#the reynolds affair

[pub-lius]

Do you have a post on Maria Reynolds? I haven't been able to find much information about her, I read she became a nun or something after the scandal??

i know i do, i am struggling to find it because tumblr's search function has and always will be ass

RAHHH I CANT FIND ANY OF THEM fuck this im giving you a short history of her life because i love you with all my heart

DISCLAIMER: i fucking hate Ron Chernow, especially for his treatment of Maria Reynolds in his book, but him and wikipedia are all I have right now and my relationship with him is very toxic pls help. also this post will discuss heavy things like forced prostitution and ron chernow absolutely butchering this subject so just be aware of what is best for you

Early Life

Maria Reynolds was born as Mary Lewis on March 30, 1768 to Susannah Van Der Burgh and Richard Lewis, who was Susannah's second husband. She had eleven siblings, and they did not have very much money, and were likely a pretty average 18th century white family in America, with poor literacy rates, struggles with debt, and the women being taken advantage of. They lived in Dutchess County, New York.

Maria was literate, but not well educated. This is something she was strongly mocked for by both her husband, Hamilton, Chernow, and other men. Well, I guess Hamilton didn't really mock her, but he definitely looked down on her for it. Fucking asshole. She also seemed to have very strong mood swings from a young age, and this could have been something psychological, like a mood disorder, or it could have been physiological or hormonal, such a menstrual disorder that was never properly treated because women's issues were not taken seriously at the time, mental or physical. This is also something she was mocked for.

Maria was married off to James Reynolds, a Revolutionary War veteran, on July 28th, 1783 when she was 15 years old. James Reynolds often lobbied the government for money after the war, foreshadowing his debt problems and later exploitation of his underage wife for money.

Together, the couple would have one daughter, Susan, named after her grandmother, who was born on August 18, 1785. Maria showed herself to be a devoted mother who would do anything for her daughter, including putting herself in harms way to make sure she didn't face the same fate. Unfortunately, Susan would also later be in an unhealthy relationship, despite her mother's efforts.

Maria Lewis was always described as very emotional, innocent, smart, and pretty, despite those who attempted to degrade her.

Men before Hamilton

It was early in her marriage when she was looked down upon by men, beginning with the son of her first landlady in Philadelphia.

"Her mind at this time was far from being tranquil or consistent, for almost the same minute that she would declare her respect for her husband, cry and feel distressed, [the tears] would vanish and levity would succeed, with bitter execrations on her husband. This inconsistency and folly was ascribed to a troubled, but innocent and harmless mind... [Reynolds] had frequently enjoined and insisted that she should insinuate herself on certain high and influential characters- endeavor to make assignments with them and actually prostitute herself to gull money from them." -Richard Folwell, August 12, 1797

Her complicated feelings about her husband allowed men to reduce her to being deceptive, however it shows that she was torn between her bias towards her husband, who had been around her and influencing her throughout her formative, adolescent years, and the things he was asking her to do, including prostituting herself.

These escalated to more than requests for her to prostitute herself to rich men into demands and threats. Reynolds became physically abusive to his wife if she did not comply with his demands to sleep with and extort rich men. Eventually, this became a pattern, and she became known as a prostitute who slept separately from her husband so she could entertain her midnight visitors, when essentially she was being human trafficked by her husband at the age of 18.

There is evidence to suggest that she only slept with Hamilton when Reynolds threatened to physically abuse her daughter, Susan. I'm not going to go into too much detail about the affair because I believe it's over done, but I am going to discuss how Ron Chernow talks about this woman, and the consequences of victim blaming.

Ron Chernow Hates Women

Ron Chernow discusses the Reynolds Affair in chapter 19 of his novel Alexander Hamilton. Already, he places some of the blame on Elizabeth Hamilton with the sentence "It was a dangerous moment for Eliza to abandon Hamilton,", even though he likes to put her on a pedestal so people think he's a feminist (Chernow 363). You're not a feminist, Ron, you're a 75 year old incel, and I feel bad for your wife.

Chernow introduces Maria Reynolds by stating her age at the time of the affair (23), and for some reason, making up the fact that her name is pronounced "Mariah"??? He gives no citation for this, so I'm assuming he made it up to make her seem more slutty. Her name was Maria. Actually, her name was Mary, but if we had any link between her and the Christian figure for maternity and purity, well that wouldn't work with the portrayal of her as a disgusting, crazy, lying whore, right?

