Deborah Sampson

Deborah Sampson in combat against British. (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nwa/sampson.html)

My teacher recently quoted, “A hero can be a great person doing ordinary things", or "An ordinary person doing great things.” A person who is brave and courageous, or someone who will sacrifice to tell a point is a hero. It is important to have courage to be a hero so you can do great things, even if you're facing your fears. That means taking a stand for what you feel is right. You might be punished or go to jail. Although, a true hero doesn't care, as long as she/he knew what they did was right.

A person with a lot of bravery and courage is Deborah Sampson, later married as Deborah Sampson Gannett. She was born in the town of Plympton, Massachusetts, on the 17th of December, 1760. Sampson was the oldest of a family of seven. The rest of her youth was meager because her father abandoned the family. Since their mother was in weak health, she couldn't take care of her children. This caused Mrs. Sampson to send her children off to various relatives and neighbors. Then between ages 8-10, Deborah worked as an indentured servant for Jeremiah Thomas in Middlesburg. The difficult and endless labor gained Sampson a lot of muscle.

On May 20, 1782, Sampson at age 21, impersonated a man to join the Continental Army. She wanted to fight in the Revolutionary War. On May 23rd she was called into service at Worcester. Deborah's man name was Robert Shurtleff. She disguised herself by flattening her breasts and acting like a man. This was easier for her because back in the 1700's women weren't as tall, so by being 5'7” no one even thought of her being a woman. Near West Point, New York, she was wounded in the leg by two musket balls. This event had happened near the battle in Tarrytown. She treated her own wounds with a pocket knife and a sewing needle, so her gender wouldn't be revealed. However, there was one ball she couldn't get out of her flesh. Since she wasn't a doctor, her leg never healed properly. Later on that year, on October 25, 1783, she was sent to the hospital because she was ill. As a result, the physician found out her sex. Deborah was discharged from the army. She did not get even half of the money the rest of the soldiers got. When she returned home, she married Benjamin Gannett, a farmer, had 3 children, and taught for nine years at a nearby school. After about 9 years, Deborah demanded she get her full pay. With the help of her good friend Paul Revere, she got 36 pounds from the congress. In addition, she got the U.S. Pension of $4.00 per month, like any other male soldier. She well deserved it.

Deborah Sampson Gannett's statue (http://thesisterproject.com/orloff/my-new-years-revolution/)

Many of you may think of Deborah Sampson Gannett as just a brave human being, but to me she is like Wonder Woman. Her story spoke out to me saying that I could do all these sports, I can have as much muscle as men, and I can dance just as well as the “cool guys.” She is also my role model because sometimes I don't stand up to do something or have enough courage when I should. When I read about her, it was easy for me to connect with her. She had to dress up as a man on the outside, to have her strengths noticed. I also have to appear looking better than just being myself on the inside to really be noticed in a good way. Deborah Sampson helped me realize that I am just as special as anyone else. I can do tasks just as well as anyone else, too. With some training, I can just do as well as a person that is really tall, thin, or blond, in a competition.

When my teacher said a hero can just be an ordinary person doing great things, she meant anyone can be a hero. A courage filled person, Deborah Sampson, was a hero, and if everyone could stand up, we would have a world full of heroes! Will you take risks or sacrifices? Do you have enough courage? Do you think you have what it takes to be a hero? A hero like Deborah Sampson?