20 Female Patriots of the American Revolution
Reading Time: 17 minutes Female patriots of the American Revolution played vital roles in the fight for independence, even though history often overlooks their contributions. These women stepped far beyond traditional expectations—working as spies, messengers, fundraisers, and even soldiers in disguise. Their determination and bravery helped support the Continental Army and sustain the cause of liberty during times of great uncertainty.
From Deborah Sampson, who dressed as a man to join the army, to Mercy Otis Warren, who used her pen to shape political thought, these patriots helped build the foundation of a new nation. Their stories are not only inspiring but essential to understanding the true scope of sacrifice and service during the Revolutionary War.
Deborah Sampson
Deborah Sampson remains one of the most remarkable figures of the American Revolution. Born in Massachusetts in 1760, she disguised herself as a man and enlisted under the name Robert Shurtliff in 1782. At a time when women were barred from military service, Sampson risked everything to serve in the Continental Army. She joined the 4th Massachusetts Regiment and saw active combat, even sustaining wounds in battle. To avoid discovery, she treated one injury herself, removing a musket ball from her thigh with a penknife and sewing needle.
Her identity was eventually discovered after she fell ill and was treated in a hospital. Rather than face punishment, she was honorably discharged by General Henry Knox in 1783. After the war, she toured as a public speaker and petitioned successfully for a military pension, making her one of the few women to receive one for Revolutionary War service. Sampson’s bravery and determination challenged gender norms and earned her a lasting place in America’s fight for independence.
Molly Pitcher (Mary Ludwig Hays)
Mary Ludwig Hays, better known by the legendary name Molly Pitcher, earned her place in Revolutionary War history through a single act of bravery. During the sweltering Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, she was carrying water to soldiers on the battlefield—hence the nickname “Molly Pitcher.” When her husband, an artilleryman, collapsed from heat exhaustion or injury, Mary stepped in without hesitation. She took his place at the cannon, loading and firing alongside the other men, even as gunfire roared around her.
Her actions inspired those around her and symbolized the vital support women gave on and off the battlefield. Though some details have been blurred by legend, her courage was recognized by the Pennsylvania government, which later awarded her a modest pension. Molly Pitcher became a patriotic icon, representing the strength, resolve, and sacrifice of female patriots during the American Revolution. Her story continues to stand as a testament to everyday heroism in extraordinary times.
Sybil Ludington
At just 16 years old, Sybil Ludington made a daring nighttime ride that rivaled, and in distance surpassed, Paul Revere’s more famous journey. On the night of April 26, 1777, Sybil rode through the dark countryside of Putnam County, New York, to alert American militia forces that British troops were attacking the town of Danbury, Connecticut. She covered over 40 miles—twice the distance Revere rode—through pouring rain and rough terrain, warning scattered colonial forces along the way.
Her courage helped the militia organize a response, though they arrived too late to save the town. Still, her bravery became the stuff of legend in the region. General George Washington is believed to have personally thanked her for her service, though no official record survives. Today, Sybil Ludington is honored with statues and memorials, a lasting tribute to a young woman whose quick action and determination made her one of the Revolution’s most inspiring figures.
Mercy Otis Warren
Mercy Otis Warren was one of the sharpest political minds of the Revolutionary era, using her pen to rally public sentiment against British rule. Born into a prominent Massachusetts family, she began writing political satire and drama that criticized British officials and celebrated colonial resistance. Her plays, including The Adulateur and The Group, portrayed Loyalists as corrupt and mocked their ties to the Crown. At a time when women rarely published political works, Mercy’s writings reached a broad audience and stirred revolutionary fervor.
Beyond satire, she wrote thoughtful essays and, after the war, published a three-volume history titled History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution. It was one of the first comprehensive accounts of the conflict and the first written by a woman. Her work offered both sharp analysis and passionate defense of liberty. Mercy Otis Warren’s intellectual courage and commitment to the Patriot cause made her a powerful voice in shaping public opinion and preserving the ideals of the Revolution.
Esther de Berdt Reed
Esther de Berdt Reed was a driving force behind one of the most effective grassroots efforts to support the Continental Army. Born in England and married to American patriot Joseph Reed, she fully embraced the cause of American independence. In 1780, amid severe shortages of basic supplies for soldiers, she founded the Ladies Association of Philadelphia. This group of women raised over $300,000 in today’s money to buy linen and sew over 2,000 shirts for Washington’s troops, many of whom were fighting in desperate conditions.
