Molly Pitcher was Born Mary Ludwig Circa in October 13, 1754, near Trenton, New Jersey. Mary Ludwig grew up on her family's farm. She is unlikely to have had any education. Her family included her mother Gretchen, her father John, a dairy farmer, and her three brothers whose names are still unknown today. Raised to be a hard worker, in 1768, Mary Ludwig was hired by a Mrs. Irvine from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, who wanted a young girl to help with the housework. Mary Ludwig lived with Doctor and Mrs. Irvine for a few years. It was there that she met her husband, William Hays. They married on July 24, 1769.
Mary enlisted in May, 1777, in the Colonial Army in Briston, Bucks County with her husband William. Mary Ludwig Hays followed her husband to war. She nursed the sick on the battle field and assisted in cooking and washing. Another job Mary did during the battle, trudging back and forth from a nearby spring bringing water to the soldiers on the battlefield. Seeing the sight of fresh water, the weary soldiers nicknamed her “Molly Pitcher.” On one of her trips back from the spring, Molly Pitcher, witnessed her husband collapsing next to his cannon, unable to fight. Molly then immediately dropped her water pitchers and took over his position, manning the canon until the colonists victory was achieved. While manning her husbands station, a canon was fired at Molly Pitcher, going strait through her legs, not leaving a scratch on her. As she looked down at the canon barely missing her, she said, "That could have been worse" and kept on firing.
Molly Pitcher remained with the Continental Army until the war ended, then moved back to Carlisle with her husband in April 1783. They had one son named John. Sadly, her husband William Hays died in 1786. Following her husband's death, she married a war veteran named John McCauley. Also, she worked in the State House in Carlisle. Molly Pitcher was honored by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1822 for her wartime services, receiving an award of $40 and an annual commission of the same amount for the rest of her life. Molly Pitcher died on January 22, 1832, in Carlisle. A monument still stands today where she died that commemorates her heroic acts in battle. Molly Pitcher was a very important woman in the American Revolution because without her commitment to her country, and without her having the bravery to nurse and bring water to the wounded men on the battle field, there could have been a much greater loss of lives. Also, she took the place of her husband, firing canons, after he fainted from exhaustion. She was a dedicated woman for her country and would do anything to help the colonists win. Molly Pitcher will remain an honorable woman in American history.
Citations:
Book:
1. Zeinert, Karen. Those Remarkable Women of the American Revolution. Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook, 1996. Print.
Websites:
1. http://www.biography.com/people/molly-pitcher-9390922
2. http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/
mollypitcher.html
3.http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/youasked/070.htm
Mary enlisted in May, 1777, in the Colonial Army in Briston, Bucks County with her husband William. Mary Ludwig Hays followed her husband to war. She nursed the sick on the battle field and assisted in cooking and washing. Another job Mary did during the battle, trudging back and forth from a nearby spring bringing water to the soldiers on the battlefield. Seeing the sight of fresh water, the weary soldiers nicknamed her “Molly Pitcher.” On one of her trips back from the spring, Molly Pitcher, witnessed her husband collapsing next to his cannon, unable to fight. Molly then immediately dropped her water pitchers and took over his position, manning the canon until the colonists victory was achieved. While manning her husbands station, a canon was fired at Molly Pitcher, going strait through her legs, not leaving a scratch on her. As she looked down at the canon barely missing her, she said, "That could have been worse" and kept on firing.
Molly Pitcher remained with the Continental Army until the war ended, then moved back to Carlisle with her husband in April 1783. They had one son named John. Sadly, her husband William Hays died in 1786. Following her husband's death, she married a war veteran named John McCauley. Also, she worked in the State House in Carlisle. Molly Pitcher was honored by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1822 for her wartime services, receiving an award of $40 and an annual commission of the same amount for the rest of her life. Molly Pitcher died on January 22, 1832, in Carlisle. A monument still stands today where she died that commemorates her heroic acts in battle. Molly Pitcher was a very important woman in the American Revolution because without her commitment to her country, and without her having the bravery to nurse and bring water to the wounded men on the battle field, there could have been a much greater loss of lives. Also, she took the place of her husband, firing canons, after he fainted from exhaustion. She was a dedicated woman for her country and would do anything to help the colonists win. Molly Pitcher will remain an honorable woman in American history.
Citations:
Book:
1. Zeinert, Karen. Those Remarkable Women of the American Revolution. Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook, 1996. Print.
Websites:
1. http://www.biography.com/people/molly-pitcher-9390922
2. http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/
mollypitcher.html
3.http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/youasked/070.htm