxes (1873), began to speak in public on suffrage (1873–78), and bought back 7 Alderney cows which were seized for auction by tax collector, causing a sympathetic uproar across the region and then the nation (1874); spoke at Worcester Convention for Woman's Suffrage (1874); with Abby, fought town's attempt to auction off Smith land (1874); spoke at the National Woman Suffrage Association (1876); with Abby, bought back cows seized for auction twice more (1876), won court appeal and regained land (1876); addressed the Congressional Committee on Privileges and Elections (1878); husband auctioned off the contents of the Smith house (1884); writings include The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments; Translated Literally From the Original Tongues (1876) and Abby Smith and Her Cows, With A Report of the Law Case Decided Contrary to Law (1877).

See also Kathleen L. Housley, The Letter Kills But the Spirit Gives Life: The Smiths—Abolitionists, Suffragists, Bible Translators (Historical Society of Glastonbury, 1993); Susan J. Shaw, A Religious History of Julia Evelina Smith's Translation of the Holy Bible: Doing More Than Any Man Has Ever Done (Mellen, 1993); and Women in World History.