The man who execute the American Revolution — George Washington , SamandJohn Adams , Benjamin Franklin , Thomas Jefferson , Ethan Allen , and unnumberable others — are well - know . But a number of women aided them in securing a triumph over the British . Women played full of life function in the Revolution , function as soldiers , raise morale , and even spying on the foeman .
1. Deborah Samson // American Soldier
In 1783 , a youthful soldier name Robert Shurtlieff took ill , just another man nauseate by the “ brain fever ” outbreak sweeping through the troops stationed in Philadelphia at that time . After a short struggle with the illness , Shurtlieff appear near death . A doc checked the man ’s pulse , then rested a hand on his chest to see if he was still respire .
He was — and the doctor was in for a surprise . Shurtlieff ( sometimes list as Shurtleff ) was n’t a man at all , but a fair sex who had bound her chest and disguised herself to become a soldier .
Robert Shurtlieff had been manufacture three age before byDeborah Samson(sometimes spelled Sampson ) , a 20 - something girl recently freed from indent on a farm . A consecrated patriot , she was set to join the Continental Army , and enlist in the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment .
Samson took well to Army life . So well , in fact , that her fellow soldier teased her for being unable to farm a beard by calling her “ Molly , ” but apparently never suspect the truth behind the name . She was injured in battle several time , always refusing medical maintenance for fright that her mystery would be chance on .
When it last was , the doctor who ascertain her true identity ( and whose niece wasfalling in lovewith " Robert " ) , nursed her back to health and then charge Samson with a letter for General John Paterson , her superior . Samsonwas not allowed to stay in the forces , but the Continental Army did arrange an honest discharge and enough money to get her home plate .
Samson was n’t satisfied with this metaphoric rap on the question . She went on to remonstrate about her time in the Army , and demanded back pay for her service . She got it in 1792 . And in 1805 , Congress voted to grant her a pension as a war warhorse . Most latterly , she was declare Massachusetts ’ official state heroine , with May 23 as her official day .
2. Prudence Cummings Wright // Minutewoman
The woman of Pepperell , Massachusetts were a patriotic clustering . When they learned of theBoston Tea Party , they burned their tea leaves on the town coarse .
So when Pepperell ’s man marched off to state of war , it ’s not surprising that the woman decided to mold their own militia to protect the remain townspeople . Prudence “ Prue ” Cummings Wright , who had just lost two child , was elect the leader of “ Mrs. David Wright ’s Guard . ”
The women wore their husbands ’ clothing and carry weapons ranging from musket to farm tools . The militia had formed , in part , because Wright had pick up her British - empathize sidekick talk to a ally about smuggling information from Canada to Boston . So , on the mean solar day the two were do to cross Pepperell , the militia met them at the one bridge the spies could cross .
The cleaning woman confiscated their documents and held them captive overnight while their message were forwarded to the Committee of Safety for recap . The two man wereexiled from the orbit , and Wright ’s chum never return .
3. Sybil Ludington // The Female Paul Revere
On the evening of April 26 , 1777 , Colonel Henry Ludington received bad news .
British forces led by Major General William Tryon had land on the sea-coast of Connecticut and marched to Danbury , where they destroy Continental Army supply . Colonel Ludington was being asked to pucker his militia and march for Danbury , 25 miles away . However , Ludington also involve to stay at his farm to brief the military man as they arrived and prepare for the borderland .
His eldest child , 16 - twelvemonth - sure-enough Sybil , offer torouse the militia . She rode out at 9 p.m. on the start of a 40 - knot circuit , knocking on farm doors and shout that the British were in Danbury . Each of the adult male she heat gathered nearby militiamen and head for the Ludington homestead , where the colonel was expect .
Ludington rode through the Nox , waking dozens of her father ’s men . She had toavoid banditsand British comforter on her road , but she returned home safely . Most of Colonel Ludington ’s reserves accumulate and marched to Danbury . They were too late to save the townspeople from British torch , but they did contend to ravage the British soldier all the manner back to Long Island Sound .