Esther believed women had a duty to serve the cause and published an essay titled “The Sentiments of an American Woman,” urging others to join the effort. Her leadership showed that patriotism could take many forms, and her organizational skills gave women a public voice in a time of war. Though she died later that year from illness at just 34, her efforts left a lasting impact. Esther de Berdt Reed’s compassion and resolve helped bring dignity and comfort to those on the front lines and showed the power of civic action in shaping a revolution.
Anna Strong
Anna Strong played a key role in the Culper Ring, a secret network of American spies organized under the direction of George Washington. Operating in Setauket, Long Island, Strong used a clever system of hanging laundry to signal fellow agents. By arranging a black petticoat and handkerchiefs on her clothesline in specific patterns, she discreetly directed spies to hidden messages or safe houses. Her signals helped pass information about British troop movements across enemy lines without drawing suspicion.
Though many details about her actions remain cloaked in secrecy, her contributions were vital to the success of the Culper Ring’s intelligence-gathering efforts. As a woman in occupied territory, she was less likely to be suspected, allowing her to operate with relative freedom. Anna Strong’s quiet bravery and creativity helped turn the tide of war, showing how ordinary actions could serve an extraordinary cause. Her story reflects the essential but often hidden roles women played in securing American independence.
Agent 355
Agent 355 remains one of the most mysterious and compelling figures of the American Revolution. Identified only by her code number in correspondence within the Culper Ring, she was a female patriot whose actual name has been lost to history. What is known is that she operated in British-occupied New York and provided crucial intelligence to the Continental Army. Her information is believed to have helped expose Benedict Arnold’s treason and the activities of British Major John André, leading to André’s capture in 1780.
Some historians believe Agent 355 was a woman of high social standing, which gave her access to British officers and sensitive information. Her ability to pass along intelligence without arousing suspicion was critical to the success of the Culper Ring. It is believed she was eventually captured by the British and may have died aboard one of their prison ships. Though her identity remains unknown, Agent 355 is remembered as a symbol of the silent, brave women who risked everything in service to the Patriot cause.
Nancy Hart
Nancy Hart was a fearless frontierswoman whose actions in Georgia became legendary during the Revolutionary War. Known for her marksmanship and sharp wit, she fiercely supported the Patriot cause. One of the most famous stories tells how Hart captured a group of British soldiers who barged into her home demanding food. While serving them a meal, she quietly armed herself and held them at gunpoint until help arrived. In some versions of the story, when one soldier tried to rush her, she shot him dead and wounded another.
Hart’s boldness earned her deep respect from local Patriots and fear from Loyalists. After the war, residents of her region named Hart County, Georgia, in her honor—making it the only county in the state named after a woman. Archaeological findings later uncovered a cabin site with six buried skeletons, possibly lending truth to the tale of the soldiers she killed. Nancy Hart’s courage on the frontier showed that the Revolution was fought not just on battlefields but also in kitchens, cabins, and every place freedom was challenged.
Lydia Darragh
Lydia Darragh was a Philadelphia Quaker whose quiet courage saved American lives during the Revolution. Though her faith discouraged involvement in war, she took great personal risk to support the Patriot cause. In 1777, British officers occupied her home and used it to hold meetings, assuming the Quaker household posed no threat. Lydia, however, secretly listened through a closet and overheard plans for a surprise attack on General George Washington’s forces near Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania.
Under the pretense of buying flour, she slipped past British lines and delivered the message to American troops. Washington’s army was prepared, and the British attack failed. Darragh returned home without raising suspicion. Her story, though not widely known in her time, became an enduring example of civilian resistance. Lydia Darragh’s act of quiet defiance proves that intelligence and bravery—not just weapons—shaped the outcome of the war for independence.
Ann Bates
Ann Bates was a Loyalist from Philadelphia who became an unlikely but effective double agent during the Revolutionary War. Though initially aligned with the British, she later began working with the Americans, gathering intelligence while disguised as a peddler. Her cover allowed her to move easily among soldiers without drawing attention. With her background as the wife of a British artilleryman, she could recognize military equipment and estimate troop numbers—skills that proved invaluable.
Bates reportedly infiltrated multiple American encampments, including Washington’s army in White Plains, New York. Despite the risks, she continued her dangerous work, providing information that helped the Patriots stay ahead of British strategies. Her transformation from Loyalist to spy underscores the complex loyalties of the Revolution. Ann Bates’s daring efforts remind us that intelligence work often depended on those who could walk unnoticed through the chaos of war.
Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley was an enslaved African American woman whose poetry gave voice to both the promise and contradictions of the American Revolution. Brought from West Africa to Boston as a child, she was purchased by the Wheatley family, who recognized her intelligence and encouraged her education. By the age of 12, she was reading classical literature, and at 20, she became the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry. Her 1773 collection, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, gained international attention and showcased her deep intellect and moral clarity.
Wheatley used her writing to support the ideals of liberty while subtly challenging the hypocrisy of slavery in a nation fighting for freedom. In one poem, she addressed General George Washington, praising the cause of independence; he was so moved that he invited her to meet him in person. Her life and work stood as a potent reminder that the Revolution’s cry for freedom extended beyond white colonists. Through her art, Phillis Wheatley shaped how many viewed the struggle for liberty and laid the early groundwork for future generations of African American writers and activists.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Ross
Elizabeth “Betsy” Ross is widely credited with sewing the first American flag, a powerful symbol that would come to represent a new nation’s fight for freedom. A skilled upholsterer in Philadelphia, she was approached in 1776—according to family tradition—by George Washington and two members of a secret congressional committee. They asked her to produce a flag for the Continental Army. Ross is said to have suggested using five-pointed stars instead of six, as they were easier to cut and sew, a design that was ultimately adopted.
While some historians debate the exact details of her role, there’s no question that Betsy Ross supported the Patriot cause. She ran her business alone after her husband died in a munitions accident and continued to supply flags, uniforms, and other military gear throughout the war. Her legacy as the maker of the first American flag lives on in both history and folklore, representing not just craftsmanship but dedication and pride in a young nation’s identity.
Margaret Corbin
Margaret Corbin showed extraordinary bravery during the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776. Accompanying her husband, John Corbin, who manned a cannon in the fight against the British, Margaret stepped into action when he was killed. She took his place at the cannon and continued firing until she was severely wounded by grapeshot. Her injuries left her permanently disabled, but her courage made a lasting impression on both her fellow soldiers and military leaders.
Because of her service and sacrifice, Margaret became the first woman in American history to receive a military pension. The Continental Congress awarded her half the monthly pay of a male soldier and later provided additional support for her care. She spent her remaining years in hardship, but never faded from memory. Today, Margaret Corbin stands as a symbol of women’s valor in combat and the sacrifices made by those who stepped beyond the expected roles of their time.
Patience Wright
Patience Wright was a gifted sculptor known for her wax figures, but she also played a quiet role in the American Revolution as a spy. Born in New Jersey and later working in London, she gained fame for her lifelike wax portraits of British nobility. Her popularity gave her access to influential circles, which she used to gather intelligence for the Patriot cause. Wright reportedly concealed messages inside her wax figures and shipments, passing along British military information to contacts back in America.
Though eccentric and outspoken—traits that often shocked British society—Wright remained deeply committed to American independence. She openly criticized British policies and maintained correspondence with prominent revolutionaries, including Benjamin Franklin. While she never returned to the United States, her efforts abroad made her one of the few women involved in international intelligence during the war. Patience Wright’s unusual combination of art and espionage made her both admired and underestimated, a true revolutionary in more ways than one.
Martha Washington
Martha Washington played a vital, if often overlooked, role in the Revolutionary War by providing care, comfort, and critical supplies to the Continental Army. As the wife of General George Washington, she spent each winter at his side in military encampments, including the famously harsh winter at Valley Forge in 1777–1778. There, she organized other officers’ wives to sew clothing, knit socks, and prepare meals for the soldiers. Her presence not only boosted morale but also helped maintain a sense of home and dignity amid war’s hardships.
Beyond her physical support, Martha helped organize fundraising efforts to provide desperately needed supplies. She used her influence and leadership to gather goods and donations, working alongside women like Esther de Berdt Reed. While she never sought public recognition, her actions showed deep loyalty to the cause of independence. Martha Washington’s steady presence and tireless support earned her the respect of both soldiers and civilians, making her a true patriot in her own right.
Jane McCrea
Jane McCrea was a young woman whose tragic death in 1777 became a powerful symbol for the Patriot cause. She was engaged to a Loyalist officer serving with British General John Burgoyne’s advancing army. While traveling to join her fiancé near Fort Edward, New York, she was captured by Native American allies of the British. Accounts differ on whether she was killed deliberately or died during a struggle, but her body was later found with multiple wounds, and her scalp had been taken.
