Womens Roles in the Revolutionary War
In addition to being vastly important in protesting the unfair acts imposed on the colonists, women were known to have other important roles. These roles included nurses, seamstresses, cooks and laundresses as well as some untraditional and surprising roles as soldiers and spies.
The roles of nurses, seamstresses, cooks and laundresses, though equally as important in their own way, were nowhere near as shocking as a women who pursued a role as a solider or spy. Theses brave women would often times dress up like men and sneak into the ranks of the army, either to help support their families or because of deep seated patriotism (Brooks, History of Massachusetts).
The roles of nurses, seamstresses, cooks and laundresses, though equally as important in their own way, were nowhere near as shocking as a women who pursued a role as a solider or spy. Theses brave women would often times dress up like men and sneak into the ranks of the army, either to help support their families or because of deep seated patriotism (Brooks, History of Massachusetts).
Important Revolutionary Women
Martha Washington (1731-1802)
Martha Washington is perhaps best known as being the First, First Lady of the United States and wife to George Washington. However before that she was simply Martha Dandridge. Born in 1731, Martha was the daughter of a wealthy Virginian which afforded her an outstanding education for women at the time. She would later marry her first husband, Daniel Parke Custis, in 1749, but would find herself widowed just eight years later. She met and married Colonel George Washington in 1759 (Biography.com). During the revolutionary war, she proved invaluable to Washington and his troops, acting as a nurse and hand delivering supplies to his troops many times as well as setting up sewing circles for the troops (Murrow, 10 Amazing Women of the Revolutionary War).
Martha Washington is perhaps best known as being the First, First Lady of the United States and wife to George Washington. However before that she was simply Martha Dandridge. Born in 1731, Martha was the daughter of a wealthy Virginian which afforded her an outstanding education for women at the time. She would later marry her first husband, Daniel Parke Custis, in 1749, but would find herself widowed just eight years later. She met and married Colonel George Washington in 1759 (Biography.com). During the revolutionary war, she proved invaluable to Washington and his troops, acting as a nurse and hand delivering supplies to his troops many times as well as setting up sewing circles for the troops (Murrow, 10 Amazing Women of the Revolutionary War).
Abigail Adams (1744-1818)
The wife of second president of the United States and mother of sixth president of the United States, Abigail Adams was one of the first women to speak up about women's rights. She is best known for telling her husband to "Remember the ladies," as he and fellow members of congress worked to form a new government (history.org). During the war, she and other ladies were tasked with questioning other women in their community who were suspected of still being loyal to the British (Murrow, 10 Amazing Women of the Revolutionary War).
An additional aspect of Abigails Adam's life is that she was one of her husbands greatest advisors, and wrote him hundreds of letter in their lifetime advising him about various topics. Below is an excerpt from several of these letters.
The wife of second president of the United States and mother of sixth president of the United States, Abigail Adams was one of the first women to speak up about women's rights. She is best known for telling her husband to "Remember the ladies," as he and fellow members of congress worked to form a new government (history.org). During the war, she and other ladies were tasked with questioning other women in their community who were suspected of still being loyal to the British (Murrow, 10 Amazing Women of the Revolutionary War).
An additional aspect of Abigails Adam's life is that she was one of her husbands greatest advisors, and wrote him hundreds of letter in their lifetime advising him about various topics. Below is an excerpt from several of these letters.
Molly Ludwig Hayes, AKA Molly Pitcher (1754-1832)
Born in 1754, Molly married her husband William Hayes at the age of 13 right before the start of the war. When the war began, she traveled around with her husband and became what was at the time known as a camp follower. She is known for her courage on the battlefield at the battle of Monmouth where she helped her husband load cannons to shoot at the invading British. She is famous for the many paintings depicting her actions on the battlefield (Molly Pitcher, ushistory,org).
Born in 1754, Molly married her husband William Hayes at the age of 13 right before the start of the war. When the war began, she traveled around with her husband and became what was at the time known as a camp follower. She is known for her courage on the battlefield at the battle of Monmouth where she helped her husband load cannons to shoot at the invading British. She is famous for the many paintings depicting her actions on the battlefield (Molly Pitcher, ushistory,org).
Betsy Ross (1752-1836)
Elizabeth Griscom, known as Betsy, was born into a strict Quaker family in the winter of 1752. She had a standard childhood as was educated at a Quaker church. At the age of twenty-one she eloped with her husband John who was the son of an episcopal assistant rector. This caused a huge rift between her family and her due to the fact that inter-faith marriages were not accepted in the Quaker community. Shortly after their marriage, the two set up an upholstery shop which suffered when the war came. Her husband joined the army in 1776 and was later wounded and died. Betsy's life would change further in later that year when she met with George Washington, George Ross and Robert Morris who commissioned the first US flag to be sewn by Betsy. After the war she would remarry twice and have seven children. She died in 1836.
Elizabeth Griscom, known as Betsy, was born into a strict Quaker family in the winter of 1752. She had a standard childhood as was educated at a Quaker church. At the age of twenty-one she eloped with her husband John who was the son of an episcopal assistant rector. This caused a huge rift between her family and her due to the fact that inter-faith marriages were not accepted in the Quaker community. Shortly after their marriage, the two set up an upholstery shop which suffered when the war came. Her husband joined the army in 1776 and was later wounded and died. Betsy's life would change further in later that year when she met with George Washington, George Ross and Robert Morris who commissioned the first US flag to be sewn by Betsy. After the war she would remarry twice and have seven children. She died in 1836.
For more information on important Revolutionary War women, click the following link:
https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/10/10-amazing-women-revolutionary-war/
https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/10/10-amazing-women-revolutionary-war/