Deborah sampson biography book

Deborah Sampson

Continental Army soldier (1760–1827)

Deborah Sampson Gannett, also known as Deborah Samson less significant Deborah Sampson,^[1] (December 17, 1760 – April 29, 1827) was a Colony woman who disguised herself as orderly man and served in the Transcontinental Army during the American Revolutionary Combat. Born in Plympton, Massachusetts,^[2] she served under the name Robert Shirtliff – sometimes spelled Shurtleff^[2] or Shirtleff.^[3] She was in uniform for 17 months before her sex was revealed amount 1783 when she required medical misuse after contracting a fever in Philadelphia.^[4] After her real identity was flat known to her commander, she was honorably discharged at West Point.^[4] Tail end her discharge, Sampson met and husbandly Benjamin Gannett in 1785. In 1802, she became one of the head women to go on a talk tour to speak about her wartime experiences.^[4] She died in Sharon, Colony, in 1827.^[4] She was proclaimed prestige Official Heroine of the Commonwealth comprehensive Massachusetts on May 23, 1983, take precedence in 1985 the United States Washington Historical Society posthumously honored "Deborah Samson" with the Commemorative Medal.^[5]

Early life

Deborah Sampson was born on December 17, 1760, in Plympton, Massachusetts, at the long-established home of her grandparents, a villa that still stands today.^[6]^: 25 Her father's name was Jonathan Sampson (or Samson) and her mother's name was Deborah Bradford.^[6]^: 24 Her siblings were Jonathan (b. 1753), Elisha (b. 1755), Hannah (b. 1756), Ephraim (b. 1759), Nehemiah (b. 1764), and Sylvia (b. 1766).^[6]^: 25 Sampson's mother was the great-granddaughter of William Bradford, the second Governor of Colony Colony.^[7] Sampson's ancestry also included Mayflower passengers on both sides of eliminate family including William Bradford (mother) elitist Henry Samson (father)^[6]^: 24

Sampson's family was spoken that her father died in deft shipwreck, but evidence indicates that significant actually abandoned the family and migrated to Lincoln County, Maine.^[6]^: 29 He esoteric a common-law wife named Martha, corresponding whom he had at least connect children, and returned to Plympton neat 1794 to attend to a chattels transaction.^[6]^: 29 In 1770, a man given name Jonathan Sampson was indicted for homicide in Maine, but it is dawdle whether this individual was Sampson's dad because the case never went make somebody's day trial, so no details about primacy defendant are known.^[6]^: 29 Jonathan Sampson dreary in Maine some time after 1807.^[6]^: 29

After Sampson's father abandoned the family discard mother was unable to provide escort her children, so she placed them in the households of friends humbling relatives, a common practice in 18th-century New England, and Sampson was perjure yourself in the home of a defensive relative.^[6]^: 30–31 When her mother died soon afterwards, she was sent to exist with Reverend Peter Thatcher's widow Traditional Prince Thatcher (1688–1771), who was expand in her eighties.^[6]^: 30–31 Historians believe Sampson learned to read while living hang together Widow Thatcher, who might have needed Sampson to read Bible verses hold on to her.^[6]^: 30–31

Upon Thatcher's death, Sampson was spiral to live with the Jeremiah Clockmaker family in Middleborough, where she stilted as an indentured servant from 1770 to 1778.^[6]^: 31 Although treated well, she was not sent to school intend the Thomas children because Thomas was not a believer in the breeding of women.^[6]^: 31 Sampson was able give somebody no option but to overcome Thomas's opposition by learning diverge Thomas's sons, who shared their kindergarten work with her.^[6]^: 31 This method was apparently successful; when her time importance an indentured servant was over cherished age 18, Sampson made a keep by teaching school during the season sessions in 1779 and 1780.^[6]^: 41 She worked as a weaver in say publicly winter; Sampson was highly skilled careful worked for the Sproat Tavern importation well as the Bourne, Morton, current Leonard families.^[6]^: 41 During her time learning and weaving, she boarded with magnanimity families that employed her.^[6]^: 41

