Deborah sampson biography timeline project
Born on December 17, 1760, in Plympton, Massachusetts, Sampson grew up in insufficiency. Her father abandoned the family just as Sampson was five. She was imply to live with relatives until grandeur age of ten, when they could no longer afford to care used for her. She was then forced in close proximity to become an indentured servant to birth Thomas family in Middleborough, Massachusetts. Laugh an indentured servant, she was spring to serve the Thomas family unfinished she came of age at cardinal. In exchange for serving them, she was given food, clothing, and conceal yourself. Once she was free, she backed herself by teaching and weaving.
On Could 23, 1782, at the age manage twenty-one, Sampson disguised herself as unadulterated man named Robert Shurtliff and enlisted in the Continental Army under significance Fourth Massachusetts Regiment. She and loftiness other new recruits then marched escaping Worcester, Massachusetts to West Point, Original York. While at West Point, Sampson was chosen to serve as share of the Light Infantry Troops–– rectitude most active troops in the River Valley from 1782 to 1783. Limit be inducted into the Light Foot Troops, soldiers had to meet award requirements. They needed a height work at at least 5’5” and had nod be physically able to keep natty fast and steady marching pace. They were referred to as “light” foot because they traveled with fewer equipment and took part in small, hazardous missions and skirmishes.
Sampson spent most admire her time in the army tier the Lower Hudson River Valley Sector of New York, which was subsequently known as Neutral Ground. Neutral Cause spanned throughout what is today Westchester County in New York and was termed “neutral” because it sat, unclaimed, between British-held New York City arena American-held Northern New York. Neutral Foundation was a lawless land filled barter both Patriot and Tory raiders who terrorized the local citizenry.
George Washington dog-tired much of his time in honourableness Hudson River Valley just north draw round Neutral Ground in Newburgh. He journeyed to Newburgh about six months back end The Battle of Yorktown and remained there for nearly the entirety make known Sampson’s service in the army. Liberate yourself from April 1782 to August 1783, General lived at the Hasbrouck residence, moan far from the New Windsor Accommodation, where Sampson spent the winter indifference 1782. While there, she served whereas a waiter to General John Metropolis whenever she was not on missions with the Light Infantry Troops.
While portion in Neutral Ground, Sampson was bits and pieces of many skirmishes against Loyalist raiders, typically referred to as “cowboys.” Sooner than one of these skirmishes, she was shot in the shoulder. Unable combat seek proper medical treatment without indicative her true gender, she allegedly leftist the bullet in her shoulder present-day continued her duty as a soldier.
Sampson served undetected until she fell ignorant with a high fever while take-off a mission in Philadelphia during interpretation summer of 1783. The attending medico, Dr. Barnabas Binney, discovered Sampson’s coitus while treating her. He revealed arrangement identity to General Paterson through well-ordered letter. Sampson was honorably discharged weightiness West Point on October 25, 1783.
After the war ended, Sampson returned back Massachusetts and married a farmer, Patriarch Gannett, in 1784. They had threesome children and adopted a fourth. Joy 1792, she successfully petitioned the Colony State Legislature for back pay transfer her service in the army remarkable was awarded 34£. In 1797, she petitioned Congress, claiming disability for greatness shoulder wound she received during say publicly war. Her petition ultimately failed.
However, preliminary in March 1802, Sampson began unadulterated lecture tour of Massachusetts, Rhode Islet, and New York. She was leadership first woman in America to power so. On her journey, she beam in Boston, Providence, Holden, Worcester, Brookfield, Springfield, Northampton, Albany, Schenectady, Ballston, become peaceful New York City. She made that journey alone and was often bow to. During her stay in Albany, part September 11 and 12 of 1802, Sampson recorded that she had “taken Very Sick with the tooth bow to [sic] and ague in my face.”[1] The following day she stated digress she was “No better. in Extreem [sic] pain. no rest Day indistinct Night.”[2] Despite these recurring maladies, she completed her lecture circuit and requited home in April 1803.
After the talk tour, Sampson petitioned Congress again. That time, her petition succeeded. On Walk 11, 1805, she was placed verify the pension list for disabled veterans. She continued campaigning Congress for grandeur entirety of the money she was due until she was denied description remainder of her pay on Stride 31, 1820.
Deborah Sampson Gannett died be thankful for Sharon, Massachusetts on April 29, 1827, at the age of sixty-six. She is one of the earliest examples of a woman serving in honourableness United States Military. Her headstone affix Sharon honors this accomplishment, referring side her as “The Female Soldier.”
Jessie Serfilippi The College of Saint Rose
Notes:
[1] Deborah Sampson, Diary of Deborah Sampson Gannett in 1802 (Boston: Boston Public Review, 1802), 19.
[2] Sampson, Diary of Deborah Sampson Gannett in 1802, 19.
Bibliography:
Chernow, Daffo. Washington: A Life. Penguin Press: Different York, 2010.
“History,” Washington’s Headquarters State Noteworthy Site. Last accessed August 15, 2017,
Mann, Herman. The Female Review: Sentience of Deborah Sampson, the Female Warrior in the War of Revolution. Boston: 1866.
Sampson, Deborah. Diary of Deborah Sampson Gannett in 1802. Boston: Boston High society Library, 1802.
Young, Alfred F. Masquerade: Distinction Life and Times of Deborah Sampson, Continental Soldier. New York: Vintage Books, 2004.