Abigail Adams – she worked the family farm while John Adams
was away in Philadelphia. She corresponded with John continually as well as
other family members, stressing the importance of independence. She was an
advocate for education for girls as well as boys. She, herself was taught to
read and write. She wrote letters to her husband that were filled with
philosophical discussions that centered around rights and many believe she was
quite influential with her husband. She
called for equal rights for women in the Declaration, although her concerns
were never included.
Molly Pitcher – when her husband was killed in battle, she
took up his post. Her real name – Mary
Hays McCauly. Her husband was with the 7th
Pennsylvania regiment. His job was to load the cannon. She would bring pitchers
of water to the soldiers to drink and to cool the cannons and soak the rammer
rag. When her husband fell during the battle, she is rumored to have picked up
the rammer and continued his job. There
are many stories that surround this tale = that George Washington saw her and
commented on her bravery, that her husband had not died, but was wounded, that
she helped her husband fire the cannon. We may never know the true story.
Lydia Darragh – spied on the British who were in her home
and delivered word of their plans to the patriots. Her home was across from
where General Howe was situated in Philadelphia. In December of 1777, British
soldiers took up residence in her home for private conferences. Her family was instructed to go to bed early
so the men could have their conference. She listened at the keyhole and learned
of a secret attack in a few nights on the American army at White Marsh. She
crept back to bed and feigned sleep when the men knocked on the door to tell
her they were leaving. Finally getting up, she let the soldiers out and locked
her doors. She woke early, told her husband
she was going for more flour, and said she was going to Frankfort to get it. She
then went to General Howe to get his permission to leave the city to obtain the
flour. Of course he let her go. She went
to the mill at Frankfort, then while her flour was being filled, she headed
toward the American army. She met with Lieutenant-Colonel Craig and gave him
the information. She then returned home after picking up her flour. The next day when the British left, she waited.
The British did not succeed and came back to question her about her family’s
whereabouts. She could honestly tell them no one had left the house. They
believed she heard nothing because they thought her asleep that night. Her
secret was safe.
Margaret Corbin – first woman to get a pension because of
the wounds she suffered. When her husband died at his post at the Battle of
Monmouth, she took over his post. He was
a gunner, or a matross. She was nicknamed Captain Molly. She started out as a camp follower – a woman
who followed her husband into battle.
Her efforts were noticed by General Washington and he gave her a
lieutenant’s commission for her valued service.
Nancy Hart – She was born in North Carolina but moved to
Georgia with her family. She was tall and leanly built. Even the local Indians
had a respect for her, calling her Wahatche which means “war woman”. She had no
problem fighting for what she believed in or fighting against those who did her
a wrong. While her husband served as a lieutenant with the Georgia militia, she
was left at home to defend her home and protect her family. She would disguise
herself as a simpleton and wander into British camps, gathering information.
Esther Reed (1746-1780) She was born in England, but fell in
love with a young man from Trenton, NJ. When they married they moved to
Philadelphia. When her husband joined Washington as an aid, she remained at
home to care for their two small children. She was the head of Relief
Association of Philadelphia. She helped raise over $200,000. When the British
took over Philadelphia, she packed up her family and took refuge. When the
British left Philadelphia, she returned and so did her husband after serving
well for Washington. Finally when the
war was over, she returned to Philadelphia, her husband being given the job of
Governor of Pennsylvania.
Nancy Ward – called “Beloved Woman” by the Cherokee, she was
born into the Cherokee nation and her Cherokee name was Nanyehi. When her first husband died, she married
Bryant Ward (her father’s brother), who was a South Carolina colonist. She
warned the colonists of an attack by her cousin. After the war, she became an
ambassador between the Cherokee and the whites. She helped negotiate the first
treaty between the whites and Cherokees – the Treaty of Hopewell.
Phyllis Wheatley – she was the first African American poet.
She was also the first African American woman to be published. George
Washington praised her works. She was born a slave and purchased by the
Wheatley family. She did not gain her freedom until the Wheatleys died. She was
taught to read and write by the Wheatley children. Her poem “To his Excellency George
Washington” which caused Washington to summon her to his home and thank her for
the poem.
Sybil Ludington – her father was Colonel Ludington. On April
26th, 1777, when the British were attacking Danbury, Connecticut,
she volunteered to warn the countryside. She traveled 40 miles through the
night and during a rainstorm showing for the militia to form. The troops kept
the British from advancing.
Betsy Ross – married five times, she is known as the woman
who sewed the first flag of our country. She was an upholsterer in Philadelphia
when Washington came to visit. He requested a flag be made to symbolize the new
country and she complied. She would sew late into the evening and often times
in her room so the British soldiers would not know. She had to be very careful
so neighbors who were Loyalists did not report her the British. (see the posting on Betsy and her home in
Philadelphia if you want more information on this great lady).
Mercy Otis Warren – wrote the first history of the American
Revolution (she was there) – a political correspondent and propagandist. Before
the war she wrote poems and plays that attacked the royal authority. When the
Constitution was presented, she wrote a pamphlet calling for the Bill of Rights
to be added – asking for the basic rights of individuals. In 1805, she wrote the first history of the
American Revolution called “History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of
the American Revolution”.
Elizabeth Burgin- helped soldiers escape from a prison on a
ship in New York harbor. During the
revolution, many prisoners were held captive on ships because it was cheaper
than building structures on land. The
prisoners were treated badly. One ship, the HMS Jersey was anchored in
Wallabout Bay. There was not enough food or water and yellow fever and small
pox killed many. She visited the ships as often as she could bringing them food
and cheer. An American officer saw her
visiting the ships and asked her to deliver a message to the men about an
escape. During the winter of 1779-80, the water was frozen and she helped many
escape by walking across the frozen water. She helped more than 200 men escape.
The British offered a reward of 200 pounds and she had to flee her home. She
was given a pension by the Continental Congress for her bravery.
Emily Geiger – delivered a message by eating the paper one
and remembering the message. She became
a messenger for General Greene. They needed someone to carry messages from
Greene to General Sumter. She volunteered because she knew the countryside so
well and did not think she would be stopped. She was intercepted and held
prisoner. So she would not be found out as a spy, she ate the message after
memorizing it. Since they could not prove she was carrying any message, they
let her go. She hurried to General Sumter and delivered her message verbally.
Deborah Sampson – disguised as a man, she served in the war
for years – she enlisted using her brother’s name. She cut her hair and bound
her chest. If not for a life-threatening injury her identity would not have
been discovered. The doctor who mended her sent her to Washington who gave her
an honorable discharge. After the war,
she was summoned to the capital where Congress gave her a pension.
Martha Washington – preferred the quiet life of a planter’s
wife. She enjoyed being at home with her children, but with her husband being
called to lead the Continental Army, she had no other choice but to put aside
her wishes and support his cause. George thought she would be a target for Lord
Dunmore, so he urged her to leave Mount Vernon and visit family. She joined her
husband often while he was in camp. Whenever he was camped for the winter, she
would be there to assist the soldiers. She would bring them new socks and
blankets. She helped raise money for the army and often spoke of independence
to others. For others, she was a symbol of independence and would attend social
functions to help raise money for the cause. Like many women during the war,
she had to bury a son – Jacky, who died in 1781 of camp fever.
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