Revolutionary Women
To all the amazing women who fought
for their country, some
unknown and some famous, thank you.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Imagine life in colonial times. Women were not allowed to vote or do much at all,
but a few women took the chance at “fighting” in the American Revolution.
Although only a few women actually fought -- Deborah Sampson was one
-- women fought back against the Redcoats in other ways. Sybil Ludington
gathered a militia with her bravery and Mercy Otis Warren was a Patriot with a pen.
but a few women took the chance at “fighting” in the American Revolution.
Although only a few women actually fought -- Deborah Sampson was one
-- women fought back against the Redcoats in other ways. Sybil Ludington
gathered a militia with her bravery and Mercy Otis Warren was a Patriot with a pen.
Betsy Ross sewing the first American flag
Deborah Sampson
Her Childhood
From the very beginning, Deborah had a difficult childhood. When she was very little
her father sailed away on a ship and never came back.. Historians wonder why he never
came back. if he still had a daughter at home. Maybe it was because he had an argument
with Deborah’s mother or some other reason that we will never know. Historians think
that maybe Deborah’s mother felt guilty about him leaving or maybe just sad. After her
father left, her mother did not have enough money to support both Deborah and herself.
As a result, she bound out Deborah to give Deborah a better childhood. Deborah was bound
out when she was ten
her father sailed away on a ship and never came back.. Historians wonder why he never
came back. if he still had a daughter at home. Maybe it was because he had an argument
with Deborah’s mother or some other reason that we will never know. Historians think
that maybe Deborah’s mother felt guilty about him leaving or maybe just sad. After her
father left, her mother did not have enough money to support both Deborah and herself.
As a result, she bound out Deborah to give Deborah a better childhood. Deborah was bound
years old to the Thomas family. Researchers
think that Deborah must have felt sad and
nervous about leaving her mother.
The Thomas’s loved and treated her as they
did the rest of their children.
Her Later Years
When Deborah was 18, she became a teacher during the summer months, and was a weaver
during the winter months in the years 1779 and 1780. Experts think that Deborah longed for
adventure because in early 1782, Deborah disguised herself as a boy and enlisted in the army.
She said her name was Robert Shurtleff. Even though the war was winding down, Deborah
faced gunfire and watched men fall beside her. In one battle, Deborah was injured.
She allowed the doctor to look at and bandage her arm but did not allow him to examine
her hip in fear that she would be discovered as a woman. The army doctor must have been
surprised when a wounded soldier turned down medical help. Later, she tried to remove the
bullet but some of it she could not get out. It healed but her hip was never the same. Finally,
when she became sick and passed out, she was discovered as a woman. She was honorably
during the winter months in the years 1779 and 1780. Experts think that Deborah longed for
adventure because in early 1782, Deborah disguised herself as a boy and enlisted in the army.
She said her name was Robert Shurtleff. Even though the war was winding down, Deborah
faced gunfire and watched men fall beside her. In one battle, Deborah was injured.
She allowed the doctor to look at and bandage her arm but did not allow him to examine
her hip in fear that she would be discovered as a woman. The army doctor must have been
surprised when a wounded soldier turned down medical help. Later, she tried to remove the
bullet but some of it she could not get out. It healed but her hip was never the same. Finally,
when she became sick and passed out, she was discovered as a woman. She was honorably
Sybil Ludington
Sybil’s Night Ride
Sybil played an important role in the American Revolution. On the night her father
was going to home from bringing and storing ammunition in Danbury, Sybil had been
planning to show him how much progress she had been making on her horse Star’s training.
As Sybil’s family was sitting down to dinner, an exhausted messenger knocked on the door.
He told them that the British were burning Danbury where all the ammunition was stored.
Sybil’s father must have felt alarmed by the news. When Sybil’s family looked in the direction
of Danbury, they saw the fire which looked like a giant firecracker on the horizon.
“Someone needs to alert the militia,” said the messenger. “Can you do it?” Sybil’s father
asked the messenger. The messenger said he was too tired to make such a trip. “Can I do it?”
Sybil begged, ”I have made so much progress with Star.” Sybil’s father finally relented after
much pleading from Sybil. Sybil ran out the door and saddled Star. Researchers think that Star
and Sybil were a very close team. Sybil mounted Star and asked Star to go. Star went instantly.
Sybil must have thought many different things while mounting Star. Star veered around the
turns by instinct and small signals by Sybil. When Star was frightened by a mill stream and
a deer, Sybil calmed him down. On and on they went, Sybil calling all the way to the militia.
