Colonial Women Warriors
Deborah Read Franklin and Deborah Sampson, Diehard Heroines
Resolved to sacrifice themselves, if needed, Deborah Read Franklin, wife of Benjamin Franklin, resident of Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts resident, Deborah Sampson took up arms.
Deborah Read Franklin
Like raging grass fires, intolerance for British rules and taxes was burning in the hearts of the colonists.
Britain had protected the English colonies during the French and Indian war. Consequently, British political views supported the idea of a tax on all documents in the colonies to pay for the cost of the protection.
Benjamin Franklin at the time was representing Pennsylvania in London. The infamous Stamp Act law of 1765 was passed during this time in the British Parliament. Franklin supported the idea at first and from necessity appointed a stamp officer in Pennsylvania.
Rage boiled in the hearts of the Pennsylvania colonists with this appointment. A mob bent upon vengeance targeted the Franklin home.
Immediately, Deborah emptied her home of her guests (the Franklin home housed relatives) when news of the mob reached her. She sent for her cousin and her brother. With only three guns between them, Deborah and her partners confronted the mob.
Later, from London, when Benjamin heard of his wife's ordeal, he wrote, I honor much the spirit and courage you showed. Benjamin, upon hearing the reaction of the colonists, withdrew his support for the Stamp Act.
A year later the Stamp Act was repealed. In Boston, the reaction to the law was the destruction of the stamp collector's office and the lieutenant governor's home.
Deborah Sampson
Two tales of disquise, intrique and service may have been the inspirations Deborah needed to devise a plan for herself to serve her home colony of Massachusetts and her emerging country.
Deborah loved the tales her grandmother told of the French heroine, Joan of Arc. No doubt she had also relished the story of how one of her male cousins had escaped French captivity during the French and Indian War disguised as a woman.
Deborah bound her breasts, disguised herself as a man and joined the Continental Army. She enlisted herself as Robert Shirtliff, taking on the name of a deceased brother.
Fighting as bravely as her male comrades, Deborah sustained wounds in the leg and the thigh. To avoid detection, she tended to her own medical needs. Her wounds never healed properly.
A serious fever was the culprit for the revealing of her true identity. The doctor tending to her, sent a letter to General George Washington via her own hands (as Robert Shritliff). She was dismissed from service, but Washington provided her with money for living arrangements.
Later, Deborah was honorably discharged and granted a monthly pension in the amount of $4.00 and a lumpsum pension of 34 pounds. Her life after service consisted of marriage and a family. She taught in a nearby school and delivered public speeches regardig her service.
Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis in May of 1983, declared Deborah Sampson as: The Official Heroine of the State of Massachusetts.
Source
Cokie Roberts, Founding Mothers, (Harper Collins Publishers, Inc. 2004) pgs. 32,37, 79-88.
