Deborah Read married John Rogers

Deborah Read's marriage to John Rogers marked a pivotal moment in her life, shaped by the circumstances surrounding her relationship with Benjamin Franklin. Initially, Franklin had sought to marry Deborah, but after a prolonged period of silence during his travels to London, her family interpreted his lack of communication as a broken promise. Under pressure from her mother, Deborah chose to marry John Rogers, a potter. This decision led to immediate complications, as John fled to Barbados shortly after their marriage, taking with him Deborah's dowry to escape debts and legal issues. The abrupt departure left Deborah in a precarious situation, as the fate of her husband became uncertain. The legal implications of this situation were significant; due to bigamy laws, Deborah was unable to remarry while Rogers' status remained unknown. This created a complex social and legal predicament for her, as she navigated the challenges of being a married woman without a husband, which was a rare and difficult position for women of her time. Deborah's experience reflects the broader societal norms and legal constraints faced by women, particularly in relation to marriage and independence during this period.