Worcester State University - Oak Leaf Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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A local historical society can be credited with keeping the memory of Deborah Sampson Gannett, who has been called the “Heroine of the Revolution.” Deborah Sampson, a decendent of early settlers Miles Standish, John Alden and William Bradford, was born December 17, 1760 at Plympton, Massachusetts. Her father died when she was a young child and her mother, finding it difficult to raise several daughters, indentured Deborah; first, with a Lady Fuller and upon her death with a Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. In her sixteenth year, Deborah went to work for a farmer and was able to attend school on a part time basis. As the Revolutionary War progressed, she became enthusiastic with the continental cause. One spring evening, she proceeded to the woods to adorn the man’s clothing outfit she had made for herself. Dressed as a man, she walked at night to the town of Bellingham, knowing there was a recruiting party there. Once enlisted under the name of Robert Shurtliff, she was ordered to Worcester to join Captain Thayer of the Uxbridge Regiment. Shortly , 4 the Regiment was ordered to West Point, where she was assigned to a light infantry company as a scout. While in the vicinity, she became involved in a few light skirmishes near Harlaem and White Plains. Early in July, a battle ensued and Deborah found herself in the midst of dead and wounded for the first time. However, she escaped with two shots through her coat and one through her cap. Shortly thereafter, Deborah and her regiment moved on to Williamsburg, Virginia by the direction of General Washington. Deborah was then placed in a flank, composed of advanced guards, commanded by Marquis Lafayette. The group moved on to Yorktown where they threw up works in preparation for the battle. Deborah participated in this activity, and as a result, her hands became so blistered, she could not open or close them. She was in battle for about 10 days. A select corps, which included Deborah, was chosen to accompany Lafayette in pursuit of a tactical mission. Instruction was given to Lafayette to manage as best he could. Consequently, they marched to the assault with unloaded arms, but with fixed bayonets. Although there was blood shed on all sides, Deborah survived. The only casualty she received was a tear in her uniform. The unit returned to West Point. Deborah and several other scouts received permission to ambush some Tories and refugees who had inflicted “outrageous insults” upon some local citizens. In a consequent skirmish near Tarrytown, New York, she was wounded above the knee and blood trickled from her head. She begged her comrades to leave her behind in the woods, but a fellow soldier placed her on his horse. Her behavior demonstrated a preference for death, rather than have her sexual identity discovered. Some time early in 1783, Deborah was selected as an attendant and aid to General Patterson and about that time was awarded the “Honorary Badge of Distinction,” an honor conferred upon brave soldiers of the Continental .Army. 8

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When Washington decided to adopt the plan to bring the cannon at Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, he Selected Henry Knox to exe- cute his orders. On November 16, 1775, he in- structed Knox to check all the artillery needs at Cambridge, then proceed to New York. Knox proceeded forthwith to New York, stopped in Worcester to see his wife Lucy (whom he had brought there at the outbreak of the war) and finally arrived at New York on November 25. Knox spent 4 days obtaining his selection, which consisted of 59 cannon mor- tars, howitzers, cohorns, 23 boxes of lead and two barrels of flints. The materials were moved along Lake George by boat, then by sled drawn by oxen and eventually by horse drawn sled and wa- gon. The group passed Albany, then crossed the Hudson River and moved along the old New York Post Road, entering Massachusetts near the present Berkshire town of Egremont. Knox and his teamsters labored over the Berkshire hills from Great Barrington to Blandford. When he arrived at Westfield, the townspeople gave a warm reception. Shortly, thereafter, the New York men returned home and Knox proceeded with horses on to Springfield, Brookfield, Worcester, Marlboro and eventually arrived in the Cambridge camp on January 18, 1776. At the outset of the trip, Knox was a civi- lian; but upon return he learned of his commis- sion as a colonel in the artillery. Obviously, Knox’s persistence was valued by Washington, and several years later, when Washington as- cended to the presidency, he appointed Henry Knox as his Secretary of War.

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When news of the Boston Tea Party reached Timothy Bigelow, he was at work in his blacksmith shop near the present site of Wor- cester’s Lincoln Square. Immediately he laid aside his tools, proceeded directly to his house, opened a closet and took from it, a can- nister of tea, went to the fireplace and poured the contents of the some into the flames. As if the feeling that everything which had come into contact with British Legislative tyranny should be purified by the fire, the canister fol- lowed the tea; and then he covered both with coals. So well known and determined were his opinions on the great questions of the day, he returned to his labors without word, explana- tion or apology to no one. Then on that fateful day of April 19, 1775, in the forenoon, an express arrived in Worcester, Shouting, he passed through the street, “To arms! To arms! The War’s begun!” His white horse was bloody from spurring and dripping with sweat, he fell exausted by the church. The bell rang out the alarm, cannon were fired and messengers sent to the various parts of town to assemble the soldiers. As the news spread, the implements of husbandry were thrown by the field, and upon seiging their arms, hurried to the green. In a short while they were parading under the command of Captain Bigelow. After being led in prayer by the Reverend Mr. Macarty, they took up their line of march to the scene of the conflict. When the army was being organized at Cambridge, Timothy Bigelow was appointed Major in Colonel Jonathan Ward’s Regiment. In the autumn of 1775, Major Bigelow volun- teered his services with his men from Worces- ter to participate in the expedition against Quebec. In so doing. Major Bigelow and his nobel band endured severe hardships, and at one point found it necessary to eat their camp dogs. At another extreme, they removed their shoes, boiled and ate them to sustain life. During the attack on Quebec, on the night of December 31, 1775, Major Bigelow was taken prisoner along with those of his unit who were not killed, and remained in captivity until the summer of 1775. After an imprisonment of seven months, he was exchanged and immediately returned to service with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel; the following February he was appointed full Colonel of the Fifteenth Regiment of the Mas- sachusetts line in the Continental Army. His regiment was composed of men from Worces- ter, though there were some from Leicester, Auburn, Paxton, and Holden. His Troops, once drilled, marched with Bigelow to join the northern army to assist in the capture of General Burgoyne. 9