NSDAR
Major. Pierson B Reading Chapter
Major. Peirson B Reading Chapter
Martha Washington
Martha Washington (1731–1802), wife of General George Washington, holds a distinct place in American history as the first First Lady of the United States and a visible presence during the Revolutionary War. Born Martha Dandridge on June 2, 1731, at Chestnut Grove Plantation in New Kent County, Virginia, she grew up in the Tidewater world of Virginia planters. At eighteen, she married Daniel Parke Custis, with whom she had four children, two of whom survived infancy. Widowed at the age of twenty-six, she became one of the wealthiest women in Virginia. In 1759, she married George Washington, then a rising young officer and planter. Their union combined considerable estates and brought together their families, with Martha’s two surviving children raised at Mount Vernon. Known for her capable management of household affairs and warm hospitality, she created an ordered and stable domestic life that allowed George Washington to pursue his military and political career. During the Revolutionary War, Martha Washington’s role expanded beyond that of wife and hostess. Each winter, she joined her husband at his encampments, including the difficult winter at Valley Forge in 1777–1778. There she organized supplies, assisted with sewing and clothing drives, and visited with soldiers’ wives. Her presence was seen as a source of comfort and morale, both to George Washington and to the men who served under him. Though she avoided public political statements, her steady support of the army symbolized the sacrifices made by women throughout the conflict. Following the Revolution, Martha returned to Mount Vernon, where she oversaw the household during her husband’s retirement. In 1789, when George Washington became the nation’s first president, she assumed the new and undefined role of First Lady. In this capacity, she balanced personal modesty with the expectations of public life, hosting official gatherings and setting patterns of social conduct that would influence her successors. After George Washington’s death in 1799, Martha remained at Mount Vernon until her own passing on May 22, 1802. She was buried beside him on the estate. Martha Washington’s life reflects the duties, responsibilities, and quiet influence of a woman at the center of America’s founding era. Though she never sought a public role, her presence alongside her husband during the Revolution and her example as the first presidential spouse ensured her place in the nation’s early history.
Esther Reed
Esther De Berdt Reed (1746–1780) is remembered as a prominent supporter of the Patriot cause in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War. Born in London in 1746, she was the daughter of Dennis De Berdt, a merchant with business ties to the American colonies. In 1770 she married Joseph Reed, a lawyer from Philadelphia who would later serve as an aide to George Washington and as president of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Executive Council. Settling in Philadelphia, Esther Reed became a respected figure in the city’s social and political circles. When the war began, she dedicated herself to supporting the Continental Army. In 1780, at a particularly difficult moment for Washington’s troops, she helped organize the Ladies Association of Philadelphia, a group of women who raised funds to provide clothing and supplies for the soldiers. Reed authored a broadside entitled Sentiments of an American Woman, which appealed to the women of Pennsylvania to contribute to the relief of the army. Under her leadership, the Ladies Association collected a considerable sum, later used to purchase linen and make shirts for the troops. Their work marked one of the most organized civilian efforts to support Washington’s soldiers during the conflict. Her efforts, however, were cut short. In September 1780, before the association’s project was completed, Esther Reed fell ill and died at the age of thirty-four. The work she began was carried forward by Sarah Franklin Bache, daughter of Benjamin Franklin, and the Ladies Association continued to provide aid throughout the war. Though her life was brief, Esther Reed’s example reflected the dedication of those who supported the Revolution not on the battlefield, but through steady and practical contributions that sustained the Continental Army in a time of need.
