Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley

If heard as Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley or the name might sound rare, probably "Molly Pitcher" sounds more familiar.

"Molly Pitcher" was a name given to the woman known for delivering water to the troops of the Patriots during the Battle of Monmouth. They did this during a time the Continental Army and the colonists were facing tough times. The Continental Army needed the most support they could get from the civilians, including the wives or partners of members of the troops. That is why at the time many women freed their sons and husbands for military service by running farms and shops. They also made blankets, socks, and clothes for soldiers. Mary Hays was one of these women, key to aid and help keep going the Continental Army.

Mary Hays was born in 1754, in New Jersey. Her father was a dairy farmer at that same colony. When she turned just 13, she became a servant and that same year she married a barber of the name William Hays. When the Revolutionary War began, William enlisted and became a gunner for the Pennsylvania Artillery. On 1777-1778 she eventually joined her husband as a camp follower on the Philadelphia Campaign in New Jersey, eventually wintering with the Army at Valley Forge. It was later on, during the battle of Monmouth in which she became known with the name "Molly Pitcher" as we described before, because she brought water to the troops. During this war, she operated canons in place of her husband when he, for some reason couldnt. An enemy cannon almost kills her but it passed directly through her legs. There was only one witness in this event.

When the war ended, William and Mary returned to Pennsylvania. Mary worked as a "charwoman" for the State House at Carlisle. When William died, Mary married another Revolutionary War vet named John McCauley. She was awarded a pension in 1822 by Pennsylvania State Legislature. On 1876 on the anniversary of the war, a marker was placed on her grave noting her exemplary service. She died on January 22, 1832.

Please scroll farther down to read about Margaret Corbin.
Just for fun here is a video about Molly Pitcher´s life:

Margaret Corbin
 

There was another women who is acknowledged by the name "Molly Pitcher". Her name was Margaret Corbin. She was born in 1751. She was married with a member of the colonists troops. When her husband got killed on Fort Washington on Manhattan Island, New York on 1776; during the war, she took up a cannon. She gave all she had to contribute to win the war. She got seriously wounded when her arm was almost severed and her breast was lacerated by grapeshot. She lived until about 1800 after receiving charity payments from the Invalid Regiment and later became the first woman to receive a small pension from Congress for military service. She was known throughtout her community as a bad-tempered, hard-drinking eccentric by the nickname of "Captain Molly!"