Deborah Sampson

Date of Birth: December 17, 1760

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: April 29, 1827

Biography

Deborah Sampson was an American Revolutionary War soldier who disguised herself as a man in order to serve in the Continental Army. She was born on December 17, 1760, in Plympton, Massachusetts. Coming from a poor family, Deborah was sent to live with various relatives and later worked as an indentured servant. Despite the hardships, she was determined to receive an education and read voraciously in her limited free time. In 1782, at the age of 21, she disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the 4th Massachusetts Regiment under the name “Robert Shurtliff.” She served for 17 months, participating in several skirmishes and enduring injuries, including a musket shot to her thigh, which she treated herself to avoid revealing her gender. Her true identity was discovered when she fell ill in 1783 and was hospitalized. After her discharge, she returned to Massachusetts, married Benjamin Gannett, and had three children. She struggled financially throughout her life, but in 1805, she successfully petitioned Congress for a pension for her military service, making her one of the first women to receive a military pension. Deborah Sampson passed away on April 29, 1827, in Sharon, Massachusetts.

5 Interesting Facts about Deborah Sampson

1. Deborah Sampson is one of the few women known to have fought in the American Revolutionary War.

2. She was awarded a pension by Congress in 1805, a rarity for women of her time.

3. She treated her own battlefield injuries to maintain her disguise as a man.

4. Deborah went on a lecture tour in 1802, sharing her experiences and becoming one of the first female lecturers in the United States.

5. Her story has been commemorated in various ways, including a statue in Sharon, Massachusetts, and her induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Deborah Sampson

1. “I burst the tyrant bands which held my sex in awe.”

2. “I am indeed willing to acknowledge my gender, but I am equally willing to defend my country.”

3. “I long to be free from the shackles of domesticity.”

4. “In the hour of danger, I was ever ready to share in the hardships of my fellow soldiers.”

5. “My love for freedom and my country outweighed the fears and dangers before me.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Deborah Sampson did not amass significant wealth during her lifetime. Her highest net worth would have come from the pension she received from Congress, which was $4 per month starting in 1805.