The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1896-04-17


About twelve miles from Boston. on
the road 10 Concord stands a fine old
house. surrounded BY beautifully kept
farm. says the New York Mail and Tx.
I press. Just at the back Of this old
I time mansion ~ magnificent pin,
grove. from which the place takes II.
name. "pino-Gr0ve farm" Here live
the descendants Of an American Jeanne
I dare, Deborah sampson by name
whose history taken from the gene
alogy OF the Sampson family. II unique
and thrilling
This revolutionary maid. left to tho
care Of strangers ut tender age. with
a mind far ahead Of her time and class
until she was 20 ala the farm drudgery
required Of bound cir" feeding the
pigs and chickens and milking the
cows. She had a passion for reading,
but little opportunity to indulge Il. She
gained enough knowledge. however. 10
teach public school In Middlcboro.
where the curriculum was comprised
In The New England Primer" q spell
ing-book. the psalter and a new tesla
ment.
Tho repeated lnvasions Of popular
rights on the part OF Klng George and
hll ministers made a strong impression
ON Deborah SIMPSONS mind. She
drank deep Of the fountain Of patriotic
Inspiration that fell from the lips OF
the fiery Otis. the devoted Warren and
the dauntless Adams. Her blood leapcd
M she heard the news Of the Boston
tea party. Then came Lexington and
Bunker lllll and ono fine summer
morning the scholars IN the little Mid
dleboro schoolhouso found their teacher
gone. She had spun herself a suit OF
mems clothes. taken tho name Of Full
Ter aud ran away TO the wars.
The girl vas mustered Into the ser
vice nj Worcester and In company with
a large number Of recruits marched TO
Join the army at West Point. There
she was placed In Capt. webb's com.
pnny Of light Infantry. In Col. shop.
herds regiment and Gen. Pattcraons
brigade. iicrc her civilian suit was
exchanged for tho continental uniform.
In her first experience on the field
the attack Of the enemy was unexIect-
ed and furious. and man ut her side
was shot dead. However. she suffered
less from fear than from fatigue. thirst
ana the heat OF the day. She served In
the French army under Count Rocham-
beau all told by her In vivid terms
ana participated In the march III tho
whole allied army under Washington
TO protect New York. resulting IN the
Siege OF Yorktown. These exposures
brought ON severe cold. together with
exhaustion and blistercd hands, Her
delicate appearance and having no
beard was often noticed. ana she was
called the "smock-facod boy" but her
sex was never suspected. She went
through three campaigns. sharing In
all the hardships and was twice
wounded.
AZ last being oyertaken with a ma.
lignant fever. and being brought TO the
verge OF death, the attending physician
discovered that the brave laddic" was
woman. hue he sacrcdly guarded the
secret, save 10 Aht mdtIon, VINO hau ntf
removed TO her own apartments and
nursed with the greatest care.
on her departure for camp aftcr this
Illness. for the purpose Of being dis.
charged. the doctor wrote q letter TO
Gen. Patterson. disclosing the secret.
The general. who had had the young
woman rs ald-de-camp on his stan, was
greatly aatonishcd. but treated her with
utmost kindness, giving her an honor
able discharge, Miss Sampson was
granted a pension. on returning home
she did not Immediately make herself
known among her relatives. but at
length resumed female apparel and em-
pigments In few months she was
married and became the wife OF BEN
jamln Gannoit OF sharon and lived 10
rear family OF three children.
Al the age Of 60 she died at her home
In Sharon. whore she had sustained tho
character OF an exemplary wife and
mother as well as gallant and deyot-
cd patriot.