History notes that in addition to her service in the Revolutionary War, Polly also was listed as a cook during the War of 1812 and was known for her steadfast loyalty to her people. In the first years after the Revolutionary War when many individual Oneidas sold Oneida land to New York State, then took their money to other regions of the United States, seeking prosperity, Polly's family, and her descendants, remained in central New York and clung to the land which had been Oneida since time immemorial. The rich,velvety-brown shawl looks fragile, but its threads are quite sturdy. It looks as if it could float on air. The fabric feels similar to silk, or fine horsehair.
Scientists have yet to identify the substance of the material, however.
The garment has been passed down from generation to generation. It now belongs to a great-great grandniece of Polly Cooper. Most of the year, it is delegated to a bank vault in Syracuse, where it awaits safely for another Oneida generation. Yet, the priceless shawl is brought out occasionally, to bring history alive once again, and serve as a physical reminder that the Oneida People share a reverence, an alliance, and a common bond unlike any other Indian Nation in this country. It's a story worthy of hearing, and a legacy worthy of its own place in history.