The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-06-08
A HEROINE
Of''the days that tried mems SOULS" and
WOmenss tool

w0menss tool
Mrs. Sarah Benjamin, of Mount Pleas
ant Township, Wayne Co, Penn, died
on the Goth ult., at the extraordinary ago
of ono hundred and fourteen years, five
months and three days. The Honesdale
Democrat, in announcing tho obituary,
gives brief but most interesting particulars
of incidents iu her history. The class of
women of which she was type and rel
ic have nearly all passed away, and it may
be pertinently asked, "when shall we look
upon their like againf"
Her maiden name was Sarah Matthews,
and she was born in Goshen, Orange coun-
ty. N. Y, on the 18th Of November, H.
43. She was thrice married. Her first
husband was Mr.. William Roed. He s,r-
we'd in the Revolutionary army in the early
part of the struggle, and died of wound
received in Virginia. Her second husband
was Mr.. Aaron Osborne, Of Goshen, N. Y.
He also was in tho army ofthe Revolution
but survived tho war. Her last husband
was M. John BENJAMIN, with whom she
settled in Mount Pleasant in 1912. He
died four years afterward. She had five
children. the youngest of whom is seven
ty years old. Sho has left four generation
Of descendants. From her youth until
past forty years Of age, she was in tho
midst of the rough and stirring scenes of
border warfare or Of the Revolutionary
struggle. Her temperament was such that
she could not be an idle spectator OF events.
She entered very deeply all these vicissi-
tudes. Up to the latest period Of her life
shc distinctly recolected the family Of MIR.
Brodhead, whose sons, in 1775, boldly
resisted part of two hundred Indians,
making fort Of their house. She was in
the vicinity of Minisink when Brant, the
Indian Chief led party Of Indians and
Tories through that settlement, scalp ng
the inhabitants and burning the houses
Aftcr the second marriage she accompanied
her husband in the army. During march
es she made herself useful in preparing
food, and when in quarters, engaged in
sewing for the officers and men. She was,
however, ready for any service which cir
cumstancos seemed to require. When the
arhy was engaged in cmbarking somo
heavy ordinance at Kings Bridge, on the
Hudson ostensibly to attack New York,
then in the hands Of the enemy, it was
necessary to do it in tho night, and to place
sentres, around, lest they should be obscr-
we'd or taken by surprise. Her husband
having been placed as sentinel, she took
his station with overcoat and gun, that
he might help to load the heavy artillery.
Soon Washington camo around to examine
the ou,posts, and detecting something un-
in her appearance, asked, "Who placed you
hereg She promptly replied, iu her char
acteristic way, "Them who had right TO-,
SIR" He, apparently pleased with her in
dependent and patriotic spirit, passed on
She accompanied the army, with her hus
band, to the South, and was present at the
siege of Yorktown and the surrender OF
CORVALLIS During the battle she was
busy in carrying water to the thirsty aud
relieving the wants of the suffering. When
passing whore tho bullets Of the enemy
wcrc fying, she met Washington, who said
Young woman, are you not afraid OF the
balletsl T. Sho pleasantly answered, "The
bullets will never CHI at the gallows."-
ONO DOSScSScu CAtfuOiuiuaiy euOiSys O'Ou
in her extreme age, and would relate the
events of her early days with all the vivaci.
ty of youth. Up almost to the period Of
her death she exercised herself in carding
and spinning. The fineness and uniformity
of her yarn was wonder and an admira-
ton. She visited her friends no foot, max
ing long walks, and when she used car
riage, disdained to be helped TO cntcr it.
Two or three years ago she remarked that
she had never been sick but once. She
then sent for physician, who lft her
some medicines. After he had gone, she
not liking the smell Of it, "threw tho dirty
stuff into the fire, and then had to pay for
it." The simplicity Of her life was pecu-
liar. For some years past shc has been
regarded as n sort Of curiosity on account
of her great nge and vivid recollcclions Of
events long past. Many visitors called up
on her, and wero always received with
cheerfulness, and went away delighted
with her flow Of gouial humor combined
with rare physical activity. She was, in-
deed, link connecting the prescn' ago
with ages past and gone. For long .Pe-
IL