The incident caused outrage among American colonists and was widely publicized by Patriot leaders. Her death was used to highlight the dangers of British alliances with Native forces and to stir anti-British sentiment. As a result, recruitment for the Patriot militias increased, and her name became a rallying cry for resistance. Though she never fought in the war, Jane McCrea’s story helped shape public opinion and reminded many of what was at stake in the fight for independence.
Mary Draper
Mary Draper was a Massachusetts widow who turned her home into a hub of support for the Continental Army. As the war disrupted daily life and supplies grew scarce, she used her household resources to aid soldiers passing through her area. Draper melted down her family’s pewter dishes to make bullets and gave away food, clothing, and blankets to men in need. Her actions were motivated by deep patriotism and a belief that every citizen had a role to play in the struggle for liberty.
Beyond material support, Draper welcomed soldiers into her home, offering warm meals and comfort during harsh winter months. Though she never carried a weapon, her efforts on the home front were as critical as those on the battlefield. She rallied her neighbors to do the same, setting an example of quiet leadership and selfless service. Mary Draper’s dedication reflected the broader contributions of women who, while far from the front lines, helped keep the revolutionary cause alive.
Catharine Littlefield Greene
Catharine Littlefield Greene was a strong and resourceful woman who played an essential but often overlooked role during the American Revolution. As the wife of General Nathanael Greene, one of George Washington’s most trusted commanders, she supported the war effort not only by managing her family’s affairs during his long absences but also by serving as a steady presence in military camps. She often visited her husband’s encampments, boosting morale and offering comfort to weary soldiers with food, supplies, and care. Her intelligence and spirit made her a trusted confidante among military leaders.
After the war, Catharine remained active in efforts to rebuild the country. She is also linked to the development of the cotton gin, having supported and encouraged inventor Eli Whitney, who lived at her plantation while working on his design. Though she did not serve in combat, her behind-the-scenes influence helped shape both the war’s outcome and the country’s postwar innovation. Catharine Littlefield Greene’s legacy reflects how women contributed to the Revolution not just through support but through leadership, ingenuity, and vision.
Sally St. Clair
Sally St. Clair is remembered in legend as a woman who disguised herself as a man to fight for the Patriot cause during the American Revolution. Believed to have joined a South Carolina regiment, she reportedly kept her identity hidden from her fellow soldiers as she fought alongside them in defense of liberty. According to local accounts, she was deeply in love with a soldier and chose to enlist so she could remain close to him on the battlefield.
Her true identity was only discovered after she was killed in action during a skirmish near Savannah. When her body was prepared for burial, it was revealed she had been a woman all along. Though details of her life remain scarce and debated by historians, Sally St. Clair’s story endures as a symbol of devotion and courage. She represents the many unnamed women who took extraordinary risks to serve their country during a time when their contributions were often hidden or forgotten.
Prudence Cummings Wright
Prudence Cummings Wright was a bold and determined Patriot who took action when her community was threatened. In 1775, after learning of a plot involving Loyalist spies passing through Massachusetts with critical information, she organized a group of local women to intercept them. Dressed in their husbands’ clothing and armed with whatever weapons they could find, the women—later called the “Minutewomen of Pepperell”—set up a successful ambush at Jewett’s Bridge. They captured the couriers and seized their secret documents, which were passed on to American officials.
What makes Wright’s story remarkable is that her militia was made entirely of women at a time when formal military action was left to men. Despite this, they acted swiftly and effectively, protecting their town and contributing directly to the intelligence efforts of the revolution. The local government later reimbursed Prudence for her leadership and bravery. Her story stands as a powerful reminder that the will to defend liberty often came from unexpected places—including the hands of determined women.
Honoring the Legacy of Female Patriots
The stories of these 20 female patriots reveal a side of the American Revolution often left out of traditional narratives. These women took on roles as soldiers, spies, nurses, writers, fundraisers, and leaders—many of them stepping far beyond the expectations of their time. Their courage, resourcefulness, and dedication helped shape the course of the war and the founding ideals of the United States. Whether on the battlefield or behind the scenes, female patriots made real and lasting contributions to the cause of independence.
Remembering these women helps us see the Revolution not just as a war of generals and declarations, but as a collective struggle involving people from all walks of life. Their actions remind us that patriotism is not defined by gender but by courage and commitment to a greater purpose. Today, the legacy of female patriots continues to inspire new generations to challenge limits, serve others, and help shape a better future—just as they did more than two centuries ago.
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