Deborah Sampson

Deborah Sampson was born in Plympton, Massachusetts on December 17, 1760 to Jonathan Sampson Jr. and Deborah Bradford Sampson. She was the great great granddaughter of William Bradford, an original pilgrim to America. William was the first Governor of Plymouth Colony. He was a wealthy man who was able to support himself and his family. Even though she was a descended of a prominent family, Deborah grew up in poverty. Her father abandoned her family when she was a young girl, her mother was unable to provide for her and all of her siblings. The Sampson children were sent to relatives to be cared for. After living in a few different homes, Deborah became an indentured servant to Jeremiah Thomas in Middleborough. “For ten years she helped with the housework and worked in the field. Hard labor developed her physical strength.” Sometimes during the winter, she was able to attend school because of the decrease of work. After her servitude was over, she was educated enough to teach school in a Middleborough public school during the summer of 1779 and 1780.

Deborah’s yearning to help in the Revolution against the British caused her to enlist “...in the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army at Bellingham as a man named Robert Shurtleff…”. Due to her height of 5 feet and 7 inches, she was able to pass as a man because she was taller than the average women of 5 feet. She served in a scouting party where she faced the dangers of war. Her group was attacked by British soldiers on their return trip. “In June of 1782, Deborah and two sergeants led about 30 other infantrymen on an expedition into the Neutral Ground.” During this expedition, her troops encountered British soldiers. A battle broke out, Deborah took a gash to the head and a bullet wound to the left upper thigh. She tried to care for her wound by herself. She took out the bullet from her leg. Before her injuries were able to fully heal, she was announced capable to continue serving in the army. Sampson caught a fever in the summer of 1783 and was cared for by a doctor. The doctor took off her clothes and discovered the wrappings that concealed her breasts. However, he did not turn her in. Instead, he took her to live with his wife, daughters, and nurse and they took care of her.

“Receiving an honorable discharge on October 23, 1783, Deborah traveled home to Massachusetts.” Deborah was the first women to be enlisted in the Revolutionary War and because of that she was seen as the leader of the Daughters of Liberty. Her courage and action inspired other women to want to help the Revolution by joining the Daughters of Liberty.