Article regarding Mary Draper, Revolutionary war wife and mother

[sandanbob]

This was a free download, in PDF format- it's an excerpt from "The Women of the American Revolution, Vol. 1", by Elizabeth F. Ellet.  It gives an idea of what the women folk were doing.

Mary Draper
by Elizabeth F. Ellet

Elizabeth F. Ellet (1818 - 1877) was an American
writer and poet. This article is from her 1848 book
The Women of the American Revolution, Volume I.
Spelling and punctuation updates are included in
this WOWIO version.

When the news reached Connecticut that blood had been
shed, Putnam, who was at work in the field, left his plough
in the furrow, and started for Cambridge without delaying
to change his apparel. Stark was sawing pine logs without
a coat; he shut down the gate of his mill, and commenced
the journey to Boston in his shirtsleeves. The same spirit
prevailed far and near. The volunteers waited not to be
supplied with arms, but seizing on whatever rude weapons
were at hand, hastened away to fight for home and liberty.
The women, lacking not their share of patriotic zeal, were
active in preparations to encourage, assist, and sustain them.
Among many whose persevering exertions were ready and
efficient, Mrs. Draper is still remembered with admiration by
those who knew her.  She was the wife of Captain Draper,
of Dedham, Massachusetts, and lived on a farm. Her house,
which was always a home for the destitute while occupied by
her, is yet standing, and is owned by one of her descendants.
It was her abode to the age of one hundred years.

Mrs. Draper felt the deepest sympathy for the hardships
inevitably encountered by the newly raised troops, and
considered the limited means she possessed not as her own
property, but belonging to her distressed country. When
the first call to arms sounded throughout the land, she
exhorted her husband to lose no time in hastening to the
scene of action; and with her own hands bound knapsack
and blanket on the shoulders of her only son, a stripling of
sixteen, bidding him depart and do his duty. To the entreaties
of her daughter that her young brother might remain at
home to be their protector, she answered that every arm
able to aid the cause belonged to the country. "He is wanted
and must go. You and I, Kate, have also service to do. Food
must be prepared for the hungry; for before tomorrow night,
hundreds, I hope thousands, will be on their way to join
the continental forces. Some who have traveled far will need
refreshment, and you and I, with Molly, must feed as many as
we can."

This undertaking, though of no small labor, was presently
commenced. Captain Draper was a thriving farmer; his
granaries were well filled, and his wife's dairy was her special
care and pride. All the resources at her command were in
requisition to contribute to her benevolent purpose. Assisted
by her daughter and the domestic, she spent the whole day
and night, and the succeeding day, in baking brown bread.
The ovens of that day were not the small ones now in use,
but were suited for such an occasion, each holding bread
sufficient to supply a neighborhood. By good fortune two of
these monster ovens appertained to the establishment, as is
frequently the case in New England. These were soon in full
blast, and the kneading trough was plied by hands that shrank
not from the task. At that time of hurry and confusion, none
could stop long enough to dine. he people were under the
influence of strong excitement, and all were in such haste to
join the army, that they stayed only to relieve the cravings of
hunger, though from want of food, and fatigue, many were
almost exhausted. With the help of a disabled veteran of the
French war, who had for years resided in her family, Mrs.
Draper had soon her stores in readiness. A long form was
erected by the roadside; large pans of bread and cheese were
placed upon it, and replenished as often as was necessary;
while old John brought cider in pails from the cellar, which,
poured into tubs, was served out by two lads who volunteered
their services. Thus were the weary patriots refreshed on their
way. Mrs. Draper presided at the entertainment; and when
her own stock of provisions began to fail, applied to her
neighbors for aid. By their contributions her hospitable board
was supplied, till in a few days the necessity for extraordinary
exertion had in a measure passed, and order and discipline
took the place of popular tumult. When each soldier carried
his rations, the calls on private benevolence were less frequent
and imperative.

But ere long came the startling intelligence, after the
battle of Bunker Hill, that a scarcity of ammunition had been
experienced. General Washington called upon the inhabitants
to send to headquarters every ounce of lead or pewter at their
disposal, saying that any quantity, however small, would be
gratefully received.