Chernow uses words like "doleful tale", "fanciful", "conspired", and "trickster" to describe Maria, but gives no proof of her malicious intent towards Hamilton. He portrays Hamilton as vain, however a savior to Maria, and she simply HAD to have been in love with him because of how good of a person he was. Ron Chernow manipulates Maria Reynolds' character to fit his personal belief that there are two kinds of women: good, pure, Christian homemakers, and uneducated sluts who deserve their mistreatment from men (Chernow 367).

Even though Ron Chernow finds it more comfortable to believe that Maria worked in cohorts with her piece of shit husband, and that they together decided to use Hamilton for his money, the truth is that she was a severely abused woman throughout her entire life, especially at the hands of James Reynolds. Her manipulation of Hamilton was not to gain something, but to prevent her and her daughter from being abused. Chernow glosses over this, dismissing it as something she made up to secure a divorce, but it was proven true in a court of law. Chernow's famous cognitive dissonance strikes again: the US government is very securely made with a magnificent justice system, yet uneducated, illiterate women can manipulate it to get... a piece of notarized paper! Yeah, don't let this senile old man write any more books. Thanks.

Aftermath

The backlash from The Reynolds Pamphlet, published 1797, would haunt Maria for the rest of her life. She remarried twice, once to Jacob Clingman, who is another piece of shit who should have his dick guillotined, and the other time to Dr. Matthew (idk his last name) who she was a housekeeper for. She allegedly wrote her own pamphlet, but never published it. Idk anything about that.

Maria would raise her two grandchildren after her daughter's untimely death. She also changed her name back to Mary, becoming Mary Matthew for the rest of her life. She was devoutly religious, joining the Methodist Church, but not a nun. She died loved on March 25, 1828. And if there isn't someone on earth who loves Mary Matthew, then I am dead.

Here's your Maria Reynolds post. I love her so much, and I will defend her until I have no voice left, my fingers can't write or type, my eyes can't move, and my legs can't walk. She deserves so much better than what she got and how she's been portrayed. Vive Mary Lewis.

#history #amrev #american history #women's history #maria reynolds #the reynolds pamphlet #the reynolds affair #alexander hamilton #asks #still pissed that i cant find my other posts on her because i know i have a few :/

[publius-library]

HI

CAN YOU TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT THE REYNOLDS AFFAIR AND PAMPHLET

I sure can.

First, I want to talk about Maria, because I think a great injustice is done to her in general.

Maria Lewis, which is what I will be calling her, was born in New York City on March 30, 1768. She was one of eleven children, six half siblings and five full. Maria grew up literate, but largely uneducated. She was married to James Reynolds when she was 15, on July 28, 1783. He had served in the revolution in the commissary department (which, if you know anything about the commissary, it was virtually useless), and was several years older than Maria. He was constantly asking the government for money. They had one child, Susan, born on August 18, 1785.

Before 1791, James Reynolds moved with his wife and child from NY to Philadelphia. In summer of 91, Maria visited Alexander Hamilton at his residence in Philadelphia asking for help because her abusive husband had abandoned her. Hamilton had the means to assist her in moving back to NYC, and arranged a later meeting to give her the money. He arrived at her boarding house, she brought him to her bedroom, and, according to him, “Some conversation ensued from which it was quickly apparent that other than pecuniary consolation would be acceptable.” She was 23 years old. He was 34.

The affair continued throughout the summer and fall of 1791 while Hamilton’s family was in Albany, NY. After a short while, Maria informed Hamilton that her husband sought reconciliation, and she agreed without ending the affair. She obtained an interview for Reynolds, in which he applied for a position in the Treasury, which Hamilton refused.

Hamilton exhibited that he wanted to end the affair on December 15, 1791, when Maria sent him a letter from Reynolds.

