 Molly Pitcher
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Molly Pitcher
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Mary Ludwig was born October 13, 1754. Her father John was a dairyman. When she was 15 years old she went to work as a domestic helper for the Callender family who lived in Carlisle, Pennsylvania which was over 140 miles from her home in Trenton, New Jersey. Travel was slow in those days so she moved a very long way from her family.
While working for the Callender family she met John Hays, a young man who had a barber shop not far from the Callender home. He would watch her as she swept the sidewalk, and soon a romance blossomed. They were married in 1769.
There was discontent in the colonies over their treatment by the English. War would soon be upon them. John was a patriot and became a soldier where he served as a gunner in the artillery* division.
When his regiment* left, Mary remained with the Irvines. Her parents wanted her to come home to New Jersey. Her husband wanted to see her and asked her to come to him. She started out on the long ride on horseback.
General George Washington marched his troops into New Jersey. The battle of Monmouth (MON muth) was fought on June 28th, 1778. Twenty-four year old Mary (Molly) was at the battlefront. The battle lasted all day. It was a long, hot summer day. Some say fifty soldiers died of thirst that day. Molly carried water for them in a pitcher from a nearby spring.
As she approached the line of battle she saw her husband was wounded. (Some versions of the story say he died on the battlefield.) The cannon was ordered to the rear since there was no one to fire it. Molly bravely took her husband's place and kept the gun in action. The soldiers called her "sergeant". She was also sometimes referred to as "Major Molly". Molly's actions on the battlefield certainly contributed to the success of the battle that day. Years later a monument was erected to her on the site of the battlefield.
Some poetic license* may have been taken in the poems which were written about her. All the facts cannot be verified.
"Moll Pitcher she stood by her gun,
And rammed the charges home, sir
And thus on Monmouth's bloody field
A sergeant did become sir."
Historical Readings by Helen Blanche Bennett and Joseph A. Haniphy
Print poem
After her first husband died, she married George McKolly, another soldier, and she became Mollie McKolly. (Sometimes her last name was spelled McCauly).
For many years after the Revolutionary War she lived on the army post and cooked and did washing for the soldiers. She also ran a small store in Carlisle.
In 1822 the Pennsylvania Legislature granted her an Annuity* of $80 a year for the "services she provided during the Revolutionary War". The bill passed with a unanimous* vote.
On one occasion in 1826 when Molly was over 70 years old, she rescued two young children who had fallen into a quarry*. One of the people she rescued later said of her,"Molly was a brave woman and had a kind word for everyone." She also said that after the war was over, people referred to Molly as "the heroine of the battle of Monmouth".
Among the many stories told about her that cannot be verified are these two accounts:
(1) It is said that on the battlefield George Washington complimented her on her bravery.
(2) She found a wounded, but still alive soldier named Dilwyn among the dead in a burial pit and nursed him back to health.
Molly Pitcher died January 22, 1832. She was survived by a son John and a grandson who was eleven years old.
This biography by Patsy Stevens, a retired teacher, was written July 4, 2011.
The facts in this story were found in the book A Short History of Molly Pitcher, the Heroine of the Battle of Monmouth by John B. Landis(full view)
A frequent question:
"Who wrote this biography and when was it written?"
Look on this Reference Citations Chart.