Deborah Sampson:
Deborah Sampson (1760–1827) occupies a unique place in early American history as one of the few women known to have disguised herself in order to serve as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. Born in Plympton, Massachusetts, on December 17, 1760, she was the eldest of seven children in a family that faced financial hardship. After her father’s disappearance at sea, Sampson’s mother was unable to provide for the family, and Deborah spent much of her youth in the homes of relatives and later as an indentured servant. These years taught her resilience and self-reliance, qualities that would later distinguish her service. In 1782, near the close of the war, Sampson disguised herself as a man under the name “Robert Shurtliff” and enlisted in the Continental Army. She joined the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, where she served for over a year. During her time in uniform, she took part in several skirmishes and endured the challenges of military life. She even sustained injuries in battle, tending to some wounds herself in order to conceal her identity. Sampson’s service came to light only after she fell ill in Philadelphia and was treated by a physician who discovered her secret. Rather than face punishment, she was honorably discharged in 1783 at West Point. Her unusual story attracted attention in the years that followed. In 1785, she married Benjamin Gannett of Sharon, Massachusetts, with whom she had three children. To support her family, she later delivered public lectures recounting her wartime experiences—an uncommon endeavor for a woman of her era. With the help of writer Herman Mann, she published The Female Review in 1797, a partly romanticized account of her life. Recognition of her service grew over time. In 1805, with the support of influential figures such as Paul Revere, Sampson successfully petitioned Congress for a pension based on her military service—the first American woman known to receive such compensation. She lived in Sharon until her death in 1827. Deborah Sampson’s story reflects both the hardships of life in Revolutionary New England and the extraordinary determination of one woman who sought to contribute directly to the fight for independence. Her life stands as a reminder of the diverse experiences that shaped the founding era of the United States.
Lydia Barrington Darragh
Lydia Barrington Darragh (1729–1789) is remembered for her role in passing intelligence to the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1729, she later emigrated to Pennsylvania, where she married William Darragh, a teacher. The couple settled in Philadelphia and raised a family, living quietly as members of the Quaker community. When British forces occupied Philadelphia in 1777, the Darragh home was requisitioned for use by British officers. Lydia, managing the household, found herself in a position to overhear discussions among the officers who met under her roof. Though her Quaker faith inclined her toward pacifism, she also sympathized with the American cause. One evening, Lydia overheard plans for a surprise attack against General George Washington’s troops stationed at Whitemarsh. Understanding the potential consequences, she determined to act. The following day she secured a pass to leave the city on the pretense of obtaining flour from a nearby mill. Beyond the British lines, she carried word of the planned attack to American forces. Washington’s army was thus alerted and prepared, frustrating the British attempt. After the war, Lydia Darragh returned to the rhythms of family life in Philadelphia. She died in 1789, leaving behind a story that was remembered in local tradition and later recorded in Revolutionary accounts. Though she lived an otherwise quiet and private life, Lydia Barrington Darragh’s actions in a single moment contributed to the defense of the Continental Army. Her story stands among those small but significant acts of courage that shaped the course of the Revolution.
Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753–1784) is remembered as the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry, and as a notable literary voice of the Revolutionary era. Born in West Africa around 1753, she was taken from her home as a child and brought to Boston aboard a slave ship in 1761. Purchased by the Wheatley family, she was given the name Phillis after the vessel that carried her across the Atlantic. The Wheatleys soon recognized her intelligence and encouraged her education—an unusual opportunity for someone in her position. By her early teens, she had mastered English, studied Latin and classical literature, and begun composing verse. Her poetry often reflected the influence of the Bible, as well as themes drawn from classical antiquity, history, and the political climate of her day. In 1773, Wheatley’s collection Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral was published in London, making her the first African American author to publish a volume of poetry. The work gained her recognition both in the colonies and abroad, with readers admiring the elegance of her style and her command of language. As the colonies moved toward independence, Wheatley’s poetry also addressed the events of the Revolution. She composed verses in honor of prominent figures such as George Washington and reflected on themes of freedom and virtue that resonated with the political struggles of the time. Washington himself received her work with respect, and their correspondence reveals the esteem in which he held her talent. Wheatley was freed by the Wheatley family in 1774, shortly after the publication of her book. In 1778, she married John Peters, a free Black man, though the couple faced financial hardships. Despite her continued efforts to publish a second volume of poetry, changing circumstances and difficulties in her later life prevented the project from coming to fruition. She died in Boston in 1784 at the age of thirty-one. Though her life was brief, Phillis Wheatley’s literary achievements secured her a place in American history. Her writings reflect the intellectual currents of the Revolutionary era and reveal the presence of a gifted poet whose work was read and respected on both sides of the Atlantic.
