The Woman Who Became A Folk Hero By Wearing A Soldier's Uniform | Deborah Sampson

Deborah Sampson was an unusual woman, and the fact she briefly wore a male soldier's uniform for the closing years of the American War of Independence was testament to this. Not only would she fight for her country while pretending to be a man, but she also became a folk hero due to her bravery, her fascinating story, and the inspiring idea that a woman was capable of more than was thought...
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Pexels
Pixabay
Wikimedia Commons, especially:
Mlc (photo outside Sharon library)
Many of my images in this video were made with Midjourney, see if you can spot which ones!
I strive to always credit everyone whose images I use, and try as much as possible to use images freely in the public domain (purchased where not possible) - please let me know if I have missed you so I can give you due credit.

[@dbzgal04]

Even today there are folks who are ignorant and closed-minded about women doing things like serving in the military. Well, if they're so disturbed by women having the same rights and opportunities as men, they can always pack up and move to certain other countries... RIP Deborah Sampson, thank you for setting such a wonderful example, and for your service to America (I'm a US Army veteran too, BTW)!

[@crocodiledundee8685]

Didn’t expect you’ll cover my suggestion so quickly but I’m proud of it regardless.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Of course - I thought it was a fascinating story! It was very interesting to learn all the things Deborah decided to add to her life as well, in her biography. Thank you for the awesome suggestion! ☺

[@leeannproctor47]

Will you be doing betty ross eventually?

[@sarahpersonalexcellenceguide]

I read a kids biography about Deborah in the 90’s. I loved her story! Doesn’t it make sense why she would want to keep up a male persona? Why would a woman want to give up the autonomy men enjoyed at the time?

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Yes and no...if she wanted to have a normal life and raise a family, she would eventually have to be 'a woman' again, which is essentially what she did. But you're absolutely right in that there's a good argument for her wanting to remain 'male' in order to live life as she wanted, especially as Deborah was such a powerhouse. ☺

[@user-gi8pk9uc7q]

She was one badass woman!

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Definitely! I get the feeling she didn't let anything stand in her way.

[@TIFFANYDlAS]

This woman is absolutely amazing. So glad you covered her

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! ☺She really does seem like an amazing person, especially considering the time she grew up in.

[@leeannproctor47]

She's definitely a role model.

[@timefoolery]

She is my cousin!! There’s an ornery factor to Bradford women. This was an excellent look into her life and I truly appreciate the work you put into gathering so much info on Deborah and her life. Thank you!

[@altinaykor364]

the part where she received the love letter from the secret admirer of Robert and then actually met that girl, were so funny🤣🤣🤣

[@leeannproctor2966]

What are you talking about?

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

I mean, we don't know if it IS actually true or not, but Deborah certainly signed off on it in her biography, so she must have at least liked the story and wanted it there! 😂If it was true, I'd love to know what the young lady thought when she heard about who 'Robert Shirtliff' really was....

[@lisalking2476]

Her admire 🥰 😍 who wrote her the letter and obviously had a Crush on her (Robert) Probably never told a sole after learning (Robert's) true identity 😉 🤔 😄 😜 🤣 but I suppose if they were friendly in the community perhaps after an opology they may have taken Tea together 🍵 and sat down and had a good laugh 😃 😀 😄 😁

[@leeannproctor47]

I'm proud her fame had nothing to do about her beauty.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Definitely! Although I still loved that she was 'handsome' when in her uniform, which does lead me to believe she probably looked quite normal. I get the feeling that people who were questioned about her looks, importantly, AFTER her story came out, wanted to cast the impression that 'of course she got away with it, she doesn't look remotely feminine'! When it's quite possible that wasn't the case. But as you say, it's awesome that not only were her accomplishments sod all to do with looks, but she continued to lean into that in later years. ☺

[@deborahberger5816]

It's sadly too rare, even today.

[@zackhalter9571]

Great story! I have never heard of her. I love learning those tales the most!😊

[@user-fg9xz4bz3b]

I love it when you do people I've never heard of.

[@leeannproctor2966]

It's cool she knew Paul Revere.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! ☺It was a fantastic suggestion by another viewer and I thought her story was amazing. I love that she was actually a nice person in herself, as well.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

@leeannproctor2966 that was such a nice little extra nugget of information! I think it's a wonderful bit of American history, where you guys were still kind of at that part of figuring out what direction everything should be going in, and as a result people from all backgrounds rubbed shoulders with one another. Very different from Europe at that time.

[@lfgifu296]

Now THIS is a History’s Forgotten Person!! Love it! I also love when you cover people I already know of, but these are a double treat👀👀 Have a nice week!!

[@DarthDread-oh2ne]

Hi friend. Bad news, I’m 🤢

[@user-fg9xz4bz3b]

What she would have become if she been borne in our time?

