by nobby

Created on: July 04, 2008

Throughout history women have been catalysts for political and social change, and the American Revolution is no exception. Colonial women had just as many reasons to wish for independence as colonial men, perhaps they had more, as the letters of Abigail Adams demonstrate, since there was a hope for true equality on the shores of their newly formed country. Certainly colonial women felt that they had a better chance of gaining new rights if the colonies emerged victorious. Because of this way of thinking colonial women threw themselves wholeheartedly at the war effort.

Women who were married to soldiers and officers, in both the British and Colonial armies, would travel with their husbands and provide cooking, laundry, cleaning and often nursing services to the men in the camps. Often these women were referred to as "camp followers". When an enemy camp was captured often these "camp followers" were imprisoned alongside their husbands. Four of these very notable women had both extraordinary and unique contributions to the revolutionary war effort.

Abigail Adams: Married to John Adams, the nation's first vice president and second president, Abigail was a staunch defender of women's rights. Her letters to John were published by her grandson in 1840 and they reveal just how much her correspondence influenced her husband and his signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Mary Ludwig Hayes: Known as "Molly Pitcher", a name given to the many women who would bring water to men on the battlefield, Mary traveled with her husband and when he died she assumed his responsibilities as matross. She was later recognized for her extraordinary contribution at the Battle of Monmouth, where she loaded the cannon several times and fired it into enemy ranks.

Deborah Sampson: Enlisted in the military twice, first as "Timothy Thayer", she was discovered after becoming ill, and then as "Robert Shurtleff" again she was discovered after becoming ill. The second time however she was given an honorable discharge in gratitude for her service.

Margaret Cochran Corbin: Known as "Captain Molly" she traveled with her husband and, like Hayes, assumed his role as matross when he was killed in action. Captain Molly was later injured while assisting during the battle at Fort Washington, New York. She was given hero treatment and, upon her death, was buried at the United States Military Academy.

The National Park Service has a wonderful site with more information on the American Revolutionary War, as well as lists of battle sites that are now in national parks.

http://www.nps.gov/revwar/about_the_revolution /overview.html

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