Sybil Ludington
Sybil Ludington (1761–1839) is remembered for a courageous ride made during the Revolutionary War, when she carried word of approaching British troops to local militia forces. Born in Fredericksburg, New York, on April 5, 1761, she was the eldest of twelve children of Colonel Henry Ludington and his wife, Abigail. Her father commanded a regiment of the local militia, and the family lived at the center of Patriot activity in the Hudson Highlands. On the night of April 26, 1777, British troops and loyalists launched an attack on the nearby town of Danbury, Connecticut, a vital supply depot for the Continental Army. With Colonel Ludington’s men scattered across the countryside, a messenger arrived at the family home seeking his help in assembling the regiment. Sixteen-year-old Sybil volunteered to spread the alarm. Mounted on horseback, she rode through the night across nearly forty miles of difficult roads, warning scattered militia members and urging them to muster. Tradition holds that she braved rain, darkness, and the threat of encountering British patrols or loyalist bands. By morning, many of the men had gathered, though they arrived too late to save Danbury from destruction. The militia nevertheless engaged the British in subsequent skirmishes at Ridgefield, helping to drive them back toward Long Island Sound. Sybil’s ride was remembered in her community and passed down in local accounts, later coming to be compared with Paul Revere’s earlier journey. Though she lived the remainder of her life quietly, marrying Edmond Ogden and raising a family, her name endured as part of Revolutionary lore. She died in 1839 at the age of seventy-seven and was buried in Patterson, New York. Today, Sybil Ludington’s midnight ride is recalled as a youthful act of determination in support of her father’s regiment and the Patriot cause.
Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams (1744–1818), wife of John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams, was one of the most notable women of the Revolutionary era. Remembered for her sharp intellect, her influential correspondence, and her now-famous plea to her husband to “remember the ladies,” she left a legacy as both a witness to and participant in the formation of the new American republic. Born Abigail Smith on November 22, 1744, in Weymouth, Massachusetts, she was the second of four children in a family of modest means but strong community standing. Although she never received formal schooling, she educated herself by reading widely in history, philosophy, and literature, laying the foundation for the thoughtful letters she would later exchange with many of the era’s leaders. In 1764, Abigail married John Adams, beginning a partnership that would be both affectionate and intellectually rich. The couple raised three sons and two daughters, including John Quincy Adams, who would become the sixth President of the United States. Their marriage was marked by long periods of separation during John’s service in the Continental Congress and later as a diplomat abroad, during which their steady stream of letters provided counsel, encouragement, and political reflection. It was in this correspondence that Abigail expressed some of her most memorable thoughts. In March 1776, as John participated in the Continental Congress, she urged him to “remember the ladies” when framing the new nation’s laws. Warning against the unchecked power of husbands over their wives, she voiced concerns about the legal and social constraints faced by women. Although John replied with humor rather than reform, her words have endured as a striking insight into the limitations of her age. Abigail Adams’s influence extended well beyond this letter. Throughout John’s political career, she served as his trusted advisor, offering opinions on policy and political affairs. She was outspoken in her support of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, believing that critics who spread falsehoods about her husband’s administration deserved to be punished. When John Adams became the second President of the United States in 1797, Abigail assumed the role of First Lady. She became the first presidential spouse to live in the White House after its completion in 1800, and she holds the further distinction of being both a First Lady and the mother of a U.S. President. Beyond politics, Abigail consistently advocated for women’s education and the idea that women had a rightful place in shaping society. While she worked within the expectations of her time, her writings reveal a deep conviction that women’s voices and minds deserved recognition. Abigail Adams died on October 28, 1818, at the family home in Quincy, Massachusetts. Today, she is remembered not only as the wife and mother of presidents but also as an insightful commentator on the Revolutionary era and an early voice for women’s education and rights.