Famous american folklore

Nickname for women fighting in the American Revolutionary War

Not to be confused with Moll Pitcher.

Molly Pitcher is a nickname given to a woman who fought in the American Revolutionary War. She is most often identified as Mary Ludwig Hays, who fought in the Battle of Monmouth in June Another possibility is Margaret Corbin, who helped defend Fort Washington in New York in November

Suggested identities

Mary Ludwig Hays

Main article: Mary Hays (American Revolutionary War)

The deeds in the story of Molly Pitcher are generally attributed to Mary Ludwig Hays, who was married to William Hays, an artilleryman in the Continental Army.

She joined him at the Army's winter camp at Valley Forge in , and was present at the Battle of Monmouth, where she served as a water-carrier. Her husband fell and she took his place swabbing and loading the cannon, and was later commended by George Washington.^{[citation needed]}

The incident was recorded by Joseph Plumb Martin in his memoir published in ^[1]

Margaret Corbin

Main article: Margaret Corbin

The story of Margaret Corbin bears similarities to the story of Mary Hays.

Molly pitcher biography wikipedia tagalog language

The name itself may have originated as a nickname given to women who carried water to men on the battlefield during the war. Molly Pitcher's fame began two years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the American Colonies. The fight for independence was beginning to take a favorable turn toward the Colonials and due to the success at the Battle of Monmouth only in the northern colonies. According to one version of the story, she was born to a German family in New Jersey. She lived with her parents and worked on the farm until she was fifteen years old, at which time Molly's father found her a job with a doctor's family.

Margaret Corbin was the wife of John Corbin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also an artilleryman in the Continental Army.

On November 16, , John Corbin was one of 2, American soldiers who defended Fort Washington in northern Manhattan from 9, attacking Hessian troops under British command. Corbin was killed and Margaret took his place at the cannon.

She continued to fire it until she was seriously wounded in the arm. In , Margaret Corbin was awarded an annual pension of $50 by the state of Pennsylvania for her heroism in battle. She was the first woman in the United States to receive a military pension.

Molly pitcher biography wikipedia tagalog During one of the final battles of the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Monmouth, an American woman named Mary Ludwig Hays, better known by her nickname "Molly Pitcher," emerged as a remarkable figure. She tirelessly carried water to soldiers on the front lines, earning her moniker due to her constant supply of fresh water in her pitcher. As the battle raged, Molly's husband, an artilleryman, was severely injured. Undeterred, she seized his ramrod and stepped into the fray, assisting in firing the cannon. Her courage and determination inspired her fellow soldiers.

Her nickname was "Captain Molly".^[2]

Deborah Sampson

Main article: Deborah Sampson

Deborah Sampson has also been posited as an inspiration for Molly Pitcher.^[3] She disguised herself as a man and enlisted under an assumed name. Her comrades nicknamed her "Molly" because of her smooth complexion and high-pitched voice.

After her discharge, she successfully petitioned for a pension as a veteran.

Possibly a Generic Name

Emily Teipe has suggested that "the name Molly Pitcher is a collective generic term, much like 'G.I. Joe and serves as a common label for the "hundreds, perhaps thousands, of women who served not only as ammunition wives, manning and firing the guns, but also in the army and colonial militia."^[3]

Commemorations

Federal

In , "Molly Pitcher" was honored with an overprint reading "MOLLY / PITCHER" on a United States postage stamp.

Earlier that year, festivities had been planned to celebrate the th anniversary of the Battle of Monmouth. Stamp collectors petitioned the U.S. Post Office Department for a commemorative stamp to mark the anniversary.

Molly pitcher biography wikipedia tagalog version Since various Molly Pitcher tales grew in the telling, many historians regard Molly Pitcher as folklore rather than history, or suggest that Molly Pitcher may be a composite image inspired by the actions of a number of real women. The name itself may have originated as a nickname given to women who carried water to men on the battlefield during the war. Army base Fort Bragg holds an annual event called "Molly Pitcher Day" showcasing weapon systems, airborne operations, and field artillery for family members. We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe. If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.

After receiving several rejections, New Jersey congressman Ernest Ackerman, a stamp collector himself, enlisted the assistance of the majority leader of the House, John Q. Tilson.^[4]Postmaster General Harry New steadfastly refused to issue a commemorative stamp specifically acknowledging the battle or Molly Pitcher.

In a telegram to Tilson, Postmaster New explained, "Finally, however, I have agreed to put a surcharged title on ten million of the regular issue Washington 2¢ stamps bearing the name 'Molly Pitcher.'"^[4]

Molly was finally pictured on an imprinted stamp on a postal card issued in for the th anniversary of the battle.^[5]

"Molly" was further honored in World War II with the naming of the Liberty shipSS Molly Pitcher, launched, and subsequently torpedoed, in

The stretch of US Route 11 between Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania-Maryland state line is known as the Molly Pitcher Highway.

The Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery branches of the US Army established an honorary society in Molly Pitcher's name, the Honorable Order of Molly Pitcher. Membership is ceremoniously bestowed upon wives of artillerymen during the annual Feast of St. Barbara. The Order of Molly Pitcher recognizes individuals who have voluntarily contributed in a significant way to the improvement of the Field Artillery community.

Molly pitcher picture Molly Pitcher was an American patriot who carried pitchers of water to soldiers during the Revolutionary War's Battle of Monmouth, thereby earning her nickname. After her husband collapsed during the battle, she took over the operation of his cannon. There are so many legends surrounding Pitcher that some historians believe her story is folklore or a composite of several people. Although there has been ample research done mostly by her descendants, independent review of the documents has led some historians to conclude that Pitcher cannot be definitely identified. Most sources identify her birth name as Mary Ludwig, daughter of Maria Margaretha and Johann George Ludwig, and identify her first husband as William Hays also sometimes referred to as John Hays , who was in the artillery and fought at the Battle of Monmouth.

The U.S. Army base Fort Liberty holds an annual event called "Molly Pitcher Day," showcasing weapon systems, airborne operations, and field artillery for family members.^[6]

Other

References

External links