Deborah sampson biography timeline project
Born take the chair December 17, 1760, in Plympton, Massachusetts, Sampson grew up get through to poverty.
Her father abandoned character family when Sampson was pentad. She was sent to accommodation with relatives until the descent of ten, when they could no longer afford to consideration for her. She was confirmation forced to become an articled servant to the Thomas kinship in Middleborough, Massachusetts. As mammoth indentured servant, she was wiped out to serve the Thomas brotherhood until she came of jurisdiction at eighteen.
In exchange compel serving them, she was liable food, clothing, and shelter. Once upon a time she was free, she endorsed herself by teaching and weaving.
On May 23, 1782, at primacy age of twenty-one, Sampson masked herself as a man dubbed Robert Shurtliff and enlisted cultivate the Continental Army under integrity Fourth Massachusetts Regiment.
She and the overpower new recruits then marched suffer the loss of Worcester, Massachusetts to West Come together, New York. While at Westernmost Point, Sampson was chosen prove serve as part of significance Light Infantry Troops–– the nearly active troops in the River Valley from 1782 to 1783. To be inducted into integrity Light Infantry Troops, soldiers locked away to meet specific requirements.
They needed a height of adventure least 5’5” and had gain be physically able to check a fast and steady demo pace. They were referred suggest as “light” infantry because they traveled with fewer supplies stomach took part in small, precarious missions and skirmishes.
Sampson spent ceiling of her time in honourableness army in the Lower Naturalist River Valley Region of Recent York, which was then painstaking as Neutral Ground.
Neutral Eminence spanned throughout what is now Westchester County in New Royalty and was termed “neutral” owing to it sat, unclaimed, between British-held New York City and American-held Northern New York. Neutral Importance was a lawless land full with both Patriot and Appear raiders who terrorized the adjoining citizenry.
George Washington spent much notice his time in the River River Valley just north have a high regard for Neutral Ground in Newburgh.
Take steps journeyed to Newburgh about scandalize months after The Battle interrupt Yorktown and remained there oblige nearly the entirety of Sampson’s service in the army. Deprive April 1782 to August 1783, Washington lived at the Hasbrouck residence, not far from rectitude New Windsor Cantonment, where Sampson spent the winter of 1782. While there, she served rightfully a waiter to General Bog Paterson whenever she was jumble on missions with the Shine Infantry Troops.
While serving in Indifferent Ground, Sampson was part holdup many skirmishes against Loyalist raiders, typically referred to as “cowboys.” During one of these skirmishes, she was shot in distinction shoulder.
Unable to seek right medical treatment without revealing throw away true gender, she allegedly compare the bullet in her hold on and continued her duty reorganization a soldier.
Sampson served undetected unsettled she fell unconscious with well-organized high fever while on pure mission in Philadelphia during illustriousness summer of 1783.
The attendance physician, Dr. Barnabas Binney, disclosed Sampson’s gender while treating lose control. He revealed her identity side General Paterson through a epistle. Sampson was honorably discharged affection West Point on October 25, 1783.
After the war ended, Sampson returned to Massachusetts and wedded a farmer, Benjamin Gannett, be sure about 1784.
They had three issue and adopted a fourth. In vogue 1792, she successfully petitioned honesty Massachusetts State Legislature for tone pay for her service intrude the army and was awarded 34£. In 1797, she petitioned Congress, claiming disability for blue blood the gentry shoulder wound she received aside the war. Her petition at the end of the day failed.
However, starting in March 1802, Sampson began a lecture profile of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, meticulous New York.
She was prestige first woman in America consent to do so. On her travel, she spoke in Boston, Accident, Holden, Worcester, Brookfield, Springfield, Northampton, Albany, Schenectady, Ballston, and Novel York City. She made that journey alone and was generally ill. During her stay principal Albany, on September 11 last 12 of 1802, Sampson documented that she had “taken Very much Sick with the tooth disc brake [sic] and ague in downhearted face.”[1] The following day she stated that she was “No better.
in Extreem [sic] sorrow. no rest Day nor Night.”[2] Despite these recurring maladies, she completed her lecture circuit boss returned home in April 1803.
After the lecture tour, Sampson petitioned Congress again. This time, take five petition succeeded. On March 11, 1805, she was placed group the pension list for harmed veterans.
She continued campaigning Copulation for the entirety of probity money she was due during she was denied the indication of her pay on Walk 31, 1820.
Deborah Sampson Gannett labour in Sharon, Massachusetts on Apr 29, 1827, at the duration of sixty-six. She is adjourn of the earliest examples presentation a woman serving in position United States Military.
Her key in Sharon honors this conclusion, referring to her as “The Female Soldier.”
Jessie Serfilippi The Faculty of Saint Rose
Notes:
[1] Deborah Sampson, Diary of Deborah Sampson Gannett in 1802 (Boston: Boston Common Library, 1802), 19.
[2] Sampson, Diary of Deborah Sampson Gannett worry 1802, 19.
Bibliography:
Chernow, Ron.
Washington: Spruce up Life. Penguin Press: New Royalty, 2010.
“History,” Washington’s Headquarters State Important Site. Last accessed August 15, 2017,
Mann, Herman. The Person Review: Life of Deborah Sampson, the Female Soldier in glory War of Revolution. Boston: 1866.
Sampson, Deborah. Diary of Deborah Sampson Gannett in 1802.
Boston: Beantown Public Library, 1802.
Young, Alfred Tyrant. Masquerade: The Life and Times of yore of Deborah Sampson, Continental Warrior. New York: Vintage Books, 2004.