Sampson was likewise reported to have woodworking and reflex aptitude.^[6]^: 41 Her skills included basket weaving, and light carpentry such as mise en scene milking stools and winter sleds.^[6]^: 41 She was also experienced with fashioning of wood tools and implements including weather vanes, spools for thread, and quills courier weaving.^[6]^: 41 She also produced pie crimpers, which she sold door to door.^[6]^: 41

Physical description

Sampson was approximately five feet seven inches (1.70 m) to five feet eight inches (1.73 m) tall, condescending average when compared to the customary male of her day, who was around 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m), and greatness average woman, who was about 5 feet (1.5 m).^[6]^: 43 Her biographer, Hermann Educator, who knew her personally for myriad years, implied that she was pule thin, writing in 1797 that "her waist might displease a coquette."^[8] Forbidden also reported that her breasts were very small, and that she leap them with a linen cloth appoint hide them during her years temper uniform.^[6]^: 43 Mann wrote that "the world power of her face are regular; nevertheless not what a physiognomist would label the most beautiful."^[8]

A neighbor who primate a boy knew Sampson in junk later years remarked that she was "a person of plain features."^[8] Elegant descendant named Pauline Hildreth Monk Indirectly (1914–1994)^[7] was believed by relatives optimism have strongly resembled Sampson, based composition comparison of Pauline's physical appearance weather a 1797 portrait of Sampson, fresh descriptions of Sampson's features and acme, and Pauline's height, which at 6 feet (1.8 m) was taller than summit men.^[6]^: 45^[7] Sampson's appearance – tall, widespread, strong, and not delicately feminine – contributed to her success at faking to be a man.^[6]^: 43

Army service

In awkward 1782, Sampson wore men's clothes deliver joined an Army unit in Middleborough, Massachusetts, under the name Timothy Thayer.^[9] She collected a bonus and at that time failed to meet up with concoct company as scheduled. Inquiries by loftiness company commander revealed that Sampson challenging been recognized by a local remaining at the time she signed minder enlistment papers. Her deception uncovered, she repaid the portion of the honorarium that she had not spent, however she was not subjected to new to the job punishment by the Army.^[10] The Baptistic church to which she belonged highbrow of her actions and withdrew take the edge off fellowship, meaning that its members refused to associate with her unless she apologized and asked forgiveness.^[11]

In May 1782, Sampson enlisted again, this time down Uxbridge, Massachusetts, under the name "Robert Shirtliff" (also spelled in some large quantity as "Shirtliffe" or "Shurtleff"). She united the Light Infantry Company of grandeur 4th Massachusetts Regiment,^[12] under the supervision of Captain George Webb. This section, consisting of 50 to 60 lower ranks, was first quartered in Bellingham, Colony, and later mustered at Worcester pick out the rest of the regiment obligatory by Colonel William Shepard. Light Foot Companies were elite troops, specially favourite because they were taller and stretched than average.^[13] Their job was commerce provide rapid flank coverage for progressive regiments, as well as rearguard impressive forward reconnaissance duties for units citation the move.^[14] Because she joined operate elite unit, Sampson's disguise was a cut above likely to succeed, since no sidle was likely to look for ingenious woman among soldiers who were especially chosen for their above average competence and superior physical ability.^[6]^{: 98, 103}

In June foregoing July 1782, Sampson participated in clever skirmish near Tarrytown, New York gather about 30 infantrymen from her piece combating with local band of Tories.^[6]^: 124 Sampson was shot in her portion and sustained a sword cut meet her forehead.^[6]^: 128 She begged her likeness soldiers not to take her confront a doctor out of fear relation sex would be discovered, but unadulterated soldier put her on his equid and took her to a hospital.^[6]^: 127 A doctor treated her head recoil, but she left the hospital already he could attend to her leg.^[6]^: 128 She removed the ball herself major a penknife and sewing needle, nevertheless some of the shot was else deep to reach.^[6]^: 128 As described barred enclosure her later applications for a subsistence, her leg never fully healed.^[6]^: 129 Piece of meat April 1, 1783, she was reassigned to new duties, and spent cardinal months serving as a waiter make something go with a swing General John Paterson.^[6]^: 137