RESEARCH LINKS
Molly Pitcher Video
Early America.com
Molly Pitcher
US History.org
Mary Ludwig Hayes McCauley
Poem "Molly Pitcher"
Molly Pitcher Biography
Molly Pitcher
Wikipedia
Historian examines the legend of Molly Pitcher
Molly Pitcher
Eduplace.com
Research Projects - The War For Independence
printable sheets
Molly Pitcher
picture to color
Mary Ludwig Hayes McCauley Grave
From Word Central's Student Dictionary
by Merriam - Webster
(Pronunciation note: the schwa sound is shown by ə,
the long vowel sound is shown with a capital letter)
artillery
Pronunciation: ar-TIL-(ə)-rE
Function: noun
large firearms such as a cannon or rockets
regiment
Pronunciation: REJ-(ə)-mənt
Function: noun
a military unit consisting usually of a number of battalions
annuity
Pronunciation: ə-N(Y)OO-ət-E
Function: noun
a sum of money paid at regular intervals
unanimous
Pronunciation: yoo-NAN-ə-məs
Function: adjective
agreed to by all such as a unanimous vote
quarry
Pronunciation: KWAHR-e
Function: noun
an open pit usually for obtaining building stone, slate, or limestone
license
Pronunciation: lIs-ən(t)s
Function: noun
liberty of action that is carried too far
Molly Pitcher
By Coughlan Publishing
Action-packed non-fiction, the graphic library series present the stories of history in high-interest, graphic novel format. The story of Molly Pitcher's life recounts her childhood, participation at the famous Battle of Monmouth, and activities after the war. Index, glossary, and "more information" fact page are included. 32 pages, softcover. 4th Grade reading level.
Molly Pitcher: Young Patriot
By Augusta Stevenson / Simon & Schuster Trade Sales
The pretty little girl's name was Mary, but everyone called her Molly. This name suited her better. She was lively, and she should have a lively name. One of the most popular series ever published for young Americans, this classic has been praised alike by parents, teachers, and librarians. With this lively, inspiring, fictionalized biography--easily read by children of eight and up--today's youngster is swept right into history.
They Called Her Molly Pitcher
By Anne Rockwell / Random House, Inc
This picture book tells the story of Molly Hays--known to history as Molly Pitcher. Carrying water to the American Continental Army during the blistering hot day that the Battle of Monmouth was fought on, when her husband was injured she stepped up to fire his cannon. Made a sergeant by George Washington, she would eventually go back to household duties--but for the rest of her life, asked people to call her Sergeant Molly. The folk-art illustrations were created by oil on canvas with a crackle glaze and sepia tone, and capture the spirit and inspiration Molly provided. 40 pages, ages 4-8.
Living Adventures from American History, Volume 1, Audio CD
By Eye In The Ear
Exciting, inspiring, educational stories of Paul Revere, Valley Forge, Molly Pitcher, and Nathan Hale, dramatized by renowned storyteller Frances Kelley. 1 CD.
A LIBRARY OF
ONLINE BOOKS and BOOK PREVIEWSThe Lincoln Readers Book 4
by Isobel Davidson (full view ) Google eBook or Order here
A short history of Molly Pitcher, the heroine of the Battle of Monmouth
by John B. Landis 1905 (full view) Google eBook
The Red True Story Book
by Andrew Lang 1895(full view) Google eBook
American Scenic and Historic Society
(full view) Google eBook
Molly Pitcher
by Frances E. Ruffin (selected pages) Order here
Molly Pitcher
by Larry Dane Brimner, Patrick Girouard (selected pages) Order here
Molly Pitcher
by Rick Burke (selected pages) order here
Molly Pitcher (Reader's Theater)
by Kathleen E. Bradley (selected pages) Order here
Bring us water, Molly Pitcher!: a fun song about the Battle of Monmouth
by Michael Dahl (selected pages) Order here
A Molly Pitcher Sourcebook
by David George Martin (selected pages) Order here
The American Revolution
by Nicole Shea (selected pages) Order here
Women in American History
by Grace Humphrey (full view) Order here
Historical Readings - Molly Pitcher Poem
edited by Helen Blanche Bennett, Joseph A. Haniphy 1901 (full view)
Preview these Amazon books using the links below.
Molly Pitcher: heroine of the War for Independence
by Rachel A. Koestler-Grack (selected pages)
Molly Pitcher
by Jan Mader (selected pages)
Molly Pitcher
by Christy Devillier (selected pages)
Molly Pitcher
by Carole Marsh (selected pages)
Bob Harrison's On This Day
by Bob Harrison (selected pages)
High Interest Reading
by Walter Haxen (selected pages)
Heroes of the Revolution
by David A. Adler (selected pages)
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