“I have not the time to tell you the cause of my present troubles; only that Mr. Reynolds has wrote you this morning and I know not whether you have got the letter or not and he had swore that if you do not answer, or if he does not see or hear from you today, he will write to Mrs. Hamilton. He has just gone out and I am alone. I think you had better come here one moment that you may know the cause, then you will the better kmow how to act. Oh, my God, I feel more for you than myself and wish I had never been born to give you so much unhappiness. Do not respond to him; not even a line. Come here soon. Do not send or leave any thing in his power.”

The affair ended for a time in December, but began again after Reynolds needed more money, and manipulated Maria into restarting the affair. Reynolds would write to Hamilton as a “friend”, and Hamilton would send $30. The last loan was in June 1792.

Reynolds was imprisoned for forgery in November of that year, and wrote to Hamilton for assistance, who denied all requests for money from both Reynolds and Maria.

James Monroe, Frederick Muhlenberg and Abraham Venable, rivals of Hamilton, visited Reynolds in jail after being made aware that he had contact with Hamilton by Reynolds’ partner in crime. Reynolds didn’t mention anything specific, but hinted at Hamilton’s public misconduct. The congressmen then interviewed Maria who maintained Reynolds’ accusation of speculation on Hamilton’s part.

James Callendar, a newspaper writer, also heard of this accusation, and published it in The History of the United States for 1796. Hamilton rebuked it with the Reynolds Pamphlet that cleared his name, but also placed the majority of the blame for the affair on Maria. It is likely that the events stated in the Pamphlet are accurate, however Hamilton phrased the narrative to make Maria appear as a villainous seductress, in order to keep public scrutiny away from himself. He would have known to do this, because it was the same thing his mother’s first husband did to his mother before his birth. These situations are very similar, however the consequences Rachel Faucette faced were much harsher, which is likely why Hamilton felt justified in mirroring Johann Lavien’s actions.

It is clear Maria is a victim in this circumstance, as she was very young, and was being emotionally, financially, and possibly physically abused by Reynolds. It is also likely that Reynolds threatened abuse to her daughter if she did not comply with his demands. She was publicly scorned after the Reynolds Pamphlet. Hamilton is not the victim.

In 1793, Maria Reynolds petitioned for a divorce with the assistance of Aaron Burr, who offered her and her daughter a place to live in order to fully escape Reynolds. Before the divorce was finalized, she went to live with Reynolds’ partner-in-crime, Jacob Clingman, whom she married in 1795. She settled in Alexandria, Virginia, then Britain after facing public scrutiny over the Pamphlet.

Maria became the housekeeper of Dr. Matthew. Peter Grotjan reported that he had met Maria, and she claimed to have written a pamphlet of her own with her side of the story. It was never published, and there is no other evidence of it’s existence. In 1800, Susan was sent to a Boston boarding school after Burr petitioned William Eustis to help her.

Maria married Dr. Matthew in 1806. Susan Reynolds came to live with her mother in 1808, and spent several years in Philadelphia. Susan was unhappily married several times. She had two daughters.

Maria Lewis died as Maria Matthew on March 25, 1828.

Hope this helps!

#alexander hamilton #maria reynolds #the reynolds pamphlet #the reynolds affair #james reynolds #aaron burr #history #american history #amrev #amrev history

[absolutely-not-my-main-blog]

I sincerely think if Dennis Reynolds and Jeff Winger were to makeout, it would benefit them both immensely, in fact, it’d be good for their health

#jeff winger #dennis reynolds #wait wait okay they run into each other because Jeff’s a student and Dennis is out looking for his usual college girl type he’s so set on #but like they both come to the realization that’s not what they want anymore/never what they wanted or what will make them happy #because they see reflections of themselves in each other #and after having a wild whirlwind affair or one night stand they part ways each changed by the experience #and Dennis comes home and tells Mac how he feels #and Jeff tentatively accepts the dean’s invite to a dinner or something #text #anmmbposts #and also the next time the gang needs a lawyer Dennis is like I know a guy so they don’t have to use uncle jack anymore #and Jeff takes The Lawyer completely off guard and absolutely destroys him #and Charlie gets to excitedly talk with him about bird law to which Jeff either tells him hey greendale actually has a class on that #or hey you could teach a class on that at greendale #ignore me writing my silly crossover fanfic in the tags I’m at work and the thoughts are suddenly vibing #and they become like amicable sorta exes and if they ever meet each other’s friends do you think Mac and Shirley would bond over religion? #do you think Britta and Dee would get along? #I think Charlie might have fun playing games or building forts with troy and abed they could play night crawlers together #help me my mind keeps going

[candy8448]

I hate to say it but...

