Everything you've ever wanted to know about the American Revolution
Learn about some of the most important women of the American Revolution, and what they achieved in the fight for freedom.
Republican Motherhood refers to an ideology centered around the idea that women should raise patriotic, virtuous children for the good of America after the United States gained independence from Great…
The Daughters of Liberty was a group of Patriot women that helped promote resistance to British oppression in the lead-up to the American Revolution. Who they were The Daughters of…
Abigail Adams portrait by Benjamin Blythe, c. 1766 Pastel on paper; 57 cm x 44.3 cm.ย Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA. Abigail Adams portrait, unknown artist, c. 1795 Portrait by unknown…
The influence of Colonel Hamilton, of the British army, contributed greatly – at the time Lord Cornwallis, on his last ill-fated expedition, was in the neighborhood of Halifax – to…
The sufferings of families during the depredations of the Indians on the frontier, in Wawasink and its vicinity, were not exceeded even by those of Wyoming. The women bore their…
Mrs. Graydon has been made known to us in her son’s “Memoirs” of his own life and times. She was the eldest of four daughters; was born in the island…
One of the representatives of those times, in which America must ever feel pride, is yet living at the Lakelands, Lake of Otsego, near Cooperstown, New York. She not only…
Sarah, Lady Stirling, was the sister of Governor Livingston. She accompanied the Earl, her husband, who was Major General in the American army, to the camp. While the Earl was…
The history of the Rev. David Caldwell is in many ways identified with that of North Carolina. He was for almost sixty years the pastor of the two oldest and…
A Journal – which has never been published, but of which a few copies were printed for private circulation many years since – kept during the Revolutionary war for the…
The name of Elizabeth Zane is inseparably associated with the history of one of the most memorable incidents in the annals of border warfare. The most reliable account of it…
Mrs. Campbell was a distinguished representative of the female actors in the Revolutionary drama in the section of country where she lived. Prominent in position and character, her influence was…
The letters of Mrs. Adams are well known to American readers. Her history and character have been so well unfolded in these and in the memoir by her grandson, that…
None who take an interest in the history of Washington can fail to desire some knowledge of her who shared his thoughts and plans, and was associated with him in…
Many were the brilliant exploits of the pioneers of Kentucky, and among them many a tale of woman’s fortitude, intrepidity, and heroism, lived long in the recollection of those who…
The name of Wyoming is celebrated from its association with events of thrilling interest. Its history from its first settlement is well known to the American reader, nor is there…
At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, a large district in the State of Georgia, extending in one direction from Newson’s Ponds to Cherokee Corner near Athens, and in the…
So many wild tales have been told of the tragical fate of Jane McCrea, that the reader of different accounts, inconsistent with each other knows not which to receive as…
The wife of Benedict Arnold was Margaret Shippen, of Philadelphia. One of her ancestors – Edward Shippen, who was Mayor of the city in the beginning of the eighteenth century,…
The name of Mrs. Gaston is associated with that of her distinguished son, to whose education she devoted herself with assiduous care, and whose eminent character was most appropriately praised,…
Few occurrences in the history of ancient or modern warfare have so strongly influenced the public feeling – have excited so universal a sentiment of horror, or such deep resentment…
Of the men of strong energy of thought or action, who arrested public attention during the momentous period of the Revolution, there is scarcely one who assimilates at all to…
Massachusetts has her Lady Arabella, Virginia her Pocahontas, North Carolina her Flora M’Donald,” says the eloquent author of the ” Sketches ” of that State. The residence of this celebrated…
The presentation of a pair of colors, by the wife of Colonel Barnard Elliott, is mentioned in several historical works. They were presented to the second South Carolina regiment of…
The influence of women, so powerful an agent during the progress of the Revolutionary war, was essential after its close in restoring a healthful tone and vigor to society. The…
Fort Motte, the scene of the occurrence which so strikingly displayed the patriotism of one of South Carolina’s daughters, stood on the south side of the Congaree river. The height…
When the lapse of years shall have invested the period of the Revolution with the coloring of poesy, and the novelist shall seek his materials in the romance of American…
At the time of the burning of New London, in Connecticut, a detachment of the army of the traitor Arnold was directed to attack Fort Griswold, at Groton, on the…
The husband of this lady, Colonel Clement Biddle, was among the first of those who took an active part on the breaking out of the war, resolved to sacrifice every…
The following extract from Butler’s “History of Groton,” may show that the women of Massachusetts were not behind their sisters of other States in patriotic daring. “The patriotism of the…
It is not generally known that Joel Barlow – the poet, philosopher and politician, the author of the Columbiad and other works – owed much of the formation of his…
