Osborn, Sarah, 1714-1796

Sarah Osborn and Susanna Anthony were Congregationalist writers on religion, and were close friends. Both lived in Newport, Rhode Island.

Sarah Haggar Osborn (1714-1796) was born in London, the daughter of Benjamin and Susanna Haggar. She arrived in New England in 1722 with her family, who eventually settled in Newport, R.I., in 1729. In 1731, she married Samuel Wheaten ( -1733), who died at sea two years later. She started teaching school to support her family in 1734, and in 1737 was admitted to the Congregational Church in Newport.

In 1741, Sarah Haggar Wheaten founded a female religious society which she headed until her death more than fifty years later. In 1742, she married Henry Osborn ( - ), a merchant who suffered economic setbacks shortly thereafter. In 1744, Mrs. Osborn resumed teaching, once again to support her family. She taught continuously until the mid-1770s; since she had 70 or more students on occasion (including eight to ten boarders) she employed assistants.

In addition to her female religious society and teaching activities, she catechized her students in the evenings, as well as conducted religion classes for young men and Newport African-Americans. She persisted in teaching until her health weakened shortly before the Revolution. She remained a lifelong friend of Susanna "Susa" Anthony (1726-1791).