"Say no to this" from Hamilton- is kinda a bop

Dude is singing about cheating on his wife and im on the side just vibing

Its like, a guilty pleasure... i feel like i should not be enjoying this song so much but... its also pretty good tho D:

(Read tags)

#the one who sings Maria is so good. her voice is just so... nice #like a siren... #there is something in this song that just tickles the back of my mind and i don't know how to feel abiut that XD #im just saying... i kinda get why Hamilton fell for her because if i heard a voice like that... 😳 #and then the reynolds pamphlet is so fun. just a buncha dudes going crazy about finding their opponent's letters about this affair #its so much fun i love that song so much XD #i do a little ramble #music #say no to this #hamilton #hamilton musical #alexander hamilton #maria reynolds

[rmsstevielol]

One thing I despise is when people base “facts” off of a musical 🥰

#amrev #american history #alexander hamilton #john laurens #american revolution #alexander hamilshit #Alexander Hamilton wasn’t a child murderer #Eliza Schuyler loved him that’s why she forgave him #Philip Hamilton went to his uncle about the duel not Alex #Angelica schuyler did not have an affair with Alexander irl #the reynolds pamphlet #the Reynolds - Hamilton affair is ALOT more complicated than say no to this :) #James Reynolds was the villain in this story 🥰🥰 #both Maria and Alexander were somewhat forced/blackmailed into it not saying they’re both innocent angles just saying they’re not villains

[yr-obedt-cicero]

I find it funny how the musical portrays Eliza as resentful towards Alexander when really she was more pissed that Monroe wouldn't keep his mouth shut lmaoo

#I mean #we'll never really truly know what was her reaction #But yeah she seemed way more pissed at the public and Calendar and Monroe #Probably because the whole thing could've been kept more quiet #amrev #american history #american revolution #alexander hamilton #historical alexander hamilton #elizabeth hamilton schuyler #elizabeth schuyler hamilton #elizabeth hamilton #elizabeth schuyler #queries #sincerely anonymous #reynolds affair #reynolds pamphlet #meme #shitpost

[irenic-raccoon]

If I made an IASIP self insert would you still think I'm somewhat sane

#plot twist i was never sane #yes id only make it to ship myself with a particular character I enjoy #Me and Mac r sharing idcccc #and what if i made said self insert idk a step sister of Mac bc Ive been told I kinda look like him #and bc i think it'd be fitting for the show if Mac later in his life met a step sister he didnt know he had bc his dad had an affair #aaand bc i think itd be rlly funny #like being a dennis/reynolds simp is just a mcdonald thing 💀💀💀💀 #<- I inserted the “/Reynolds” because i think itd be even more funny if like the mcdonalds fell for a reynolds at least once #im taking this way too seriously oops 💀 #do I even tag this #fine #iasip #its always sunny in philadelphia #dennis reynolds #mental illness

[inamindfarfaraway]

I was researching the events of Hamilton and got really emotionally invested in Maria Reynolds, especially since we only see Hamilton’s perspective on her and the affair which somehow makes him out to be the victim. I understand that the musical couldn’t afford to spend any more time on her, but I wish she got more sympathy and respect. “Say No To This” was only one section in her life, after all. So I… just went ahead and…

wrote the lyrics for a whole Hamilton-style song about her life. As you do.

References to the musical:

The title (situated at the end of a line in the chorus) being an adjective referring to how Maria does and/or does not feel and related to her passion for Hamilton follows the pattern of “Helpless” and “Satisfied”, uniting the three “Me? I loved him” women.

Burr’s “the sinners and the saints” line in “Wait For It”, leading into how her life “takes and it takes and it takes”. Possibly foreshadowing of Burr’s significance in her life and her turn to religion in her last years.

“No one will read it” and “Burr, that’s why need it” in “Non-Stop”.

The ‘pawns’ line harks back to chess terms and references like “knight takes rook”, “stalemate”, “the sacrifices made in every game of chess” - Hamilton follows the chess players, Maria is just a pawn. A piece Hamilton is willing to sacrifice.

