Molly Pitcher is a G.I. Joe in the Revolutionary Era

So....I love costumes. I love dressing up. I think every month should have a Halloween Day where you can dress up! If only....

So, I tell my boys teachers, if you have a lesson plan and you want someone to visit from your lesson plans circa 1800s, 1900s, etc. I'm there. I will sew a costume. I will research the person. I will reenact. It is so much fun. They truly think I'm kidding and let the opportunity escape them.

Ms. America as MTLincoln

I think I badgered Obe Wan's teachers so much that she took pity on me and allowed me into the classroom. I became Molly Pitcher. She gave me the option of Molly or Abigial Adams. Psheesh. No way was I doing a President's Wife....I have already done Mary Todd Lincoln enough times....  This is me on February 20 for President's Day. I went to the elementary school and read "Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers" by Karen B. Winnick. Great book, but wanted something a bit fresh....

So, I decided to research Molly Pitcher. What an adventure this turned out to become! She isn't really real. WHAT?!?! Yep, she is thought to be one person, but is actually three....

I compiled research from places. I didn't keep track, so I apologize, as there isn't a Works Cited page. I am stating this upfront, so please check your own sources if you do a research paper on her. This is my speech. It is rough as I did a lot of adlib as I went. I rehearsed about a million times and got it down to around 25 minutes. I changed my voice and accent each time. It was a lot of fun!

Hello! I'd like to introduce myself to you, I'm Mary Ludwig Hays. I was born in October of 1754 in Trenton NJ. Man, I hated school and I just downright hated being proper. I started sneaking out of school and hanging out with the boys. They taught me to smoke and to chew tobaky. I learned a whole new language from them and started using words not proper to a lady--so I'll say excuse me in advance as I just can't help meself. I got myself in a bad way, so I had to quick like marry the babies dad, William Hays, the town barber. He knew he was gonna be shamed, so he enlisted as a gunner in the Continental Army under Captain Francis Proctor--a descent of William Proctor. I weren't gonna leave my man by himself, so me and the babe went with him. We traveled all over the damn country--me with the babes and helping take care of the men. We were under the direction of General George Washington. Us women, we did the washing, mending and all the cooking. They was princes even on the road and I didn't right care for that, but the women in charge of us, some women who thought she was better than all of us, Martha Washington, since her husband was the general, she told me it was best for me to run off some of my attitude hauling the pitcher of water to the men. I'd fill up me pitcher and haul it up and down the line. It was the beginning of May when we were under fire--it was Monmouth, NJ and it was hotter than hell. We were on our 60th day of over 100 degree heat. The men kept yelling, Molly Pitcher. I'd no more get down to one side of the men and give them a drink, then I'd hear Molly Pitcher--damn men didn't even remember my name--MARY! I'd throw some water on the cannons to keep them cool, when I noticed down the line, William, had done gone and passed out! Holy hell. I ran down to his gun, I figured he'd get his sorry ass up, but the damn British had to go.  I started loading the cartridge with powder to shove in the cannon when I felt my skirt lifting off the ground, what the h***, I looked down expecting to sock some men in the face, when I realized a cannon had whizzed right between my legs. Thankfully it didn't go any higher, and I went right back to work. Another Sergeant witnessed the cannon between my legs and recorded it in his journal. We didn't win the Battle of Monmouth, we lost more damn men, around 153 to only 16 being actually injured. Thanks to my wuss of a husband, William and I went home. 44 years after the war was concluded I was awarded $40 annual pension for my contributions to the war. Who would have thought I'd have money and even a statue with my name Molly Pitcher underneath it in

_TURN BACK, PUT ON NEW HAT!_

Ms. America as Molly Pitcher--Having fun with PhotoShop!

