Introduction
What school kid has not heard of such famous American Revolutionary War heroes as George Washington, Paul Revere, John Paul Jones, and Patrick Henry? Unfortunately many of the people who helped the United States win its independence from Great Britain are not given the recognition they fully deserve. These people are American Revolutionary War women who played a key role in Americas fight for independence. These women overcame the discrimination of that period and contributed in such ways as nursing injured soldiers, spying on the enemy, and even by directly fighting the enemy. Below you will find a list of many of these women with a short description of each. These interesting facts include information about who they were, how they helped in Americas War for Independence, and why some of them are famous.Click here for a great selection of Amazon.com books about American Revolutionary War Women.
Famous American Revolutionary War Women
- Martha Washington - during the American Revolution the future 1st first lady supported her husband George Washington. She helped recruit women to provide assistance to the Continental Army in the forms of nursing, gathering supplies, and making ammunition.
- Abigail Adams - the wife of the future 2nd U.S. president, John Adams, supported America's battle for independence in many ways including; nursing, getting supplies to the soldiers, and producing ammunition.
- Betsy Ross - perhaps the most famous woman of the American Revolutionary War. She made the first American flag.
- Mercy Otis Warren - wrote poems and plays about colonial rights that were highly influential in swaying many colonist towards wanting independence from British rule.
American Revolutionary War Women - Secret Soldiers
- Margaret Corbin - On November 16, 1776 Fort Washington in Manhattan was attacked by several hundred Hessian soldiers. Her husband and her manned one of the cannons in the fort; when her husband fell she continued to fire the cannon until she was wounded. She became the first woman in America to receive a pension for her military service.
- Sybil Ludington - she is called the female Paul Revere. She rode through Dutchess and Putnam Counties warning the colonial militia that British troops were attacking Danbury Connecticut.
American Revolutionary War Women - Spies
Women made great spies during the American Revolution. Most men just never imagined that a woman would spy on them during this period; perhaps thinking they were too simple. Well they were wrong; many women put themselves in a position to overhear important information, count soldiers, and observe troop movements while pretending to be maids, selling goods, delivering food or by some other ruse. Many of these women's names have been lost forever; never being found to be a spy or just never documented. Below is a list of a few American Revolutionary War Women who were willing to risk their lives spying on the British.- Deborah Samson - disguised herself as a man and served for three years in the Continental Army. She was wounded twice and eventually her secret was discovered. She was granted a pension for her service to her country.
- Anna Smith Strong - who lived in Setauket New York was a member of the famous Culper Spy Ring. This group informed General Washington of the movements of British troops on Long Island and in New York City.