“I’m a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal” in “My Shot”.

The “Alexander Hamilton” motif (all names are sung in their show cadences).

“Stay Alive”, the titular phrase of which is sung by Maria’s foil Eliza no less.

Eliza and Angelica repeatedly draw attention to Hamilton’s eyes being his most captivating feature that makes them fall for him in “Helpless” and “Satisfied”. So with Maria here it’s no different. She and Angelica both specifically sing that their situation is bearable because they can “keep [Hamilton’s] eyes in [their] life”, even if he’s truly Eliza’s.

Hamilton’s “I don’t want you” line in “Say No To This”.

The plea to “stay” both Eliza and Maria sing to Hamilton.

“Helpless”, another Eliza motif Maria borrows.

The “Aaron Burr, sir” motif. “…that I can, ma’am” is sung to the same tune, showing along with the title that Burr (a supporter of women’s equality) respects Maria as his equal.

“Say No To This”, in a proper reprise.

The “I am not throwing away my shot” motif.

“The world seemed to burn” in “Burn”.

“The Reynolds Pamphlet”, also a brief reprise.

“You lit my heart aflame” in “Satisfied”.

The “satisfied” motif.

The “enough” motif. Oh look, Eliza again.

#given the massive theme of legacy in the play i thought i ought to ~tell her story~ #WISH this could be sung properly with all the parts and everything #i’m using the ‘say no to this’ pronunciation of ‘maria’ even though it’s uncommon #it has better rhymes #the ‘wrote it all down’ line refers to her claim that she wrote her own pamphlet about her side of the affair with hamilton #but it was never published so we don’t know if it ever even existed #lost to history just like eliza’s letters #wanted it to feel very ‘hamilton’ with the motifs and themes and general lyrical style #while still very much being its own distinct song #kinda worried I went overboard with the references though #please analyse this #hamilton #maria reynolds #james reynolds #alexander hamilton #aaron burr #original song #original lyrics #fan song

[erstwhile-punk-guerito]

#The Catered Affair #Bette Davis #Ernest Borgnine #Debbie Reynolds #Barry Fitzgerald #Rod Taylor #Richard Brooks #1956

[gayestbinnie]

ryan reynolds had a song written and produced for rob mcelhenney’s bday and then he professionally recorded himself singing and then filmed a music video for said song utilizing all of rob’s favorite people including his favorite Eagles football player …. ok! hmm.. yeah!! ..?

#everyone jokes about how rob is obsessed with ryan #and i let that brainwash me into thinking the obsession wasn’t mutual #bc what the??? #can y’all just be normal and have an affair or something idk #rob and ryan consensual workplace relationship #idk man #rob mcelhenney #ryan reynolds #also this isn’t me shipping them you weirdos #i’m simply making an observation #stating objective facts #it’s heterosexual for rob to be in love with ryan #what the fuck is it called when ryan is obsessed with rob #first of all that’s my job

[letterboxd-loggd]

The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953) Don Weis

December 22nd 2022

#the affairs of dobie gillis #1953 #don weis #debbie reynolds #bobby van #bob fosse #barbara ruick #hanley stafford #lurene tuttle #hans conried #archer macdonald #charles lane #kathleen freeman

[downthetubes]

Broken Frontier announces the winners of its 20th annual awards for comics

The leading comics website Broken Frontier, run by Andy Oliver, has announced the winners of its 20th annual BF Awards, voted for by its readers and the BF team

The leading comics website Broken Frontier, run by Andy Oliver, has announced the winners of its 20th annual BF Awards, voted for by its readers and the BF team. The winners include a number of British creators, Beck Kubrick, Michael Molcher, Paul B. Rainey, Emma Reynolds and David Roach among them. The BF team feel the winners and nominees reflect a wide range of the socially conscious and…

View On WordPress

#2000AD #A Very British Affair #Alice Oseman #Avery Hill Publishing #Awards #Beck Kubrick #Beth Fuller #Blab #Broken Frontier #Caroline Cash #Dark Horse Comics #David Roach #downthetubes News #Drawn &amp; Quarterly #Drawn to Change the World #Emilia McKenzie #Emma Reynolds #Fantagraphic Books #Kamila Krol #Kry Garcia #Michael Molcher #Natalie Norris #Nicole Goux #Paul B. Rainey #PeePee-PooPoo #Quindrie Press #Rebellion Publishing #Silver Sprocket #Strangers Publishing #Tapas

[lascenizas]

The Last Movie I Watched...

