Childhood

On April 23rd, 1756 in Mepkin Abbey, South Carolina, Aspen Laurens was born. She would be the second living child of Henry and Eleanor Laurens. In her younger years and well into er adult years, she would be very close with her older brother John Laurens. Being only two years apart, John and Aspen would be inseparable as they grew up.

In her younger years, between the ages of 5 and 12, she would learn how to read, write, and even do math. She would be known as a very kind little girl and very sweet. Often, instead of studying, she would be out in the meadow with her siblings, playing games and riding horse back. around the age of 13, her mother started teaching her how to care for a family, manage a house staff, and how to be a good hostess for social gatherings. Being part of one of the most esteemed families in South Carolina, her mother through many parties and social gatherings, so she had quite a bit of practice in being a hostess.

She would soon learn how to be a mother, for when Aspen was only 14, her mother passed away after giving birth to the youngest daughter, Mary Laurens. The family was devastated. Soon after the death of her mother, her father took John and her little brothers James and Henry across the Atlantic to start college in Geneva, Switzerland Aspen, along with her sisters were left in the care of their uncle James Laurens Sr. 

Though James watched over Aspen and her younger siblings, Aspen became the mother figure, especially to baby Mary. She took care of her little sister as their mother did before she died.

A few years later, she would receive a letter informing her of the death of her youngest brother James after cracking his skull, jumping from a fence. She learned how much John blamed himself and quickly wrote to him, trying to assure him the it wasn't his fault. She knew that their father would most likely blame John, so she tried to reassure him as much as she could, though she knew she couldn't do much to console him when she was grieving herself.

A year later, just after the Declaration of Independence had been drafted a couple months before, she learns of Johns marriage to Martha Manning, as well as their coming child. Another few months go by and John arrives home to join the war, leaving his wife and child across the sea.

During the war, Aspen would travel with her brother when their wasn't active fighting. She stayed in inns, or sometimes in a home that was abandoned by the British when the American army came into town. 

Her main goal for moving around with John was to keep an eye on him and make sure he didn't get himself killed.

that task would prove to be extremely difficult.

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Ok, First chapter! Love y'all!

-your favorite weirdo <3 <3 <3