Lydia Darragh

1440 Words6 Pages

Women in the colonial era had many responsibilities far beyond being stay at home mothers. Men that fought during the revolution seem to be the only ones that are acknowledged, when women contributed greatly as well. Women of all ages were left to fend for themselves when the men of their families were sent off to war. Not only did they have to raise their children alone, but they had to take care of their farms, keep the house clean, cook, and run any businesses that their husband left behind. Most of the women that were faced with all of these challenges managed to live their lives and do everything they could to keep their kids happy, healthy, and safe. The kids were not their only concern, soldiers were a priority for them as well. Women …show more content…

My favorite was a woman named Lydia Darragh. Darragh was a spy for America and she heard that the British were planning an attack when they occupied her home for a meeting. As soon as she found out what was happening, she sneakily took a message back to the American soldiers. To the British, she looked like a sweet lady with some flour ready to feed her kids, not a spy (140). When the British came to attack, the American soldiers were set for their arrival, all thanks to Darragh. Another woman by the name of Emily Geiger was also given the opportunity to be a spy for the American soldiers. Two generals were planning to attack the British. The generals could not coordinate their plans because they had nobody to deliver their messages. When Geiger realized they were in need of a messenger she was the first one to volunteer. Her mission took a turn for the worse when a British scouting party stopped her in her tracks. She could not take the risk of them finding the note on her so she immediately ate the letter as quickly as possible, walking away from the situation with no questions asked. Darragh and Geiger showed how valuable women are. Both of these women exemplified tremendous courage in their journeys and I am incredibly inspired by them. Being a spy was definitely a job that took bravery and strength but in reality, every task a woman was faced with took hard