Women of the American
Revolution
Molly Pitcher
Mercy Otis Warren
Deborah Sampson
Think about these questions:
• How was each woman’s life like yours?
• How was her life different?
• Would you have done the same things if
you were her? Why or why not?
Molly Pitcher
• Molly Pitcher’s real name was probably
Mary Ludwig Hays.
• She was
probably born
in 1754 in
Trenton, New
Jersey (or
maybe she
was born in
Pennsylvania).
Molly Pitcher
• Because she was poor,
Mary probably had no
education. She may
not have known how to
read or write.
• When she was a
teenager, Mary worked
as a servant for a
wealthy family.
Molly Pitcher
• When Mary was
sixteen years old,
she married a man
named William
Hays.
• Soon after, he went
to war as a soldier
on the Patriot side.
Molly Pitcher
• Mary followed her husband to war.
• She helped the soldiers by bringing them
pitchers of water when they were thirsty.
Molly Pitcher
• At the battle of
Monmouth, her
husband was killed.
• Molly (Mary) took
over his place at
the cannon and
fought alongside
the men.
Molly Pitcher
• George Washington heard about
Mary’s bravery during the battle.
• He gave her the nickname,
“Sergeant Molly.”
Would you have been as brave
as Molly?
Mercy Otis Warren
• Because Mercy was born into wealthy
family, we know a lot about her life and
even what she really looked like.
• She was born
on Cape Cod,
Massachusetts
in 1728, one of
thirteen
children.
Mercy Otis Warren
• Mercy’s brothers were well-educated and
she was allowed to be taught along with
them. (But no college for girls in those
days!)
Mercy Otis Warren
• In 1754, Mercy married James Warren.
He was politician active in colonial
government when England still owned the
colonies.
Mercy Otis Warren
• Mercy and James’ home
became a meeting place
for citizens unhappy
with British rule.
• The Sons of Liberty and
the Committees of
Correspondence met
there.
Mercy Otis Warren
• Mercy’s talent was writing. She wrote
several plays that criticized British control
of the American colonies. At that time,
plays were not performed, but many
people read them.
Mercy Otis Warren
• Warren corresponded with many famous
Patriot leaders including Samuel Adams,
John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and
George Washington.
• In those
times, it was
unusual for
men to listen
to the
opinions of
women.
Mercy Otis Warren
• Mercy Otis Warren recorded the history of the
American Revolution.
• In 1805, she published History of the Rise,
Progress, and Termination of the American
Revolution.
•Do you see yourself as a good
writer? Do you feel strongly about
political issues?
Deborah Sampson
• She was born in Massachusetts in 1760,
one of six children.
• Deborah’s family was poor, and she
became an indentured servant at the age
of nine.
Deborah Sampson
• She was able to
attend school in the
winter, so she was
able to read and
write.
• She also did farm
work and became
physically strong.
• Deborah’s height
was 5’7”, tall for a
woman at that time.
Deborah Sampson
• In 1782, Deborah
disguised herself as
a man and enlisted
in the Continental
Army. She used
the name, “Robert
Shurtleff.”
Deborah Sampson
• Deborah fought in several battles. In one,
her head was wounded and there were
two bullets in her leg.
• The head wound was treated at a hospital,
and Deborah left soon after.
Deborah Sampson
• Doctors might have
discovered that she
was a woman.
• Deborah removed a
bullet from her leg
by herself!
Deborah Sampson
• Eventually, the army discovered that
“Robert” was a woman.
• After serving in the army for a year and a
half, Deborah was given an honorable
discharge.
Deborah Sampson
• Later in life, Deborah gave lectures about her
experiences as a soldier in the Revolutionary
War.
•Was Deborah brave or foolish to join
the army?
•Could you remove a bullet from your
own leg?
•
Images taken from: (This may not be the correct format, but at least I tried!)
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Deborah Sampson:
www.sutlersgallery.co.uk/acatalog/Pamela_Patr...
www.honorrollofliberty.com/Communities/sharon.htm
www.honorrollofliberty.com/Communities/sharon.htm
russell.gresham.k12.or.us/Colonial_America/De...
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Mercy Otis Warren
www.umt.edu/.../pictures.htm
www.womenhistoryblog.com/2008/10/elizabeth-ti...
dually.wordpress.com/.../
cpscia.k12.ar.us/.../new-71.jpg
www.earthportals.com/.../discharge.gi
www.thecaptainsmemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2.
Molly Pitcher
aestheticoctopus.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/.
farm1.static.flickr.com/53/185716704_01e45ee1
www.lyneart.com/MOLLY1.JPG
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