Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley was a Revolutionary heroine, better known as
Molly Pitcher. She was the daughter of John George Ludwig Hass, who dropped his
last name after coming to America
from Germany.
He had a small dairy farm near Trenton,
New Jersey where Mary was born on
October 13, 1754.
In 1769 Mary went, as a servant in the family of Dr. William Irvine, to Carlisle, Pennsylvania. There she married John Caspar Hays, on July 24, 1769. On December 1, 1775, her husband enlisted in the Pennsylvania Regiment. Molly Hays remained for some time in Carlisle then returned to her parents' home to help them, and to be near her husband. At the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, John Hays was detailed to the artillery. It was a terrifically hot day, and Molly, who was on the battlefield, went back and forth from a well, carrying water to the exhausted and wounded soldiers. This is how she was nicknamed "Molly Pitcher." At one point, her husband fell, overcome by the heat. Molly stepped into his place beside his cannon, and filled it ably and heroically for the rest of the battle.
After the war she and her husband returned to Carlisle. Some years after the death of John Hays in 1789, she married George McCauley, a union which was not happy. The General Assembly of Pennsylvania took notice of her services during the Revolution, passing on February 21, 1822, "An act for the relief of Molly M'Kolly" which directed that she be paid forty dollars immediately and for every year after of the same amount. Molly was described by those who knew her as a short, thick-set woman, of rough appearance and gruff manner, but always active and kind.
She died on January 22, 1832. Her grave was marked in 1876 and in 1916 by monuments, and she is also depicted on the monument remembering the Battle of Monmouth.
Bibliography
"Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley."Dictionary of American Biography Base Set. American Council of Learned Societies, 1928-1936.
Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC
In 1769 Mary went, as a servant in the family of Dr. William Irvine, to Carlisle, Pennsylvania. There she married John Caspar Hays, on July 24, 1769. On December 1, 1775, her husband enlisted in the Pennsylvania Regiment. Molly Hays remained for some time in Carlisle then returned to her parents' home to help them, and to be near her husband. At the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, John Hays was detailed to the artillery. It was a terrifically hot day, and Molly, who was on the battlefield, went back and forth from a well, carrying water to the exhausted and wounded soldiers. This is how she was nicknamed "Molly Pitcher." At one point, her husband fell, overcome by the heat. Molly stepped into his place beside his cannon, and filled it ably and heroically for the rest of the battle.
After the war she and her husband returned to Carlisle. Some years after the death of John Hays in 1789, she married George McCauley, a union which was not happy. The General Assembly of Pennsylvania took notice of her services during the Revolution, passing on February 21, 1822, "An act for the relief of Molly M'Kolly" which directed that she be paid forty dollars immediately and for every year after of the same amount. Molly was described by those who knew her as a short, thick-set woman, of rough appearance and gruff manner, but always active and kind.
She died on January 22, 1832. Her grave was marked in 1876 and in 1916 by monuments, and she is also depicted on the monument remembering the Battle of Monmouth.
Bibliography
"Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley."Dictionary of American Biography Base Set. American Council of Learned Societies, 1928-1936.
Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC