Men do not generally achieve lifetimes of success alone. Standing with them, sometimes in the shadows, are the women - the mothers, wives, daughters, and companions - who support and help shape the lives of their partners. The Gillette men were not different. This book puts the Gillette women, and their ancestors, in the spotlight. Most of them probably led OtraditionalO female lives. They birthed and raised the next generation; many outlived their children. They took care of their homes homes that often moved. Some of these women had specific instances of Onon-traditionalO activity which were captured in records that survive today. Each was an individual to be remembered and celebrated. This book is a tribute to them.