The correspondence of Ralph Izard was published a few years since by his daughter, Anne Izard Deas, at the desire of her mother, whose anxiety to do justice to the…
Ann Eliza Bleecker, whose name is prominent in the list of the female poets of our country, was the youngest child of Brandt Schuyler of New York, where she was…
A memoir of the long and eventful life of Mrs. Beekman, describing scenes in which those connected with her were prominent actors, would form a valuable contribution to American history.…
Sarah, the only daughter of Benjamin Franklin, was born at Philadelphia on the eleventh of September, 1744. Of her early years no particulars can now be obtained; but from her…
Mrs. Angelica Nott, widow of the late Judge Nott, of South Carolina, remembers some illustrative incidents which occurred in the section where she resided with her aunt, Mrs. Potter, near…
The first expedition into North Carolina projected by Lord Cornwallis was baffled by the fall of Colonel Ferguson at King’s Mountain. The disaster at the Cowpens forbade perseverance in the…
The long, arduous, and eventful retreat of General Greene through the Carolinas, after the battle of the Cowpens, that retreat on whose issue hung the fate of the South –…
The portion of South Carolina near the frontier, watered by the Pacolet, the Tyger, and the Ennoree, comprising Spartanburg and Union Districts, witnessed many deeds of violence and blood, and…
The daring exploit of two women in Ninety-Six District, furnishes an instance of courage as striking as any remembered among the traditions of South Carolina. During the sieges of Augusta…
Fruitful in noble spirits were those wild and gloomy times; and woman’s high truth and heroic devotion poured a solemn radiance over the dreary and appalling scene of civil war.…
The state of popular feeling after the occupation of Charleston by the British, and during the efforts made to establish an undisputed control over the State, might be in some…
“The memory of Mrs. Martha Bratton. – In the hands of an infuriated monster, with the instrument of death around her neck, she nobly refused to betray her husband; in…
The letters of Eliza Wilkinson present a lively picture of the situation of many inhabitants of that portion of country which was the scene of various skirmishes about the time…
The failure of the British commissioners to conclude an amicable adjustment of differences between the two countries – and the ill success of the effort to gain their ends by…
In 1756, Colonel George Washington, then commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces, had some difficulties concerning rank with an officer holding a royal commission. He found it necessary to communicate with…
The old building called the Carpenter Mansion, the site of which is now occupied by the Arcade in Philadelphia, was the residence of Doctor Thomas Graeme, the father of Mrs.…
The celebrated Miss Franks, so distinguished for intelligence and high accomplishment in Revolutionary times, could not properly be passed over in a series of notices of remarkable women of that…
This anecdote is given in the first number of the American Quarterly Review, and is said to be taken from Lydia’s own narration. It is mentioned or alluded to by…
About the close of the year 1777, while the commander-in-chief of the British forces was in possession of Philadelphia, a foot passenger might have been seen on the road leading…
The story of female heroism, fidelity and piety, with which the name of Lady Harriet Ackland is associated, is familiar to the readers of American history. To the fairer page…
Sarah Hull, the wife of Major William Hull, was one of those women who followed their husbands to the camp, resolved to partake their dangers and privations. She was with…
Mrs. Hancock was one of those, who, at Cambridge, extended courtesies to the ladies of Burgoyne’s army, when under the convention of surrender. She was the daughter of Edmund Quincy,…
General Wilkinson, who was personally acquainted with Madame de Riedesel, published fragments of her journal in his Memoirs. He calls her “the amiable, accomplished, and dignified baroness.” “I have more…
When the news reached Connecticut that blood had been shed, Putnam, who was at work in the field, left his plow in the furrow, and started for Cambridge without delaying…
When Major Henry Knox, then a resident of Boston, was parading the company to the command of which he had just been elected, he was seen, among many who admired…
The name of Mercy Warren belongs to American history. In the influence she exercised, she was perhaps the most remarkable woman who lived at the Revolutionary period. She was the…
Catharine Littlefield, the eldest daughter of John Littlefield and Phebe Ray, was born in New Shoreham, on Block Island, 1753. When very young, she came with her sister to reside…
The name of Philip Schuyler adds another to the list of distinguished men indebted largely to maternal guidance. To his mother, a woman of strong and cultivated mind, he owed…
Esther De Berdt was born in the city of London, on the 22d of October, 1746, (N. S.,) and died at Philadelphia on the 18th of September, 1780. Her thirty-four…
THE MOTHER OF WASHINGTON! There needs no eulogy to awaken the associations which cling around that sacred name. Our hearts do willing homage to the venerated parent of the chief…
“Actuated by the most glorious cause that mankind ever fought in, I am to defend this post to the very last extremity.”1 The words of an American soldier during the…