Molly pitcher archives journal of the american revolution. The nickname molly was common for women named mary. Molly pitcher was a patriot who carried pitchers of water to soldiers and helped with cannon duty during the american revolutions battle of monmouth. An image of the heroic molly pitcher loading the cannon was also used as. There are a lot of stories about how molly fought in different battles during the war. Mary was a lively girl who could often be found playing with her pet calf, blossom. She joined her husband as a camp follower during the philadelphia campaign 17771778 in new jersey during the revolutionary war. Fun online educational games and worksheets are provided free for each biography. In fact, the molly we know may not have been a single woman, but rather a composite character of multiple figures who fought in the war. Feb 04, 2020 a heroine of the revolutionary war, molly pitcher was the nickname of a woman said to have carried water to american soldiers during the battle of monmouth on june 28, 1778, before taking over for. Molly attends a birthday party where there was no cake or sweets because of the high tax on sugar. Molly pitcher, girl patriot book by augusta stevenson. Dec 01, 2001 with all the historical events, cultural information in this book, a wellwritten revision would surely be wellreceived by those looking to read about molly pitcher and her times.
Molly pitcher, you saved the day, he said, as he gave her a heros hand. She wrote several childhood of famous americans titles, including books. Journal of the american revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the american revolution and founding era. Molly pitcher was a patriot who carried pitchers of water to soldiers and helped with cannon duty during the american revolutions battle of. Not many women are mentioned during the revolutionary war. The nickname molly pitcher arose during the battle of monmouth in new jersey on june 28, 1778. Mary ludwig, who go down ever as molly pitcher, was born circa october, 1754, near trenton, new jersey.
Molly pitcher was not a single historical figure, but. To write a biography of molly pitchers life is a difficult task, partially because the woman is ultimately more legend than fact. Biographical information about mary hays has been gathered by historians, 7 including her cultural heritage, given name, probable year of birth, marriages, progeny, and census and tax records, providing a reasonably reliable account of. Molly pitcher was a fictitious name given to a heroine, revered for taking her husbands place loading a cannon in the battle of monmouth, june 28, 1778, during the american revolution.
A lifesize statue of molly was erected in carlisle in 1916, as well as a basrelief panel on the monmouth battlefield monument depicting her as a powerful woman stuffing the ramrod into the cannon. Molly pitcher, heroine of the battle of monmouth court house during the american revolution. The story of molly pitcher is celebrated in numerous childrens books, and she has an entry in most u. Historian alexis coe tries to pinpoint which reallife woman or women inspired the creation of revolutionary war folklore heroine molly pitcher. She later moved to carlisle, pennsylvania, to work as a domestic servant in 1768 and later married william hays on july 24, 1769. Molly pitcher was a woman from the revolutionary war. Joe was a moniker for a soldier or soldiers in world war ii. Mary was a short woman who often wore a white dress. Pitcher, molly, 17441832, american revolutionary heroine whose real name was mary ludwig hays or heis, b. The illustrations historical style contributes to the dramatic spirit of the story. There is also a belief that molly pitcher references a collective of women.
Molly pitcher biography revolutionary war figure a legendary figure of the american revolutionary war, molly pitcher was most likely mary ludwig hays mccauley, a resident of pennsylvania who, in 1822, was awarded an annuity by the pennsylvania assembly for her service during the fight for independence. As the wife of john hays or heis, she carried water for her husband and other soldiers in the battle of monmouth 1778 and earned her nickname. Became hero mary ludwig hays was born in 1750, near trenton, new jersey. Molly pitcher was born on october, 1744, in new jersey. Most historians agree it was a nickname for a person doing a particular job. The service area features sunoco gasoline, and fast food places including dick clarks ab grill, roy rogers, nathans hot dogs, starbucks, arthur treachers, cinnabon, and freshens smoothies. Her 80 year old dad passed away and his kids came into the home, put molly pitcher s mom in a senior home and gave away her two doggie companions. Molly pitcher is a nickname given to a woman said to have fought in the american revolutionary war. Joe, is a common label for the countless, nameless, women and men who are anonymously honored for their heroic service. Molly pitcher biography and information essortment. The legend of molly pitcher has been told for many generations.
A heroine of the revolutionary war, molly pitcher was the nickname of a woman said to have carried water to american soldiers during the battle of. Mary ludwig hays mccauley, or simply molly pitcher, was a true heroine, and a true valiant american soldier. I realize that there is not a great deal of biographical information about molly pitcher, but the book gives insight into daily american colonial life, through the eyes of a young girl. It is also believed that when her husband william hays collapsed during the battle, mary took his place on the battlefield. Pitcher, molly article about pitcher, molly by the free.
Another possibility is margaret corbin, who helped defend fort washington in new york in november 1776. Molly pitcher biography 2017 facts, childhood, wiki. Molly pitcher sprang to his side, fired as she saw her husband do. Telling the king in his stubborn pride women like men to their homes are true. Though there is some official disagreement over exact details, many believe that the woman history has come to refer to as molly pitcher was born to german immigrants under. She wrote several childhood of famous americans titles, including books about george washington, abraham lincoln, paul revere, sitting bull, benjamin franklin, and molly pitcher. Mary ludwig was born to a german family in pennsylvania circa 1744. Molly pitcher students britannica kids homework help. However, various molly pitcher tales have grown in the telling, and many historians. Molly pitcher was a typical american woman during her time period, but her bravery and her dedication for the country is nothing but exceptional.
