Mary Ludwig
(1754-1832)
Revolutionary war Heroine
Mary was born on October. 13, 1754 near Trenton NJ. When she moved in 1768 to Carlisle PA, she met William Hays and later married him and had a son. In 1777 they both moved back to New Jersey during the Philly campaign, and on June 28, 1778 they both took part in the battle of Monmouth. battles during this time it wasn't uncommon to see the wives of soldiers alongside them helping. Mary would make countless trips to fill pitchers with cold water for the soldiers to drink and to pour on their cannons when they needed cooled of. This is how she got her nickname Molly Pitcher. She also took her husbands place once he collapsed unable to man the cannons anymore.