This appeal could not be disregarded. It is difficult at this
day to estimate the value of pewter as an ornamental as well
as indispensable convenience. The more precious metals had
not then found their way to the tables of New Englanders;
and throughout the country, services of pewter, scoured to the
brightness of silver, covered the board, even in the mansions
of the wealthy. Few withheld their portion in that hour of
the country's need; and noble were the sacrifices made in
presenting their willing offerings. Mrs. Draper was rich in a
large stock of pewter, which she valued as the ornament of her
house. Much of it was precious to her as the gift of a departed
mother. But the call reached her heart, and she delayed not
obedience, thankful that she was able to contribute so largely
to the requirements of her suffering country. Her husband
before joining the army had purchased a mould for casting
bullets, to supply himself and son with this article of warfare.
Mrs. Draper was not satisfied with merely giving the material
required, when she could possibly do more; and her platters,
pans, and dishes were soon in process of transformation
into balls.

The approach of winter brought fears that the resources
of the country would hardly yield supplies for the pressing
wants of the army. Mrs. Draper was one of the most active
in efforts to meet the exigencies of the times; and hesitated
at no sacrifice of personal convenience to increase her
contributions. The supply of domestic cloth designed for her
family was in a short time converted by her labor, assisted by
that of her daughter and maid, into coats for the soldiers: the
sheets and blankets with which her presses were stored, were
fashioned into shirts; and even the flannel already made up
for herself and daughter, was altered into men's habiliments.
Such was the aid rendered by women whose deeds of
disinterested generosity were never known beyond their own
immediate neighborhood!

Another anecdote may here be mentioned, illustrative of
the spirit that was abroad. On the morning after the battle of
Lexington, a company of nearly a hundred halted before the
house of Colonel Pond of West Dedham.  They had marched
all night, and were covered with dust, and faint from fatigue
and want of food. heir haste was urgent, and the mistress of
the house whose hospitality they claimed, was unprepared for
the entertainment of so large a party. Her husband was absent
with the army, and she had only one female assistant and a
hired man. But the willing heart can do wonders. In a few
minutes she had a large brass kettle holding ten pails full, over
the fire, filled with water and Indian meal for hasty pudding.
In the barnyard were ten cows ready to contribute their share
to the morning meal. Near the farmhouse was a store well
supplied with brown earthen dishes, and pewter spoons tied
in dozens for sale. he military guests volunteered their aid.
Some milked the cows, others stirred the pudding; while the
two domestics collected all the milk in the neighborhood.
Thus, in the short space of an hour, by the energetic efforts of
one kindhearted woman, a hundred weary, hungry soldiers
were provided with refreshment.  They ate, and marched on
to the place of their destination; receiving encouragement,
it cannot be doubted, from this simple manifestation of
goodwill, which was not soon forgotten.   

[Fred]

     Stories like this make you pine for an earlier America!

     Believe most of those people knew the difference between an American and a rock squirrel, and rightly considered themselves the former - and no doubt or hesitation about it.

     And bet not a one of them knew how to line-dance...

     Great story! Thanks for posting it for all to read.

     There's more than a little whiff of Appleseed in it...

[George T]

Just in from looking for deer sign in anticipation of next week's Ohio gun season. 
Thought a little campfire out by the woods with a cup of hot coffee would be nice...got to thinking about what it might have been like for the RW soldier after a forced march, or just on post with the bare amenities. 

I don't think we can appreciate their hardships.  Living outdoors, hopefully with a fire and maybe a little food.  Winters had to be brutal at times.  Clothing and shelter was never adequate. 

Then there is combat...Keeping those muzzle loaders, powder, flint, ball ready to fire would have required strict attention to detail while trying to stay alive.  Then shooting to rifleman standards...and beyond!

Might be an interesting challenge for todays "riflemen" to spend a day hiking 10 miles or so with pack, weapon, ammo, sleeping gear, food, water, camp out with just the basics...
and THEN shoot a 210 or above on the AQT the next day. 

One other thing...do it in January in Ohio (or Kentucky, or...)

[Nickle]

Our deer season ended yesterday. Blueskys and I were on the way back home from where we had been hunting, almost late afternoon, and were driving near a local site, so I figured we'd bag the rest of the day, and travel to check the site out.

Mount Independence, a Revolutionary War site, across Lake Champlain from Ft Ticonderoga.

We walked around, and I can say that I wouldn't have wanted to have spent a winter there. Seems the only thing between Mt Indepence and the North Pole is "a three strand barbed wire fence with 2 strands down". That is to say, there isn't much to stop the North Wind, and it had to be some cold in the 1776/1777 winter.