Deborah Sampson was a very smart, strong, and tough woman. Deborah was big boned and tall; she was five foot eight. All of these features helped her give off the perception of being a man. During the time of the Revolutionary War .It was shocking for a woman to dress like a man. Women were supposed to stay at home, raise a garden and take care of the children. Deborah was brave enough to do what she knew was right even when society would not agree. Deborah Sampson was raised by friends and relatives until she turned the rightful age of ten. For the next eight years, she was an indentured servant and was educating herself. With her self education she was a teacher. Towards the end of the war, she decided she needed to help the efforts of …show more content…
This is where she was taken to the hospital with a severe fever which rendered her unconscious. In the hospital, the doctor who was taking care of her realized “Robert” was Deborah. Doctor Barnabas Binney decided to keep her secret safe. The unfortunate event came when the doctor's niece fell in love the “Robert”. This love caused Deborah to let her secret out. “Robert” was advised by General Washington to accept a honorably discharge. General Knox who “Robert” was serving under signed the release papers on October 25, 1783. These papers were signed in front of his head quarters. This confused everyone and left them trying to figure out who the young lady with the general was. On April 7th, 1785 Deborah married Benjamin Gannett. The Gannetts had three children. In 1805 Deborah was awarded a pension by the State of Massachusetts. This paid her four dollars a month for serving, mainly because her thigh wound was proving to bother Deborah after her service. In the year 1818, her pension was changed to eight dollars. In the year 1802, Paul Revere encouraged Deborah to go on tour to capitalize on her wartime fame. When she gave speeches she would demonstrate the manual of arms at the end. She showed women, they can do what men can