The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-05-08
Death of Revolutionary Heroine.

The Uonesdale Democrat, published in Wayne
county, Pa, records the death of Mrs. Sarah Ben
jamin, in Mount Pleasant township, on the 10th
instant at the still greater longevity of one hun
dred and fourteen years, FIVE months and three
days. 1t says:
Her maiden name was Sarah Matthews and she
was born in Goshen. Orange county, New York. ON
the 18th of November, Il 43. She was thrice mar
ried. Her hrst husband was Mr.. William Read -
He served in the Revolutionary army in the early
part Of the stuggle and died of wound received I'm
Virginia. Her second husband was Mr. Aaron Os-
burne, of Goshen, New York. He also was in the
army of the Revolution, but survived the war
Her last husband was Mr. john BENJAMIN. with
whom she settled in Mount Pleasant in 1872 He
died four years afterwards. She had five children
the youngest of whom is seventy years old She
has left four generations of descendants From
her youth, until past forty years of age, she was
in the 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 deep.
ly in all these vicissitudes.
Up to the latest period of her life she distinctly
recollected the family of MIR. Broadhead, whose
sons, iu 1855, boldly resisted a party of 200 In.
dams, making fort of their house. She WAS in the
vicinity of hinisink when Brant, the Indian chief
led party of Indians and Tories through that
settlement, scaping the inhabitants and burning
the houses. After the second marriage she accom-
panied her husband III the army. During marches
she made herself useful IN preparing food, and,
when i'll quarters engaged in sewing for the off
cors and men. She was, however, ready for apy
service which circumstances seemed to require -
When the army was engaged in embarking some
heavy ordnance at kiDgsbridge, on the Hudson, ,os-
tensibiy 10 attack New York. then in the hands OF
the enemy necessary to do it in the nigh taud
to place senries around lest they should be obsery-
cd or taken by surprise. Her husband having beeu
place sentinel, she took his station, with over
coat and guu, that he might help to load the
heavy
examine the outposts, and detecting something
unusual in her appearance, asked, "whO placed
you herep She promptly replied in her charac-
teristic way, Them who had right to, sir" He
apparently pleased with her independent and
patriotic spirit, passed on. She accompanied the
army, with her husband, TO the South, aud was
present at the seizure of Yorktown and the sur
render of Corvallis During the battle she was
busy in carrying water to the thirsty and relieving
the wants of the suffering. When passing where
the bullets of the enemy were flying she met
Washington, who said Young woman, are you
not afraid OF the bulets?" She instantly answer
cd, ''The bullets will never cheat the gallows"
She possessed extraordinary energy, even in her
extreme age, and would relate the events of her
early days with all the Vivacity of youth. Up al
most to the period of her death she exercised her
self in carding and spinning. The fineness and
uniformity of her yarn was wonder and an Rdmi-
ration. She visited her friends on foot, making
long walks, and when she used a carriage, disdsin-
ed 10 be helped to enter it. Two or three years
ago she remarked that she had never been sick
but once. She then sent for physician, who left
her some medicines After he had gone, she, not
liking the smell of it, threw the dirty stuff in the
Are, and then had to pay fer it," The simplicity
Of her life was peculiar. For some years past she
has been regarded a sort of curiosity account
of her great age and vivid recollection of events
long past Many visitors called upon her, and
were always received with cheerfulness, and went
away surprised and delighted with her flow OF ge-
nial hUU,or combined with rare physical activity.
She was indeed link connecting tEa present age
with ages past and gone For long period sho
was ready and cheortulIy waiting 70 depart, ard
her end was calm and peaceful.