Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-05-15
DEArH ORA. REvobvrroSAnv HEROINE

DEATH OF A REvObUTIONARy HEROINE.
Wehave read the following from Yhe Homes
dale Democrat, published in Wayne County,
Pennsylvania, with the most livey interest and
we give it to our readers entire: .n.
In February last we chronicled the death
of My. Michael Grennell Of Clinton Township
at tho advanced age Of one hundred aud six
years. To-day we have to record the decease
Of Mrs. Sarah Benjamin, in Mount Pleasant
Township, on the goth instant, at the still
greater longevity of one hundred and fourteen
years, Ave months, and three days.
Her maiden nsme, was Sarah Mathews, and
she was born in Goshen, Orange, County, N.
Y, on the 18th Of November TAB She was
thrice married. Her first husband was Mr.
William Reed. He served in the Revolution
ary struggle, and died of q wound received in
Virginia. lfer second husband was Mr.
Aaron Osburne Of Goshen, N. Y. He also
was in the army Of the Revolution, but sur
vived the war. Her last husband was Mr.
John BENJAMIN with whom she settled in
Mount Pleasat in 1912. He died four-year
afterward. She had five children, the
youngest Of whom is 70 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 apd stirring
scenes of border warfare or OF the Kevolu
tonary struggle. Her temperament was
such that she could not be an idle spectator
of events. She entered deeply in all these
vicisstudes. Up to the latest period OF her
life she distinctly recolected the family OF Mr..
.Broadhead whose sons, in 1855, boldly resis-
ted a party of two hundred Indians making
fort of their house. She was in the vicinity
OF Minisik when Brant an Indian chet led
party of indians and Tories through that set
Element, scalping the inhabitants and burning
the houses. After the second marriage, she
ACCOMPANYING her husband in the army. Du-
ring marches she made herself useful in pre-.
pairing food, and when in quarters engaged
In sewing for the officers and men. She was
however ready for any service when circum-
stances seemed 10 require. w hen the army
was engaged in embarking some heavy oro-
nance at kiogsbridge on the Hudson, osten-
sibly to attack New Y ork, thea in the hands
of the enemy it was necessary to DO 1t IN the
night, and to place sentries around, lest they
should be observed 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 came round to examine the
outposts. and detecting something unusual
in her appearance, asked "Who placed you
here?o She promptly replied, in her charsc,
teristic way, Them who had right to Sir"
He, apparently pleased with her independent
and patriotic spirit passed. She accompan-
led the army With her husband to the South,
and was present at the siege oil forhtowp
and the surrender Of CORVALLIS. nnring the
battle she was busy IN carrying water 10 the
thirsty and relieving the wants oil the suler-
lug. When passing where the bullets oil the
enemy were flying, she met Washington VINO
SAID Young woman are you mot AFRAID OF
the bullets" She pleasantly answered, !
The bullets will never cheat the gaIloWs.' s.
She possessed extraordinary energy. even IN
her extreme age and would relate the events
of her early days with all the ylYacity ol
youth Up almost to the period ,oi her death
she exercised herself in cartlng Gnd spinning.
The fiueness and uniformity OF her yarn was
n wonder and edriiration. She visited her
friends on foot, making long walks, and when
she used q carriage disdaned to be helped 10
enter it. Two or three years ago she remark
ed that she had never been sick but once
She tEer sent for physician, who leit her
some medicines After he had gone she
not liking the smell Of it, "threw the dirty
stuff iuto the fire and then had to pay Tor It.
The simplicity of her life was peculiar. For
some time past she has been regarded as
sort Of curiosity on account OF her great age
and vivid recollection of events long past
Many visitors called upon her, and were ai-
ways received with cheelfulness, and went
away surprised and delighted with her flow of
genial humor combined with rare physical ac-
tivity. She was indeed link connecting the
present with ages past and gone. For
period she was ready and cheertully waiting
10 depart, and her end was calm and peaceful.