Paul Revere and Deborah Sampson
In 1804, Paul Revere wrote a letter to Congress regarding benefits for Deborah Sampson, the best-known female soldier of the American Revolution. The text is fascinating!
William Eustis Esq Canton Feby 20 1804
Member of Congress
Washington
Sir
Mrs Deborah Gannet of Sharon informes me, that she has inclosed to Your Care a petition to Congress in favour of Her. My works for Manufactureing of Copper, being at Canton, but a short distance from the Neighbourhood where she lives: I have been induced to enquire her situation, and Character, since she quitted the Male habit, and Soldiers uniform; for the more decent apparrel of her own Sex; & Since she has been married and become a Mother. -- Humanity, & Justice, obliges me to say, that every person with whom I have conversed about Her, and it is not a few, speak of Her as a woman of handsom talents, good Morals, a dutifull Wife and an affectionate parent. --She is now much out of health; She has several Children; her Husband is a good sort of a Man, ’tho of small force in business; they have a few acres of poor land which they cultivate, but they are really poor. She told me, she had no doubt that her ill health is in consequence of her being exposed when She did a Soldiers duty; and that while in the Army, She was wounded.
We commonly form our Idea of the person whom we hear spoken off, whom we have never seen; according as their actions are described, when I heard her spoken off as a Soldier, I formed the Idea of a tall, Masculine female, who had a small share of understandg, with-out education, & one of the meanest of her Sex. - When I saw and discoursed with I was agreeably supprised to find a small, effeminate, and converseable Woman, whose education entitled her to a better situation in life.
I have no doubt your humanity will prompt you to do all in Your power to get her some relief, I think her case much more deserving than hundreds to whom Congress have been generous.
I am Sir with esteem & respect
Your humble Servant
Paul Revere
This is from http://www.paulreverehouse.org/gift2/details/educational05.html
William Eustis Esq Canton Feby 20 1804
Member of Congress
Washington
Sir
Mrs Deborah Gannet of Sharon informes me, that she has inclosed to Your Care a petition to Congress in favour of Her. My works for Manufactureing of Copper, being at Canton, but a short distance from the Neighbourhood where she lives: I have been induced to enquire her situation, and Character, since she quitted the Male habit, and Soldiers uniform; for the more decent apparrel of her own Sex; & Since she has been married and become a Mother. -- Humanity, & Justice, obliges me to say, that every person with whom I have conversed about Her, and it is not a few, speak of Her as a woman of handsom talents, good Morals, a dutifull Wife and an affectionate parent. --She is now much out of health; She has several Children; her Husband is a good sort of a Man, ’tho of small force in business; they have a few acres of poor land which they cultivate, but they are really poor. She told me, she had no doubt that her ill health is in consequence of her being exposed when She did a Soldiers duty; and that while in the Army, She was wounded.
We commonly form our Idea of the person whom we hear spoken off, whom we have never seen; according as their actions are described, when I heard her spoken off as a Soldier, I formed the Idea of a tall, Masculine female, who had a small share of understandg, with-out education, & one of the meanest of her Sex. - When I saw and discoursed with I was agreeably supprised to find a small, effeminate, and converseable Woman, whose education entitled her to a better situation in life.
I have no doubt your humanity will prompt you to do all in Your power to get her some relief, I think her case much more deserving than hundreds to whom Congress have been generous.
I am Sir with esteem & respect
Your humble Servant
Paul Revere
This is from http://www.paulreverehouse.org/gift2/details/educational05.html