Deborah sampson brief biography of williams

Deborah Sampson became a hero of the American Revolution when she disguised herself as a man and joined the Patriot forces. She was the only woman to earn a full military pension for participation in the Revolutionary army. Still, the Sampsons struggled financially and, after Jonathan failed to return from a sea voyage, his impoverished wife was forced to place her children in different households.

Five years later, at age 10, young Deborah was bound out as an indentured servant to Deacon Benjamin Thomas, a farmer in Middleborough with a large family. At age 18, with her indenture completed, Sampson, who was self-educated, worked as a teacher during summer sessions in and and as a weaver in winter. Inas the Revolutionary War raged on, the patriotic Sampson disguised herself as a man named Robert Shurtleff and joined the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment.

She was given the dangerous task of scouting neutral territory to assess British buildup of men and materiel in Manhattan, which General George Washington contemplated attacking. In June ofSampson and two sergeants led about 30 infantrymen on an expedition that ended with a confrontation — often one-on-one — with Tories. She led a raid on a Tory home that resulted in the capture of 15 men.

Sampson —like many veterans of the Revolution— also claimed she fought during the siege of Yorktown, digging trenches, helping storm a British redoubt, and enduring canon fire. However, a neighbor's diary discovered in casts doubt on Sampson's claim she fought at Yorktown. When she received a gash in her forehead from a sword and was shot in her left thigh, she extracted the pistol ball herself.

She was ultimately discovered — a year and a half into her service — in Philadelphia, when she became ill during an epidemic, was taken to a hospital, and lost consciousness. Receiving an honorable discharge on October 23,Sampson returned to Massachusetts. She received a military pension from the state of Massachusetts. Download as PDF Printable version.

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Deborah sampson brief biography of williams: Deborah Sampson became a hero

Continental Army soldier — Rock Ridge Cemetery, Sharon, Massachusetts. Early life [ edit ]. Physical description [ edit ]. Army service [ edit ]. Marriage [ edit ]. Life after the military [ edit ]. Death [ edit ]. Spousal support [ edit ].

Deborah sampson brief biography of williams: a Massachusetts woman who disguised herself

Legacy [ edit ]. Memorials [ edit ]. Portrayals in art and media [ edit ]. See also [ edit ]. References [ edit ]. Reviews in American History.

Deborah sampson brief biography of williams: Born on December 17, in.

ISSN S2CID Reference Reviews. American Journalism. George Washington's Mount Vernon. Retrieved April 10, October 16, Canton Massachusetts Historical Society. New York: Vintage. ISBN Carolyn Myrick. Bedford, MA: Applewood Books. However, inshe embarked on a year-long lecture tour sharing her experiences, becoming the first woman in America to do so, and occasionally threw on full military attire.

This act of acknowledgment symbolized the profound impact that Deborah Sampson had made during the American Revolution, exceeding traditional boundaries and inspiring future generations with her remarkable story of bravery and sacrifice. By emphasizing her heroism, loyalty, and bravery above all else, they celebrated her as a trailblazer and a role model for women in history.

RHA is inspired by the remarkable bravery and unwavering advocacy of Deborah Sampson. Benjamin later petitioned for pay as the spouse of a soldier. The military service of Deborah Sampson has perplexed researchers because the year of her enlistment has always been in question. Most writers have concluded that is the correct date. This, however, makes for a garbled story.

The summary of her life related above uses the date, which the author believes is the right one. Young Alfred A. Knopf, Deborah Sampson : A continental soldier. Social Welfare History Project. Comments for this site have been disabled. Please use our contact form for any research questions. New York: Alfred A.