1780Taxes were cut in half, due to the war’s impact on widows and children.People and Communities, Economy and Industry, Economy, Women's History

At this point during the war, there were 728 widows and children across the five Parishes. Only 78 of these inhabitants did not require outside assistance. These depressing figures were sent to the Massachusetts General Court, which created a committee “to repair to the town of Gloucester to view the situation and circumstances of the town.” In response, the General Court cut Gloucester’s taxes in half.