...in 1754, Mercy Otis of Barnstable and James Warren of
Plymouth began their remarkable 54-year partnership. When she
married into a family active in public affairs, Mercy embraced
the chance to be involved in the events of the Revolutionary
era. She was a keen and intelligent observer and an accomplished
writer. In the 1770s, she had several satirical plays published
anonymously before embarking on a history of the Revolution. Her
History of the Rise, Progress and Termination of the American
Revolution appeared in 1805. The fact that the book discounted
the diplomatic achievements of her old friend John Adams caused
a bitter rift. "History is not the Province of the Ladies,"
Adams angrily declared. Born in 1728, Mercy was the eldest
daughter in James and Mary Otis's family of 13 children. The
Otises were among the leading families of Cape Cod. A prosperous
farmer, merchant, and lawyer, James Otis served as a judge of
the Barnstable County court of common pleas. While he saw that
his sons were all prepared f