Biography for kids history american revolution who was molly pitcher. In 1768, she moved to carlisle, pennsylvania, where she met william also called john hays, an area barber. The identification of molly pitcher, earlier known in popular images as captain molly, with mary mccauly, didnt come until the centennial of the american revolution. During the summer of 1976, the american bicentennial, i read so many books about colonial. Biography of molly pitcher who helped win the battle of monmouth during the revolutionary war for elementry and middle school students.
We feature smart, groundbreaking research and wellwritten narratives from expert writers. Molly pitcher is the name given to a legendary revolutionary war heroine. Two real women in particular have been associated with the legend of molly pitcher. Edward martin walsh produced molly pitcher, the monmouth girl, a fouract play, in 1900, in detroit. According to legend, molly pitcher was a woman who helped fight during the revolutionary war 17751783 in america. Washington rode from the bloody fray up to the gun that a woman manned. However, molly pitcher broke the trend by not only being a war hero, but a loyal wife and hard worker. I am a ggg grandson, and i have an extensive website covering her known descendants. Handsome oil painted illustrations are complemented by text that details molly s pragmatic heroism and some background information on the american revolution. She was born on october, 1754 to german immigrants who had moved to the colonies and settled on a dairy farm near trenton, new jersey.
Our work has been featured by the new york times, time magazine, history channel, discovery channel, smithsonian, mental floss, npr, and more. Biography of molly pitcher, heroine of the battle of monmouth. It is likely that she never attended school or learned to read, as education was not considered necessary for young girls during. Molly pitcher pennsylvania center for the book penn state. The actions of molly pitcher are usually attributed to one mary ludwig hays mccauley. Molly pitcher was born on october th, 1754 near trenton, new jersey. Molly pitcher is a nickname given to a woman said to have fought in the american.
Molly pitcher was born to a family in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Special pages permanent link page information wikidata item cite this page. The rousing true tale of molly pitcher, whose bravery and courage during the revolutionary war led to general washingtons decision to make her a sergeant. She was smart but she couldnt go to school because she was a girl. Molly pitcher lived around the time of the revolutionary war and she wanted to do the things the boys and men in her family did. Mary ludwig came to be called molly pitcher after she carried pitchers of wa. With the evergrowing interest in genealogy, this book already noted the problems researching family names and misspellings and family background.
With all the historical events, cultural information in this book, a wellwritten revision would surely be wellreceived by those looking to read about molly pitcher and her times. Her hard work led her to be recognized by general george washington. Her original last name is unknown, though she is thought to have been irish. Molly pitchers real name was mary ludwig, the daughter of german settler, john georg ludwig, a butcher in philadelphia.
Great picture book account of molly pitcher and her role in the battle of monmouth. Like a window into their daytoday life, molly pitcher census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more. Molly pitcher family, childhood, life achievements, facts, wiki and bio of 2017. The family members planned to just have molly pitcher put down because she is old but a kind rescuer saved her just in time. The molly pitcher story molly was a common nickname for women named mary in the revolutionary time period. Mar 02, 2020 molly pitcher was a patriot who carried pitchers of water to soldiers and helped with cannon duty during the american revolutions battle of monmouth.
I am looking for any living descendants of mary molly pitcher hays, who died january 22, 1832 in carlisle, cumberland county, pa. According to legend, at the battle of monmouth june 28, 1778, mary hays, wife of artilleryman william hays, carried water to cool both the cannon and the soldiers in her husbands batteryhence the. She was born to maria margaretha and a butcher named johann george ludwig in trenton, new jersey. By 1769, she moved from new jersey to carlisle, pennsylvania, where she took a position as a domestic for the family of general william irwin. What kind of education did molly pitcher have answers. The name molly pitcher was also used in reference to other women heroines during that conflict, most notably margaret corbin. She is generally believed to have been mary ludwig hays, who fought in the battle of monmouth in june 1778. There are 3,000 census records available for the last name molly pitcher. It is hard to find any information on molly before the battle of monmouth. Mary ludwig, better known as molly pitcher, was brave and outspoken. Learn about the biography of molly pitcher including her real name, folklore, where the name came from, mary ludwig hays, margaret corbin, and interesting. It is thought the name came from a soldiers cry for a pitcher of water to drink or to cool their overheated cannons.
Oct 16, 2018 complete molly pitcher 2017 biography. Military records indicate that her first husband, william hays, was a gunner in a pennsylvania artillery regiment in 1777. Molly pitcher was not a single historical figure, but a composite folk hero inspired by the actions of different people, most of them women who carried water to troops during the revolution. I realize that there is not a great deal of biographical information about molly pitcher, but the book gives insight into daily american colonial life, through the eyes of. The name molly pitcher is a collective generic term inasmuch as g.
1218 1490 19 965 589 388 968 1367 1463 634 681 515 739 111 301 522 590 725 1540 82 1135 704 885 777 668 1517 1431 1348 169 750 1220 1414 233 46 1452 807 1235 1483 1293 551