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

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

Рет қаралды 5,694

2 ай бұрын

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...
For my images and footage, thanks to:
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.

Пікірлер: 68

@dbzgal04 2 ай бұрын

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)!

@sarahpersonalexcellenceguide 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

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. ☺

@crocodiledundee8685 2 ай бұрын

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

@HistorysForgottenPeople 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

Will you be doing betty ross eventually?

@TIFFANYDlAS 2 ай бұрын

This woman is absolutely amazing. So glad you covered her

@HistorysForgottenPeople 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

She's definitely a role model.

@altinaykor364 2 ай бұрын

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

@leeannproctor2966 2 ай бұрын

What are you talking about?

@HistorysForgottenPeople 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

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 😃 😀 😄 😁

@user-gi8pk9uc7q 2 ай бұрын

She was one badass woman!

@HistorysForgottenPeople 2 ай бұрын

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

@timefoolery Ай бұрын

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!

@goeegoanna 2 ай бұрын

Fascinating, thank you.

@zackhalter9571 2 ай бұрын

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

@user-fg9xz4bz3b 2 ай бұрын

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

@leeannproctor2966 2 ай бұрын

It's cool she knew Paul Revere.

@HistorysForgottenPeople 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

@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.

@helpinyerdasellavon 2 ай бұрын

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

@user-fg9xz4bz3b 2 ай бұрын

She rebelled against those sexist boors.

@leeannproctor2966 2 ай бұрын

Very good for her.

@HistorysForgottenPeople 2 ай бұрын

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

@lfgifu296 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

Hi friend. Bad news, I’m 🤢

@user-fg9xz4bz3b 2 ай бұрын

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

@lfgifu296 2 ай бұрын

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

@leeannproctor2966 2 ай бұрын

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

@HistorysForgottenPeople 2 ай бұрын

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! ☺

@Philip-bk2dm 2 ай бұрын

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

@HistorysForgottenPeople 2 ай бұрын

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

@Philip-bk2dm 2 ай бұрын

@@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.

@MichelleBruce-lo4oc 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

What became of her siblings?

@leeannproctor47 2 ай бұрын

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

@HistorysForgottenPeople 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

It's sadly too rare, even today.

@jamellfoster6029 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

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!

@lisalking2476 2 ай бұрын

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

@user-fg9xz4bz3b 2 ай бұрын

Can't blame her for lying about her father.

@leeannproctor47 2 ай бұрын

One of the few things I always look forward too.

@HistorysForgottenPeople 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

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

@davesky538 2 ай бұрын

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

@user-fg9xz4bz3b 2 ай бұрын

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

@karawilliamson106 2 ай бұрын

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

@deborahberger5816 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

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

@pioneercynthia1 2 ай бұрын

Nice tie-in with Joan of Arc!

@HistorysForgottenPeople 2 ай бұрын

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

@KellyBurnett138 2 ай бұрын

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

@HistorysForgottenPeople 2 ай бұрын

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

@lfgifu296 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

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

@leeannproctor47 2 ай бұрын

Elizabeth I was already dead by this time.

@user-fg9xz4bz3b 2 ай бұрын

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

@lfgifu296 2 ай бұрын

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

@lfgifu296 2 ай бұрын

@@leeannproctor47 I know…

@williammartin2593 2 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

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. ☺