Deborah Sampson, Soldier and Daughter of Liberty

Deborah Sampson by Sophie W.


Some people thought that men could only fight in war, but Deborah Sampson proved them wrong. She went to war for many reasons, but she thought that the men needed help.

Deborah Sampson had a difficult childhood. She was born on December 17, 1760 in Massachusetts. She became an indentured servant in 1770 and was very poor. Sampson was the oldest of six children. Her brother left their family when she was very young. Since she was a servant, she lived in many houses. She
lived in one house from ages ten to sixteen. In every house, she learned many things, such as sewing, nursing, reading, writing, and farming . Deborah Sampson married Benjamin Ganet on April 7, 1785, and they had three children.

Sampson had a special role in the Revolutionary War. On May 20, 1782 Deborah Sampson went to war disguised as a man to proved that women could
fight, and to help America win the war. She changed her name to "Robert" to
help pass as a man. Trying to pass at her home town wasn't as easy as she
thought. When she was at the desk the lady recognized a ring on her finger and
told her what she had heard over and over again " are you crazy, women can not
fight in war". However she tried to get in elsewhere and was approved to go to
war. In her first battle on July 13, 1782 she was struck by a bullet in her head and
leg. Her fellow soldiers were very worried and rode her to the hospital. When
she was at the hospital she only let them look at her head but not her leg.
Sampson took out the bullet in her leg by herself. A couple years later, she had a
serious illness, and this time the doctor had to remove her clothes and found she
was a woman. But the doctor kept it a secret because he knew she was helping
his country and with more people they had a greater chance. Her former life as a
servant helped Sampson be a successful soldier. She helped sew clothes even
though she was a "man", she nursed , and helped report commands from the
commander. On November third she got to go back home to Massachusetts after
serving for seventeen months.

Sampson changed many things for many women. Deborah Sampson's
strong soul was her motivation. She thought that the men needed some help and
she was the one to it. She had a significant impact for women to fight in the war.
She was part of the Daughters Of Liberty, and she felt very strong about civil
rights. George Washington congratulated her with a Medal of Honor when he
found out what she had done. She made many speeches about her time in war,
and about her desire for women to be equal to men. There is now a statue of her
next to the public library in Sharon, Massachusetts. Deborah Sampson took her
last breath on April 28, 1827.

Lots of women fight in war now, and Deborah Sampson had an impact on
that. Hopefully at the end of serving she felt like she had helped the men in the
war and accomplished something.