Hello--I'd like to introduce myself to you, my name is Margaret Corbin. My husband, John, and myself enlisted in the 1st Company of the Pennsylvania Artillery under the direction of Captain Francis Proctor who was lead by one of the greatest men in history, General George Washington. I did not want my husband to fight alone, and since we didn't have any children, I also dawned a uniform and fought right beside my husband. I was a trained nurse and found myself on the battlefield tending to the wounded and anything else that was needed. The men were so appreciative of my help hauling the cannons, filling the cartridges and shooting the British that they started calling me Sergeant Molly. I was more than happy to fill in wherever there was a need. The worst day of my life was when my husband was killed when a cannon landed at his feet. I instantly ran to his side and when I saw that his life had left him, I took up where he left off. No one was going to kill my husband. Unfortunately, the British saw this side of the battle as a weak area. Our men were weak and although we had just returned from training at Valley Forge under the leadership of Baron Von Stubben, we were out numbered. The British attached as we were trying to flee the Battle of Washington--this was our last strong hold in New York, but as we were retreating, I was shot with Musket fire. I fell and passed out due to the three wounds I had, arm, chest and jaw. The British came through to see if there were any remaining men worth capturing. I remember them lifting me and looking at my pathetic sight, dropped me assuming I would be dead upon sundown. They didn't realize I was a women and a fighter. The next day, when the coast was clear, men from my regiment passed through and collected me. They took me to the corps of invalids located at West Point, NY. As I returned to health, I stayed at the Corps helping nurse others back to help. I was awarded a pension from the government, $30 and a set of clothing, or the monetary equivalent. I was the first women to be recognized for my efforts in the war. I continued to receive a government pension until my death at age 48. I am the only women to have a grave site in my honor at West Point Cemetery--US Military Academy--one of only two grave sites honoring those from the Revolutionary War. My war efforts were researched by the Daughters of the American Revolution, my original grave site exhumed and I was moved to West point. I am known as Sergeant Mary and my legacy lives on.

_TURN BACK, PUT ON NEW HAT!_

Hello. I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Deborah Sampson. I was born into a family of 8 brothers and sisters. My Pa ran off and my Ma died of flu. Us kids were shuttled between different family and friends my whole childhood. At the age of 16 I became an indentured servant to a local farmer in West Point , NY. I spent my summers teaching school and my winters weaving clothes for the Continental Army. I started thinking WHY can't women fight in the war? I got the idea of dressing as a man and enlisting to fight for our country. I tried out my disguise and was successful -- I became Robert Shurtlieff. In 1781 near the bank of the Hudson River I was joined to a Light Regiment under the direction of Captain George Webb. We were assigned scouting missions to see what the British were doing and give our information back to General George Washington. My fellow enlistees started calling me Sergeant Molly because of my smooth complexion and my high voice. I didn't mind, but I was extremely guarded with my secret. I avoided bathing in rivers with the guys and one time when I was hit in the groin with a musket ball, I dug it out myself to avoid being discovered. When we lined up for small pox vaccines, I lied and said I had already had small pox. For two years I had kept my secret. My greatest fear was to become unconscious. If this would happen I wouldn't be able to think quick on my feet and my secret would be discovered. With the help of our information we discovered Captain Cornwallis was at Yorktown and this was to be the last battle of the War. It was far from over at this point and it was upon one of my missions through Neutral ground when we were attacked by a band of Tories when  I received a nasty gash on the head and an injury to my thigh. I was taken to the home of a private to heal and in return was to take care of him. It was unknown to them this was a Tory Spy I had been assigned to and it was a dangerous place for me to be. His daughter and I became friends and she snuck me out in the middle of the night.  I once again escaped being discovered. Less than six months later though, on my return trip home, I fell ill to the flu epidemic raging the streets of New York. I passed out and upon returning to consciousness I had been discovered. The doctor told me he would keep his secret, but unfortunately, his daughter, who had become my nurse had fallen in love with me. The doctor wrote to my Captain of my secret--saving his daughter from shame--but handling it with grace. My Captain and my General both wrote me certificates of dismissal and honorable discharge. I married Benjamin Ganet and had three children. I was a meeker farmer's wife, but I had a story to tell. I went on tour--probably the first women ever to go on a speaking tour--and for $7 appearance I dawned my blue and white uniform, went through the 27 maneuvers of the Continental Army, asked for an apology from the American people for "swerving from the flowery path of Female delicacy" and ended up show by singing "God Save the 16 States." 

I petitioned to the Continental Congress for a pension for my time in the Continental Army. I had proof of my honorable discharge. It was due to the influence of my friend, a famous silversmith and engraver, Paul Revere that I was awarded a pension of $4/month. Mr. Revere advocated for my pension as I was a women who had married and had children as women were supposed to. He stated I believed strongly in defending our country, but once the war concluded, resumed my rightful place next to my husband. I was grateful for this money as we were very poor. It took 20 years to be awarded this money and less than 5 years later President Monroe reevaluated the Pension Bill and in 1818 I was awarded $76.80/month allowing me to pay off my debts. I passed away at the age of 66, leaving my husband Benjamin destitute. He petitioned the Continental Congress to continue giving him Deborah's pension--he was granted the money with the statement “furnished no other similar example of female heroism, fidelity and courage” I am buried in Norfolk County, Massachusetts I have engraving on both sides of my tombstone. One side is Deborah Sampson and the other is Robert Shurtlieff, American Solider. In WW II, the battleship USS Deborah Bannet was named after me.