Women's History Month 2022 - Anna Maria Lane

[Mrs. Smith]

Good morning and welcome back to Project Appleseed's Women's History Month series on Revolutionary War Heroines! This week we are taking a closer look at the first female Virginian Revolutionary Soldier: Anna Maria Lane.



Anna Maria Lane and her husband John Lane joined the Continental Army in 1776. She fought bravely alongside her husband in many battles across the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Anna hid herself in men's clothing to blend in with the other men, as women were not permitted to join the war.

In 1777, Anna fought in the battle at Germantown, Pennsylvania. Her heroic actions in this important battle were later recognized as "extraordinary," despite suffering a severe leg injury. Even after becoming permanently disabled, Anna continued to do her part in the war as a nurse at a military hospital.



There's a lot that we don't know about Anna Maria Lane's life. She and her husband had 3 children that followed them from battle to battle with the women and other families, but most of Anna's life was rather secretive due to the nature of her lifestyle as an underground soldier. After the war, Anna and her husband struggled to put food on the table for their children, despite John's pension as a veteran. In a moment of desperation, Anna wrote to the governor to request a pension for herself as well, as many nurses, cooks, and launderers had received pensions.

Not only did Anna receive a pension from the Virginia Legislature, but she received a commendation for her heroic actions on the battlefield in Georgetown. This commendation was life altering for Anna's family. Not only did it memorialize her actions, but the Virginian government granted her a pension larger than any other. At the time that Anna received her pension, it was recorded that 7 other men received pensions as well. All 7 men received pensions of £40 each year. Anna Maria Lane received £100 each year.

There is very little record of Anna Maria Lane's life, but her pension record stands as firm evidence of the strong and heroic woman we remember today.



"In the Revolutionary War, in the garb, and with the courage of a soldier, [she] performed extraordinary military services and received a severe wound at the Battle of Germantown."

References:
https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2011/07/anna-maria-lane-soldier.html
She Fought, Too; Stories of Revolutionary War Heroines. Written by Tara Ross.