The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-09
OF DEBORAH SAMPSON.
How She Served as a Soldier in the Revo
luton.
luton.
Nesos and Courier.

supplied her with suit OF female ap-
parel, but she continued to wesr her
military costume during the following
winter. She received an honorable
discharge on October %, 1783, from
Gen. Knox. Testimonials of faithful
performance Of duty and Of exemplary
conducJ we're given by Gen. Paterson,
Gen. Shepard, Col. Henry jackson
and others. Col. Jackson's certificate
reads:
'sTo all whom it may concern: This
may certify that Robert Shurtlief was
soldier in my regiment in the Cont
mental army, from the town of Tx
bridge: in the Commonwealth Of Mas
sachusetts. and was enlisted for a term
of three years; that he had the conf
dence Of his officers and did his duty
as a faithful and good soldier, and was
honorably discharged from the army
Of the United States
She arrived among her relatives in
Massachusetts, in November, 1888.
She did not Immediately make herself
known, but at length resumed femi-
nine dress and employments. In 1874
she became the wife Of Benjamin
Gannett. She had one son, Capt.
Earl Gannett. and two daughters. She
died at her home in Sharon, April q,
1927, aged g., sustaining to the end
the character of faithful and exem-
plary wife and mother and kind
neighbor and friend.
As a soldier she showed great
activity, courage and valor. On scout
ing parties she would usually ride fol-
ward little nearer the enemy than
any of her comrades dared. She was
very feet, and had the reputation Of
being the fastest runner in the army.
She went through three campaigns
without the discovery Of her sex and
consequently without the loss Of her
virtue. Her delicate appearance and
particularly her having no beard was
often noticed, but her sex was never
suspected.
An Act pas passed allowing her full
pay from the 1st Of January, 1888, for
the rest of her life. In 1882 her hus-
bald was granted the same pension as
widower.
She was in Capt. Webb's company,
in the 4th Massachusetts regiment.
On January 90. 1892, the General
Court of Massachusetts resolved, on
the petition Of Deborah Gannett for
compensation for services performed
in the late army Of the United States:
"Whereas, it appears to this Court
that the said Deborah Gannett enlisted
under the name of Robert Shurtlieff,
in Capt. Webb's company in the 4th
Massachusetts regiment, May 81, 1871,
and did actually perform the duties Of
soldier in the late army Of the Uni
ted States to the 23d day Of October,
1888, for which she received no COM
pensation. And whereas, it further
appears that the said Deborah exhib-
tied an extraordinary instance Of fe-
male heroism by discharging the
duties of faithful and gallant soldier,
and at the same time preserved the
virtue and chastity Of her sex, unsus-
pected and unblemished, and was dis
charged from the service with fair
and honorable character; Therefore
Resolved, That the treasurer Of
this Commonwealth be, and he is
hereby, directed to issue his note to
said Deborah for the sum of 81
pounds, bearing interest from October
%, 1888"
Thirty.four pounds Of Massachu-
setts currency were equivalent to a
little more than $10O.
Deborah Sampson was born on De-
cember IL, 1850. At the age of 5,
her father being absent at sea, or
having perished in shipwreck, she was
separated from her mother on account
Of the pressure Of want. After few
years she was placed in the family of
Deacon Jeremiah Thomas, in Middle
borough. where she remained until
the age Of 10 years. She was very
fond of books, but the use Of them
was sternly frowned upon in this
family.
However, she succeeded in reading,
so that when not quite II she was
made teacher of public school in
marlborough. The books used in
this school were 'The New England
Primer" spellingbook, the Psalter
and the New Testament. A sheet Of
paper was sometimes allowed the boys
to learn penmanship. The chief oc-