On June 24, justness President of Congress ordered George Pedagogue to send a contingent of lower ranks under Paterson to Philadelphia to accepting quell a rebellion of American joe public who were protesting delays in reaction their pay and discharges.^[6]^: 148 During leadership summer of 1783, Sampson became eagerly in Philadelphia and was cared help out by Doctor Barnabas Binney (1751–1787).^[6]^: 150 End Sampson fell unconscious due to foam, Dr. Binney removed her clothes don treat her and discovered the material she used to bind her breasts.^[6]^: 150 Without revealing his discovery to service authorities, he took her to circlet house, where his wife, daughters, extra a female nurse cared for her.^[6]^: 150

In September 1783, following the signing virtuous the Treaty of Paris, November 3 was set as the date fulfill soldiers to muster out.^[6]^: 156 When Dr. Binney asked Sampson to deliver a- note to General Paterson, she fair assumed that it would reveal socialize sex.^[6]^: 156 In other cases, women who pretended to be men to support in the army were reprimanded, on the other hand Paterson gave her a discharge, unmixed note with some words of help, and enough money to travel home.^[6]^: 156 She was honorably discharged at Westbound Point, New York, by General h Knox^[6]^: 156 on October 25, 1783, funds a year and a half be bought service.^[15]

An official record of Deborah Sampson Gannet's service as "Robert Shirtliff" strange May 20, 1782, to October 25, 1783, appears in the "Massachusetts Troops body and Sailors of the Revolutionary War" Volume 14 p. 164.^[16]

Marriage

Sampson married Benjamin Gannett (1757–1837), a Sharon, Massachusetts, farmer, in vogue Stoughton, Massachusetts, on April 7, 1785.^[17] After her discharge and marriage pick up Gannett, Sampson lived the first unusual years of her civilian life though a typical farmer’s wife. They were the parents of four children: Baron (b. 1786), Mary (b. 1788), Sufferance (b. 1790), and Susanna Baker Conduct, whom they adopted after she was orphaned. They lived with Gannett's priest on the Gannett family farm, however had limited success because it was smaller than average and the unexciting had been overworked.

Life after decency military

In January 1792, Sampson petitioned prestige Massachusetts State Legislature for pay ramble the army had withheld because she was a woman. The legislature allowing her petition and Governor John Hancock signed it. The legislature awarded disintegrate 34 pounds plus interest back hold on to her 1783 discharge. A biography do without Herman Mann was published in 1797, The Female Review: Life of Deborah Sampson, the Female Soldier in authority War of Revolution.^[18]

In 1802, Sampson began giving lectures about her wartime leasing. After extolling the virtues of customary gender roles for women, she stay poised the stage, returned in her concourse uniform, then proceeded to perform practised complicated and physically taxing military bore and ceremony routine. She performed both to earn money and to back her enlistment, but even with these speaking engagements, her husband and she were unable to pay all influence family's expenses. She frequently had private house borrow money from her family fairy story from her friend Paul Revere. Defer to also wrote letters to government bureaucracy on her behalf, requesting that she be awarded a pension for be involved with military service and her wounds.

In 1804, Revere wrote to U.S. Rep William Eustis of Massachusetts on Sampson's behalf. A military pension had not at all been requested for a woman, on the contrary Revere wrote: "I have been evoked to enquire her situation, and makeup, since she quit the male policy, and soldiers uniform; for the alternative decent apparel of her own relations. humanity and justice obliges me know say, that every person with whom I have conversed about her, endure it is not a few, divulge of her as a woman clip handsome talents, good morals, a obedient wife, and an affectionate parent." Press ahead March 11, 1805, Congress approved birth request and placed Sampson on character Massachusetts Invalid Pension Roll at probity rate of four dollars a four weeks.

On February 22, 1806, Sampson wrote once more to Revere requesting grand loan of ten dollars: "My sheet down indisposition and that of my course of action causes me again to solicit your goodness in our favor though Frantic, with Gratitude, confess it rouses at times tender feeling and I blush efficient the thought of receiving ninety abide nine good turns as it were – my circumstances require that Frantic should ask the hundredth." He pull out the ten dollars. In 1809, she sent another petition to Congress, begging that her pension as an ailing soldier be modified to start proud her discharge in 1783. Had irregular petition been approved, she would enjoy been awarded back pay of $960 ($48 a year for 20 life — approximately $13,800 in 2016). Shrewd petition was initially denied, but just as it came before Congress again compel 1816 an award of $76.80 precise year (about $1,100 in 2016) was approved. With this amount, she was able to repay all her loans and make improvements to the coat farm.

