Winifred and her husband, Joseph Gales, both unapologetic 'free thinkers', were early converts to Unitarianism, and became active in the late 1780's, expressing their ideas through editorials in their self-published weekly newspaper, the Sheffield Register. In 1791, as the English government made plans for his arrest, Joseph Gales fled to Germany where the rest of the family later met up with him. They then immigrated to Philadelphia in 1795 where he began publishing the 'Independent Gazetteer'.
In 1798 the family was invited to move to Raleigh, North Carolina to set up a Republican Press to promote the political outlook of the 'Jeffersonian Republicans'.
Winifred was the first novelist published in North Carolina (1804). Her novel, Matilda Berkley, was the story of a poor, but respectable lesser noblewoman of England, who travels through Europe and Russia.
She continued publishing essays and poetry throughout her life. She and her husband retired to Washington, DC where she died in 1839. Her husband returned to North Carolina and is buried there.
Winifred and her husband, Joseph Gales, both unapologetic 'free thinkers', were early converts to Unitarianism, and became active in the late 1780's, expressing their ideas through editorials in their self-published weekly newspaper, the Sheffield Register. In 1791, as the English government made plans for his arrest, Joseph Gales fled to Germany where the rest of the family later met up with him. They then immigrated to Philadelphia in 1795 where he began publishing the 'Independent Gazetteer'.
In 1798 the family was invited to move to Raleigh, North Carolina to set up a Republican Press to promote the political outlook of the 'Jeffersonian Republicans'.
Winifred was the first novelist published in North Carolina (1804). Her novel, Matilda Berkley, was the story of a poor, but respectable lesser noblewoman of England, who travels through Europe and Russia.
She continued publishing essays and poetry throughout her life. She and her husband retired to Washington, DC where she died in 1839. Her husband returned to North Carolina and is buried there.
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