Biographical Summary 1: Margaret Catherine Moore Barry
Margaret Catherine Moore Barry, often called Kate Barry, was born in 1752 near Spartanburg, South Carolina. When the American Revolution reached the South, she used her knowledge of the countryside to help patriot forces. She served as a messenger and scout, riding through the backcountry to warn militias of British troop movements. Before the Battle of Cowpens in January 1781, Barry is said to have left her newborn at home and ridden miles to alert neighbors of the approaching British. Her warning helped General Daniel Morgan gather enough men to defeat Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton’s forces, a key victory that weakened British control in the South. Barry’s work as a messenger and guide made her a respected figure in her community and earned her the title “Heroine of the Battle of Cowpens.”
Biographical Summary 2: Mercy Otis Warren
Mercy Otis Warren was born in 1728 in Massachusetts and became one of the few women to take part in public political debate during the American Revolution. She used her writing to support the patriot cause, creating plays, poems, and pamphlets that criticized British leaders and Loyalists and encouraged colonists to defend their freedoms. Warren regularly exchanged letters with leaders like George Washington, Abigail Adams, and Patrick Henry, offering political ideas and sharing news from Massachusetts. She and her husband hosted gatherings for patriots in their home, boycotted British goods, and supported protests such as the Boston Tea Party. Through her writing and political connections, Warren helped spread revolutionary ideas and inspired others to join the fight for independence, becoming one of the most influential female voices of the era.
Biographical Summary 3: Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams was born in 1744 in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Married to John Adams in 1764, she managed their home and farm in Braintree during his long absences in the Continental Congress and on diplomatic missions. She kept the family financially stable during wartime shortages, spun and wove cloth to avoid British goods, oversaw farm production, and educated their children. Adams followed political events closely, sharing news and strong opinions in frequent letters to her husband. In March 1776, she urged him to “remember the ladies” when forming the new nation’s laws. She also served on an all-female jury questioning women suspected of Loyalist ties. Her correspondence is a valuable firsthand record of the Revolution, showing her as a trusted political advisor. After the war, she later became the second First Lady of the United States.
Biographical Summary 4: Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley was born around 1753 in Gambia and was kidnapped as a child and enslaved in Boston. Purchased by the Wheatley family, she quickly displayed extraordinary intellect and learned English, Latin, and Greek. She began publishing poetry at the age of thirteen. In 1773, she became the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. Wheatley supported the patriot cause. In 1775, she wrote “His Excellency General Washington” to praise the new commander. Washington responded warmly and invited her to visit. Wheatley used her talent to argue for liberty for enslaved people while the colonies sought freedom from Britain. By speaking out in writing when most women, and no enslaved people, had such a public voice, Wheatley became a revolutionary figure in American history.
Biographical Summary 5: Nancy Hart
Nancy Hart was born around 1735 on the Pennsylvania or North Carolina frontier and became one of the most famous female Patriots of the American Revolution. Living in Georgia during the war, she was known for her height, strength, red hair, and fearless spirit, earning the nickname “Wahatche,” meaning “war woman.” While her husband served with the Georgia militia, Nancy protected her home, spied on British troops, and passed valuable information to the Patriots. She often disguised herself to slip into enemy camps and gather intelligence. One of the most famous stories tells how she captured six British soldiers who came to her cabin. She secretly removed their guns, shot one when he refused to obey her orders, and held the rest until help arrived. Through courage, quick thinking, and skill, Nancy Hart defended her community and became a legendary figure in Revolutionary War history.
Biographical Summary 6: Sybil Ludington
Sybil Ludington, often called the female Paul Revere, was only sixteen years old when she made a daring ride to warn of a British attack during the American Revolution. Born on April 5, 1761, in New York, she was the daughter of Colonel Henry Ludington. On the night of April 26, 1777, a messenger arrived at the Ludington home with news that the British were marching on Danbury, Connecticut, where supplies for the Continental Army were stored. With the messenger’s horse exhausted, Sybil volunteered to ride nearly forty miles in the dark and rain, alerting militia members across Putnam County. Her warning helped rally troops who later engaged the British at Ridgefield, forcing them back toward Long Island Sound. Twice the distance of Paul Revere’s ride and without capture, Sybil’s feat was long overlooked until she was honored with a statue, a postage stamp, and the renaming of her hometown in her memory.
Biographical Summary 7: Deborah Sampson
Deborah Sampson became a hero of the American Revolution when she disguised herself as a man and joined the Continental Army, becoming the only woman to receive a full military pension for her service. Born December 17, 1760, in Plympton, Massachusetts, she grew up in poverty and worked as a servant and teacher before enlisting in 1782 under the name Robert Shurtleff. Serving in the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, she carried out dangerous scouting missions and even removed a musket ball from her own thigh to avoid revealing her identity. After 17 months, she was discovered when she fell ill and was honorably discharged in 1783. She later married Benjamin Gannett, raised three children, and toured the country speaking about her service, becoming one of the first American women to publicly lecture in military uniform.
