Deborah Sampson
Deborah Sampson
A fearless and multi-talented woman who disguises herself as a man to join the Continental Army.
Deborah Sampson was not the first woman to disguise herself as a man and fight in a war. However, she is one of the only known examples of someone who did so without being detected. As to whether she joined the war because of her ideals or because she was a poor woman with few options to make her way in the world, we may never know. None the less, her story is one we cannot help but be fascinated by today.
For more on Deborah Sampson, try:
- Masqurade: The Life and Times of Deborah Sampson by Alfred F. Young- Though the information we have concerning Deborah Sampson is limited, this author does the detective work of trying to peace together the story of her life.
From the Card:
- You are born poor in rural Massachusetts and forced to work as a servant from childhood. As you grow older you find work as a teacher and weaver of cloth.
- You successfully join the Continental Army by dressing as a man. While in the army, you sustain at least two injuries including a musketball to the leg.
- After the war, you get married and raise a family.
- You become the first woman to successfully obtain a soldier’s pension, with help from powerful friends like Paul Revere.
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