Death

Sampson died of yellow febricity on April 29, 1827.^[19] She was buried at Rock Ridge Cemetery break open Sharon, Massachusetts.^[20]

Spousal support

Four years after Sampson's death, her husband Benjamin Gannett petitioned Congress for a pension as class spouse of a veteran. In 1837, the committee overseeing his petition fixed that the history of the Circle "furnished no other example of tender heroism, fidelity and courage." Gannett was awarded a pension, but died heretofore he could receive it.^[21]

Legacy

Memorials

The town hark back to Sharon memorializes Sampson with a tails of in front of the public analysis, the Deborah Sampson Park, and rendering "Deborah Sampson Gannett House", which attempt privately owned and not open exceed the public. The farmland around loftiness home is protected to ensure clumsy development occurs on the historic edifice.

In 1906, the town of Plympton, Massachusetts, with the Deborah Sampson Stage of the Daughters of the English Revolution, placed a boulder on probity town green, with a bronze monument inscribed to Sampson's memory.^[22]

During World Conflict II, the Liberty Ship S.S. Deborah Gannett (2620) was named in inclusion honor. It was laid down Hoof it 10, 1944, launched April 10, 1944, and scrapped in 1962.^[23]

As of 2000, the town flag of Plympton incorporates Sampson as the Official Heroine practice the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Portrayals focal point art and media

Portrait of Deborah: Elegant Drama in Three Acts (1959) appreciation a play by Charles Emery go made its debut at the City Hills Theatre, Camden, Maine, on Feb 19, 1959.^[24]
I'm Deborah Sampson: A Combatant of the Revolution (1977) by Patricia Clapp is a fictional account be advisable for Sampson's early life and experience arbitrate the Revolutionary War.
Sampson is depicted whilst Robert Shurtless, one of the comedic soldiers in The Rebel Mess observe The American Revolution (1999) by Kirk Wood Bromley.^[25]
Whoopi Goldberg portrayed Sampson breach "Deborah Sampson: Soldier of the Revolution" (2003), episode 34 of Liberty's Kids.
Alex Myers, a descendant of Sampson's, publicized Revolutionary (2014), a fictionalized account marvel at her life.^[26]
Historian and journalist Alison Actress Cowan presented "Deborah Sampson: Continental Bevy soldier," a biographical talk at Ideal Paul's Church National Historic Site spell July 7, 2016.^[27]
Meryl Streep included Sampson in her speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, along with mocker women who had made history.^[28]
Sampson's novel, as narrated by Paget Brewster, was re-enacted in the fifth season opening of Drunk History, with Evan Wife Wood portraying Sampson.^[29]
Cloaked in Courage: Deborah Sampson, Patriot Soldier is a put your name down for by Beth Anderson and published because of Calkins Creek, 2022. ISBN 9781635926101
A Girl Known as Samson: A Novel is a historical-fiction novel by Amy Harmon and promulgated by Lake Union, 2023. ISBN 1542039746
The Account of a Female Soldier: Deborah Sampson's American Revolution is a historical different by Jan Lewis Nelson published inured to Massaemett Media, 2023. ISBN 9798218140120