When Star stumbled on a rock, Sybil paused her important mission to examine Star’s leg.
Sybil gathered the militia not in time to save the ammunition but in time to drive the British
out of Danbury.
was going to home from bringing and storing ammunition in Danbury, Sybil had been
planning to show him how much progress she had been making on her horse Star’s training.
As Sybil’s family was sitting down to dinner, an exhausted messenger knocked on the door.
He told them that the British were burning Danbury where all the ammunition was stored.
Sybil’s father must have felt alarmed by the news. When Sybil’s family looked in the direction
of Danbury, they saw the fire which looked like a giant firecracker on the horizon.
“Someone needs to alert the militia,” said the messenger. “Can you do it?” Sybil’s father
asked the messenger. The messenger said he was too tired to make such a trip. “Can I do it?”
Sybil begged, ”I have made so much progress with Star.” Sybil’s father finally relented after
much pleading from Sybil. Sybil ran out the door and saddled Star. Researchers think that Star
and Sybil were a very close team. Sybil mounted Star and asked Star to go. Star went instantly.
Sybil must have thought many different things while mounting Star. Star veered around the
turns by instinct and small signals by Sybil. When Star was frightened by a mill stream and
a deer, Sybil calmed him down. On and on they went, Sybil calling all the way to the militia.
Sybil gathered the militia not in time to save the ammunition but in time to drive the British
out of Danbury.
Honoring Sybil
After Sybil’s famous Midnight Ride, people thought of many ways to honor Sybil’s bravery.
One way they did this was by carving a statue of Sybil and Star in Carmel, New York.
Anna Hyatt Huntington carved the statue.
One way they did this was by carving a statue of Sybil and Star in Carmel, New York.
Anna Hyatt Huntington carved the statue.
 |
| Statue of Sybil and Star in Carmel, NY Source: Wikipedia |
People also honor Sybil by walking and running
along the path Sybil took each April. Others must
feel as if they are in Sybil’s shoes as they walk
along the path. As a final tribute to Sybil, her
hometown was renamed Ludingtonville after
Sybil and her father, Col. Henry Ludington, who
led the militia that Sybil gathered to defeat the
British at Danbury. Historians think that it is
extraordinary that people are recognizing Sybil’s bravery.
Ludingtonville Preserve on November 13th, 2012
Image by the MHS (Mass. Historical Society)
Mercy Otis Warren
Mercy vs. British Rule
Mercy was a loyal Patriot. She felt very strongly that the British were taxing them unfairly,
as well as other things. She used her talents to promote the Patriots. One way she did this was
by writing plays that cleverly attacked the British. Historians
as well as other things. She used her talents to promote the Patriots. One way she did this was
by writing plays that cleverly attacked the British. Historians
think that these plays may have changed the
outcome of the war. Mercy and her husband
also hosted lively dinner parties at their house for other Patriots to attend. At these parties,
the Patriots discussed their ideas. Researchers
think that Mercy had a plan as to what she was
going to tell people and what she was going to
keep to herself. Mercy might have done this as
to not give any valuable information to the Loyalists.
also think that Mercy thought the same way, that the way to win the war was to get more Patriot
supporters, not to just try to win the war single-handedly.
supporters, not to just try to win the war single-handedly.
Mercy Otis Warren's house in Massachusetts, known as the Winslow Warren House.
Image by the MHS (Mass. Historical Society)
Image by the MHS (Mass. Historical Society)
Mercy's Many Reasons
Mercy had many reasons why the Redcoats
and British rule was bad for America. She thought
that the taxes were too high and that the
workers were paid too little. She also thought
that Britain was too far away to understand
the needs and daily lives of the people living in
the colonies. Furthermore, she disliked the fact
that no women were allowed in politics.
Conclusion
Clearly, all of these women played an important role in the American Revolution. It is
interesting that all of these people willingly fought hard, putting their country in front of
themselves every time. Furthermore, these women laid and smoothed the path for many
other women after them. To me, these women stand for what our country is all about: speak
up for what you think because your opinion is as important as everyone else’s, no matter of
race or sex. If you were a woman in colonial times, would you break laws to stand up for
your beliefs?
interesting that all of these people willingly fought hard, putting their country in front of
themselves every time. Furthermore, these women laid and smoothed the path for many
other women after them. To me, these women stand for what our country is all about: speak
up for what you think because your opinion is as important as everyone else’s, no matter of
race or sex. If you were a woman in colonial times, would you break laws to stand up for
your beliefs?
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