The Catered Affair (1956, Dir.: Richard Brooks)

#the catered affair #i watched #debbie reynolds #bette davis

[lifes-commotion]

Debbie Reynolds

#Debbie Reynolds #actress #SUTS #TCM #Hollywood #classic #film #musicals #Mary Frances Reynolds #singer #businesswoman #Singin' in the Rain #Susan Slept Here #Bundle of Joy #The Catered Affair #How the West Was Won #The Unsinkable Molly Brown #The Mating Game #movies #television #The Debbie Reynolds Show #wife #Eddie Fisher #husband #Carrie Fisher #daughter #hemorrhagic stroke #death #Broadway #MGM

[thattechygirl]

Today's prompt is "betray". This one shot is about the Hamilton-Reynolds affair. But do not worry, it is nothing explicit. It is simply Alexander reflecting on his relations with Maria.

#hamilton #hamilton fanfiction #fanfiction #fanfic #hamilton one shot collection #one shot collection #ao3 #alexander hamilton #maria reynolds #hamilton-reynolds affair #the reynolds pamphlet

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

Ava Gardner (The Killers, The Barefoot Contessa)— She's so goddamn hot. Her and Frank Sinatra could've sandwiched me and I would've thanked them for the privilege

Jean Seberg (Breathless, Saint Joan)— Some of us watched À bout de souffle as a lil French undergrad and had the trajectory of our lives changed by Jean Seberg. She IS French new wave!! She is the moment!! She sadly had to work with a lot of shitty directors in her career but even so, she has this magnetic energy whenever she’s on screen. In her personal life, she was also very supportive of civil rights causes, and was even targeted/harassed by the FBI for financially supporting the Black Panther Party.

This is round 2 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Ava Gardner:

Ava Gardner is one of my favorite actresses of all time. Although a lot of her roles in movies are about her being beautiful and nothing else, there are some films where her acting truly shines.

Gifset: https://www.tumblr.com/pelopides/721438308726603776/ava-gardner-as-pandora-reynolds-pandora-and-the

Gifset 2: https://www.tumblr.com/portraitoflestatonfire/731899355804598272/if-the-loustat-reunion-doesnt-look-like-this-then

HER FACE. LOOK AT IT. Also was a life long supporter of civil rights and a member of the NAACP, had lots of fun love affairs with other stars, bullfighters, married several times but was also happy in between to just have lovers and was unapologetically herself.

I literally gasp every time I see her.

Between 1942 and 1964, Ava Gardner was credited in no less 50 films, and is still considered by some to be the most beautiful actresses that ever graced the silver screen. Despite life-long insecurities regarding her talent as an actress, she weathered public scandal, industry hostility, and outright condemnation by the Catholic Church with fearless grace. She would later in life talk candidly about the reality and pain of living through two (studio approved!!) abortions during her short marriage to Frank Sinatra, and while the two of them could not make their relationship work, they remained in each other’s lives for nearly 30 years. She would forever describe herself as a small-town girl who just got lucky, but always felt like a beautiful outsider.

Really genuinely one of the most beautiful human beings I have ever seen. An autodidact. Had amazing chemistry with Gregory Peck to the point where I do think about watching On The Beach again sometimes because they're so good together even though that movie did destroy me. Was a great femme fatale in many movies.

Jean Seberg:

anyone who plays Joan of Arc is kind of hot by default tbh

she's gorgeous, she's cool, she has the original blond pixie cut

She donated a lot of her money to civil rights organizations such as the NAACP and the black panther party as well as Native American school groups, as a result of this the fbi ran a smear campaign against her and a surveillance campaign which is thought to have led to her suicide tragically.

idk if this is propaganda but the COINTELPRO and the FBI are widely blamed for her death. If the FBI was after her for supporting the Black Panther Party you know she was good

#jean seberg #ava gardner #hotvintagepoll #fuck that old woman #ladies 2