[@lfgifu296]

@@DarthDread-oh2ne oooh :( I’m sorry, hope you get better! It’s a great opportunity for a “historical sick break”, though:)

[@leeannproctor2966]

So her husband wasn't a soldier I take it.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thank you - I know, I'm terrible for covering people we definitely all still know! 😂😂😂 I'm glad you liked it, have a great week too! ☺

[@helpinyerdasellavon]

Such a wonderful story beautifully presented. Loved to know about this lady. Thank you so much 😊❤

[@user-fg9xz4bz3b]

She rebelled against those sexist boors.

[@leeannproctor2966]

Very good for her.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

You're welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it! ☺

[@goeegoanna]

Fascinating, thank you.

[@Philip-bk2dm]

Fantastic. We share roots in Massachusetts, but this is the first I have heard of her. Many thanks!

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

No worries, I'm glad you enjoyed it! ☺

[@Philip-bk2dm]

@@HistorysForgottenPeople No doubt my relatives in New England would be amused by my ignorance. But now I know! Thanks. Your presentation should be shown in U.S. History classes, especially in the former thirteen colonies.

[@davesky538]

Every generation has its women heros equal to men. Just never hear about them.

[@user-fg9xz4bz3b]

Living in puritan society she accomplished a lot despite living among narrow minded men.

[@jamellfoster6029]

She was an awesome lady. I've heard of her as I'm a feminist & a history buff. Ms. Sampson was truly a heroine.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

I'm ashamed to say, I hadn't heard of her - another viewer here recommended her for a future video. I'm so glad they did, Deborah sounds like an amazing lady!

[@MichelleBruce-lo4oc]

Hi, awesome live history video I enjoyed it. How are you doing and Mallard your cat doing? I'm doing well and so is my cat Benjamin. We have lots of warm weather in Ontario Canada. How is the weather where you are? Have a great day see you next video 😊

[@user-fg9xz4bz3b]

What became of her siblings?

[@lisalking2476]

Never heard her story befor. I realy enjoy your videos especially those that I haven't heard of ❤ Thank you 😊 Thank you 😊

[@user-fg9xz4bz3b]

Can't blame her for lying about her father.

[@leeannproctor47]

One of the few things I always look forward too.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

You're welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I know I often cover people that aren't really forgotten, but I try to put a few people in who are less well known. ☺

[@ronhuhn7562]

How many more heroines like this are over looked...too many i would surmise?

[@karawilliamson106]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@pioneercynthia1]

Nice tie-in with Joan of Arc!

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Thank you! It's just who came to mind when I read that part, and I wondered if Deborah had thought of it too.

[@deborahberger5816]

I read an article about Deborah Sampson written in the 19th Century, and I got what I expected from a man in Victorian times, all right. He crawled deep into Male Fantasyland, and made her out to be a soppy romantic who joined the army hoping to get herself a husband. That sounded almost funny, until I read later stories that repeated the myth.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

LOL That makes me love Deborah's own stories about wooing the ladies even more. 😂

[@KellyBurnett138]

I bet her husband was a cool guy…cool story. 🤗

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

It would be lovely to know a little more about him, you're right!

[@lfgifu296]

So, do you believe the Virgin Queen really was so? I asked you this last week but I think it got lost among the other comments:’) I also think this question can be quite controversial, so👹👹

[@DarthDread-oh2ne]

Hi friend. Last night, I watched A documentary on Peter the great.

[@leeannproctor47]

Elizabeth I was already dead by this time.

[@user-fg9xz4bz3b]

Her descendants should be proud to have her as an ancestor.

[@lfgifu296]

@@DarthDread-oh2ne Hello! He was quite the figure, eh?

[@lfgifu296]

@@leeannproctor47 I know…

[@williammartin2593]

Well, it is possible that she was mixed gender like me. I have noticed that we are, in general, more athletic than single gender people. I am now obligated to point out that the single largest employer of transgender people, male and female, is... the United States Army. We are not aggressive in general, but very protective. Which is one reason evolution picked 2.5 percent of humanity to be mixed gender.

[@HistorysForgottenPeople]

Oh, absolutely! I won't disagree that Deborah could have been mixed gender, or indeed transgender. It's just that I can't outright say 'she definitely was', as we can only go on the evidence that we've got, and in this case, a lot of it might be embellished (some by Deborah herself!), and she identifies herself as female in her biography. But I do agree with you that I think there was something more going on with her, definitely. There are lots of examples in history of women dressing in masculine clothing, but for those who absolutely identified as women, they either went back to feminine clothing when they could, or they continued to wear male clothing but everyone knew they identified as female. The fact Deborah at many times chose to lean completely into the role of, for her, 'being a man', is very interesting. ☺