4. Lydia Darragh // Undercover Patriot
George Washington maintained a heavy spy web , include a number of federal agent in British - occupy Philadelphia . harmonise to her descendants , one of these was Lydia Darragh , a Quaker fair sex whose home became a coming together place for British officer .
Family legendhas it that she often hid in a wardrobe adjoining the room the officers come across in , then smuggle Logos of their plans to her son , who assist in the Revolutionary forces . Sometimes she tailor the messages into button masking or hid them in needle books .
If the stories are true , her spying career save up the lives of thousands of Revolutionary soldier , including Washington himself . Sometime in other December , British police officer meeting in Darragh ’s home discourse entropy they ’d find that the colonists , led by Washington , were in Whitemarsh . They would launch a surprise attack , they decide . Darragh overheard the plans , then think up a Trygve Halvden Lie that she needed to buy flour from a mill outside the metropolis . She was given a strait by the British , then guide straight for the Revolutionary loss leader , where she make pass the information to an police officer in Washington ’s army .
Thanks to Darragh ’s tidings , the settler were prepare for the Redcoats and , after a few clash , the British recede back into Philadelphia . Unfortunately , historians have been unable to swear many of the kinfolk tales surroundingDarragh ’s espionage .
5. Patience Wright // Sculptor and Spy
longanimity Lovell Wright was born in the Colonies , on Long Island . She and her syndicate later move to Bordentown , New Jersey , where she married a Quaker farmer . However , he died in 1769 , and while she was able to remain in her home plate , she was n’t able to inherit any of his other prop . She begansculpting in waxto patronage herself .
Wright and her sis Rachel , who had also been widowed , opened shrubby bittersweet house in Manhattan and Philadelphia , but Wright wanted more . After come across Jane Mecom , the sister of Benjamin Franklin , she traveled to London , where she quickly won over British high-pitched society with her aesthetic skills and plainspoken ways . She even had the opportunity to meet King George and Queen Charlotte .
Wright begin gather sensitive entropy during her London sculpting sessions and sent it back to patriot leader in the Colonies , supposedly encasedin her wax sculptures . She also take the Colonies ’ grammatical case forthwith to the king and queen , finding a supporter in William Pitt .
Wright was a small too vocally supportive of the Colonies , however . Once unfastened warfare break out , the higher - ups of London society began distancing themselves from her , and she eventually retreated to Paris . She alsofell out of favorwith the Americans as well , and theFounding Fathersstopped responding to her letters . She returned to London after the state of war ’s end , on her way of life home to the new founded United States . But she never made it back to America — she died in London a few day after a fall .
6. Nanye’hi (Nancy Ward)// Beloved Woman of the Cherokee
In a conflict against the Creeks , Nanye’hi earned the title ofBeloved Woman , give her a leadership role among the Cherokee . When her husband was killed in the brush , she pluck up his rifle and led a rout of the foe . Among her responsibility as a Beloved Woman was watching over prisoners captured by the Cherokee in raids and war . This would become key to her ability to aid the Americans during the Revolutionary War .
During the French and Indian War , the Cherokee sided with the British , and that did n’t change when the Americans declare independence . The British assume vantage of this , encourage the Cherokee to attack American colonisation . Some of the Cherokee were against war , but others , tired of the encroaching American settlers taking more of their land , were onlytoo glad to fight .
historian are n’t sure why Nanye’hi chose to side with the Americans . It may have been out of practicality — many Cherokee leaders wanted to aim the white settlers out , but Nanye’hi may have try tokeep things civilwith their new , close neighbor , or worried about retaliation if the British lose . Regardless of her motif , whenever Nanye’hi learned of a coming Cherokee attack on the nearby settler , she free American prisoners so they might repay home with warnings . One of these prisoners wasLydia Bean , a womanhood rescue by Nanye’hi from being burned at the stake . While Bean was with the Cherokee , the two women reportedly switch skills such as form butter .
After the state of war , Nanye’hi helped negotiate peace with the new United States , though she ’s conceive to have later urged the Cherokee not to cede any more land to the Americans , and take up arms if necessary .
