True Life Tuesday: Margaret Cochran Corbin

This is yet another story that would be a great movie. This highlights the contributions of women during the revolution that have been overlooked by history.

Margaret Cochran was born on November 12, 1751 in western Pennsylvania. Her parents were Robert and Sarah Cochran. In 1756 her parents were attacked by Native Americans. He father was killed and her mother was kidnapped and never seen again. Margaret and her brother, John, were spared because they were not home when the attack occurred. She lived with her uncle for the rest of her childhood.

In 1772 she married John Corbin a farmer from Virginia. They seemed to have a very loving and happy marriage. When the war began John enlisted in the First Company of Pennsylvania Artillery as a member of the cannon crew. Not wanted to be apart Margaret joined John on the battlefield as a "camp follower". She along with other women cooked, washed uniforms and tended to wounded soldiers.

On November 16, 1776 John was hit during the Battle of Fort Washington and was killed. With his cannon unmanned Margaret took over firing until she was hit by enemy fire in the arm, chest and jaw. The battle was lost and Margaret along with the other survivors were taken by the British. She was treated the same as a wounded soldier and the British released her on parole.

After the battle she moved to Philadelphia. She was never able to fully recover from her injuries and life was very difficult for her. On July 6, 1779 she was granted half of the monthly pay of a soldier along with some other incidentals. This made her the first woman to receive a military pension from Congress. Margaret died on January 16, 1800 in Highland Falls, New York. The local historical society ended up erected a historical marker in her honor.