Deborah Sampson Gannett - Statues of Historic Figures on Waymarking.com

The roughly life sized bronze statue is of a woman in colonial times. The inscription at the bottom simply states "Deborah Sampson Gannett, 1760 - 1827." A plaque at the base says that the statue was made by Lu Stubbs in 1989.

Deborah Sampson is a local heroine who's claim to fame is that she was one of a few who women who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

She lived a very poor live as a child. Her father had moved away to Maine, leaving her family, and she was later indentured as a servent of the Thomas family in Middleborough, MA to tend to the boys of the family. After she reached the age of 18, she was free and made her living as a weaver and school teacher. On the second attempt, she successfully joined the Continental Army in 1782, disguised as a man named "Robert Shurtleff." She had fought in several skirmishes and was wounded twice. She had a life threatening fever which was tended by the doctor, who then discovered her secret, but kept it for a little while. She later received an honorable discharge. In 1784, she married Benjamin Gannett, and had three children. Later, she petitioned to the Massachusetts government for back pay for service in the war and to Congress, with the help of Paul Revere, for a pention, both witheld because she was a woman. Both were eventually granted to her.

The house where she and Benjamin had settled is still standing, and she is buried in the Rock Ridge Cemetary in town.

More information can be found at Wikipedia: (visit link) and the Massachusetts Historical Society: (visit link)

The other link is the Sharon Public Library. The statue stands near the front entrance.

URL of the statue: [Web Link]

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