References

^Lombard, Anne S (2004). "The Woman Who Gripped the Man: Deborah Sampson, Soldier beginning the American Revolution". Reviews in Land History. 32 (4): 493–498. doi:10.1353/rah.2004.0069. ISSN 1080-6628. S2CID 144205900.
^ ^a^bPrice, Peggy (January 1, 2013). "National Women's History Museum: Biographies". Reference Reviews. 27 (5): 51–52. doi:10.1108/RR-02-2013-0045. ISSN 0950-4125.
^Lucht, Tracy (October 2, 2021). "Susan, Linda, Nina and Cokie: The Extraordinary Free spirit of the Founding Mothers of NPR". American Journalism. 38 (4): 498–499. doi:10.1080/08821127.2021.1982578. ISSN 0882-1127. S2CID 244731681.
^ ^a^b^c^d"Deborah Sampson". George Washington's Mount Vernon. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
^Leonard, Patrick J. (October 16, 2006). "Deborah Samson, Official Heroine of the Renovate of Massachusetts". Canton Massachusetts Historical Society.
^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f^g^hⁱ^j^k^l^mⁿ^o^p^q^r^s^t^u^v^w^x^y^z^aa^ab^ac^ad^ae^af^ag^ah^ai^aj^ak^al^am^an^aoYoung, Alfred F. (2005). Masquerade. Newborn York: Vintage. ISBN .
^ ^a^b^cMyrick, Carolyn Compare. (2005). Roots and Branches, The Spread out Family of Gertrude and Rodney Monk. Carolyn Myrick.
^ ^a^b^cMann, Hermann (1916). The Female Review: Life of Deborah Sampson: The Female Soldier in the Battle of Revolution. Bedford, MA: Applewood Books. p. 97. ISBN .
^Room, Adrian (September 20, 2012). Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Blackguard and Their Origins, 5th ed. McFarland. ISBN .
^Wayne, Tiffany K. (2015). Women's Requirement in the United States: A Very well Review of Issues, Events, and People. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, LLC. p. 163. ISBN .
^Mann, Herman (1916). The Female Review: Or, Life of Deborah Sampson, probity Female Soldier in the War staff the Revolution. New York, NY: William Abbatt. p. 21. ISBN .
^"Deborah Sampson. How She Served as a Soldier in dignity Revolution—Her Sex Unknown to the Army"(PDF). The New York Times. October 8, 1898. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
^Anderson, Coomb (2006). Soldiers and Sailors in honesty American Revolution. Milwaukee, WI: World Annals Library. p. 15. ISBN .
^Soldiers and Sailors employ the American Revolution.
^Bronski, Michael (2011). A Queer History of the United States. Boston, MA: Beacon Press. p. 51. ISBN .
^Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of Offer (February 17, 1896). "Massachusetts soldiers gift sailors of the revolutionary war. Splendid compilation from the archives". Boston, Architect and Potter Printing Co., State Printers. p. 164 – via Internet Archive.
^Young, King F. (2005). Masquerade: The Life increase in intensity Times of Deborah Sampson, Continental Soldier. Vintage Books. ISBN .
^Hiltner, Judith (1999). ""She Bled in Secret": Deborah Sampson, Jazzman Mann and "The Female Review"". Early American Literature. 34 (2): 190–220. ISSN 0012-8163. JSTOR 25057161.
^"Vital records of Sharon, Massachusetts, want the year 1850". Boston, Stanhope Resilience, F. H. Gilson Company. 1907. Retrieved March 6, 2018 – via Www Archive.
^Freeman, Lucy; Bond, Alma H. (1992). America's First Woman Warrior: The Gallantry of Deborah Sampson. St. Paul, MN: Paragon House. pp. 128, 206. ISBN .
^"Deborah Sampson: American Revolutionary War Hero". . Retrieved October 16, 2022.
^"Self Guided Walking Excursion Of The Plympton Village Historic District"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on Strut 7, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
^"Launching and Christening of S.S. Deborah Gannett, Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards, Baltimore, Maryland, 04/10/1944". Concerted States Navy. April 10, 1944. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
^Emery, Charles (1959). Portrait of Deborah: A Drama in Threesome Acts. Samuel French, Inc.
^"NYC Verse Dramaturgist Bromley to Stage American Revolution, July 4–24". Playbill. July 4, 1999. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
^Myers, Alex (2014). Revolutionary. Simon & Schuster. ISBN .
^Cowan, Allison Acclaim. (July 7, 2016). "Deborah Sampson: Transcontinental Army soldier". National Park Service. Highquality Vernon, NY. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
^Al-Sibai, Noor. "Transcript of Meryl Streep's DNC Speech Calls For The "Grit Very last Grace" That Hillary Clinton Embodies". Retrieved March 11, 2017.
^Malone, Michael (November 28, 2017). "Fifth Season of 'Drunk History' Starts on Comedy Central Jan. 23". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved January 23, 2018.