Transgender History in Colonial America

Many people in the United States are painfully unaware of the history of intersex, transgender, and non-binary people on this continent. However, people that have identified beyond the gender binary have always lived here and have always fought for their right to exist. The earliest civil document we have of someone that was non-binary comes to us from the 1620's, in the Jamestown Colony. Thomas(ine) Hall was an indentured servant in the colony and their case reached all the way to the Jamestown Quarter Court to investigate their gender and clothing choices.

Thomas(ine) was born in Newcastle, and christened Thomasine, Hall was raised as female and was taught many of the common skills of a good homemaker and became skilled in needle and lace work. Hall was sent to London at the age of 12 where they lived with an aunt, and would have come in contact with seeing the aristocrats cross gender fashion roles. Many historians believe this may have been the first point they began to experiment with breaking gender roles in their community.

By the 1620's Thomas(ine) began to adopt many typical masculine identified traits. They took on a “male” hairstyle, and also began dressing as a man and joined the military service for a time. After this Thomas(ine) returned to England, and adopted female fashion, and needlework. When they returned to England, they became aware of the new opportunities available in the colonies. Again, Thomas(ine) adopted the name Thomas, and male gender roles to come to the New World. Hall supported…