7. Esther DeBerdt Reed // Homefront Heroine
On July 4 , 1780 , George Washington received a missive from Esther DeBerdt Reed , whose husband experience the general . In the letter , she reported that she and the lady of Philadelphia hadraised $ 300,000 , and require how it should be spend .
Reed had come to the Colonies with her widowed mother only 10 year earlier , but had rapidly set out becoming active in the political and social lifetime of Pennsylvania , eventually rising to the role of Pennsylvania’sFirst Lady . Reed and her hubby had entertained luminary among the American reason , including Washington himself . So when Reed learned that the soldiers in the Continental Army were hungry and in motive of good , quick wearable , she decidedshe would help .
She garner other political women , and they went door to door in Philadelphia , inquire for donations . While a respectable deal of the $ 300,000 they collected was devalued newspaper publisher up-to-dateness , they also received coin and in - form donation such as leather trouser . At Washington ’s urging , they drop the donations on linen paper fabric and set out to sew shirts .
Reed died suddenly of a febrility in the descent of 1780 , but her friend Sarah Franklin Bache , the daughter of Benjamin Franklin , lease up the work . The adult female sewed 2000 shirt for Washington ’s men .
And that ’s not where Reed ’s taradiddle terminate . She was also the author of an anonymously publish broadsheet entitle “ Sentiments of an American Woman . ” The treatise encouraged politically tending women to show their patriotism by offering material support to American soldiers , and exalt movements similar to the one in Philadelphia throughout the Colonies .
8. Agent 355 // Hidden Daughter of the Revolution
Agent 355 is one of the most mystical digit of the American Revolution . After more than 200 years , her identity operator isstill unsung .
A member of the Culper spy ringing , 355 reported to Abraham Woodhull , who choke by the alias of Samuel Culper Sr . However , she may have been closer to his fictitious “ boy , ” merchandiser Robert Townsend , a.k.a . Samuel Culper Jr. Agent 355 may have been a family member or maid in a well - regarded Loyalist home in New York City , which would have give up her contact with high - ranking British officers .
It ’s likely that she was someone particularly close to Major John Andre , who led the British intelligence efforts . The intelligence she passed to the Culper closed chain was detail when Andre was in New York , and sparse when he was not .
Whoever she was , she helped to uncover American GeneralBenedict Arnold ’s plans to betray the Revolution , and Andre , his contact , was collar by the settler . The garrison at West Point , which Arnold had scheme to sour over to the British , was saved . Andre was finally hanged , but Arnold escaped capture and joined the British as planned .
This is where records become murky . allot to one legend , Arnold turned over the names of several Patriot spy , including Agent 355 . She was captured and contain on aBritish prison house ship , where she died — though not before giving nativity to a son , Robert Townsend Jr.
Because no one know who she is , her fate ca n’t be confirmed . While a number of women were hold on the prison ships and the Culper anchor ring had several distaff members , none can bedefinitively identifiedas 355 .
9. Margaret Corbin // Molly Pitcher
During the Revolution , women followed along behind the armies on both side . These camp follower , often the wives or female congenator of soldiers , did laundry , mended wearable , cooked and took on other chores in exchange for food and shelter . However , a few ventured out of the camps and onto the battlefield . Margaret Corbinwas one of them .
Corbin ’s husband deal ammo for a cannon , and she assisted him . In the fall of 1776 , they were stationed at Fort Washington , New York , when the fortress was assault by British troops . The serviceman operate on the shank was killed , and Corbin ’s hubby quickly get his place , with Corbin taking over the ammunition duty .
Then Corbin ’s hubby was struck down by enemy fire and drink down , too . Without a pause , Corbinworked the cannon , evoke it until she was struck by grape that mangled her chest and left arm .
In 1779 , the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania award Corbina $ 30 stipendin exchange for her service . They also recommended that the Board of War grant her a soldier ’s pension , and the circuit board complied . The Continental Congress render her a monthly stipend of half an active - duty soldier ’s pay . Corbin and Deborah Samson were the only women to receivefederal pensionsfor their serve in the Revolution .
