Grace Growden Galloway

Grace Growden Galloway (1727–1782) was a loyalist who lost nearly everything in the aftermath of the American Revolution. Grace Galloway's property was confiscated because of her political position. This loss of property led to the loss of her social standing and pride. Grace Galloway was also notable because she kept a detailed diary documenting her daily life and her fight to regain her property. This diary has been a strong source for historians to learn from and grasp what it was like to be a female loyalist. Galloway's diary provides a fresh perspective into a side of the Revolutionary War that is often omitted from history.

In 1727, Grace Growden (later Galloway) was born in Pennsylvania. Her father, Lawrence Growden, had an immense amount of power and respect through his business and great wealth, shown through the fact that he owned a four-wheeled coach. Lawrence Growden was the owner of Durham Iron Furnaces and held a position on the Pennsylvania assembly, in addition he owned ten thousand acres of land. Galloway was thus raised with an immense amount of privilege, but she was not necessarily happy. Despite her father's wealth and power, Grace's childhood was lonely and filled with egotistical men.

In 1753, Grace Galloway married Joseph Galloway. Joseph quickly gained prominence as a lawyer and soon became one of the most powerful politicians in Pennsylvania. When Grace's father died, Joseph inherited Grace's share of her father's property: Trevose (Growden Mansion), Belmont, Richlieu, King's Place, and Durham Lands. Joseph and Grace had four children, but only their daughter, Elizabeth (Betsy), survived to adulthood.

Before the American Revolution, Grace Galloway was one of the most prominent figures in Pennsylvania society, in part because Joseph Galloway, a strong loyalist, held a continuous seat in the assembly from 1757 to 1776 (except for 1764) and served as the Speaker of the House from 1766 to 1775. Their social standing began to decline when it became clear the British were losing the war, but the Galloways remained true to their loyalist beliefs even in a society that was highly revolutionist. Joseph was removed from the speakership and became a public example that loyalism would not be tolerated in the new age. When the war started going poorly for the British, Joseph and Elizabeth sought protection with the British, leaving Grace behind to defend and reclaim the family land. Grace never saw her husband or daughter again. Grace's continued loyalist beliefs and the fact that Joseph had abandoned her made her a social pariah. Grace worried that the name Galloway and Growden was being ruined. Grace recounted in her diary: "No one will take me in and all the men keep away from me... I am fled from as pestilence". This was especially hard for Grace because she had been held in such esteem for all of her life previously.

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