Frequently Asked Questions: Deborah Sampson

Who was Deborah Sampson?

Deborah Sampson is the only known woman to receive a full pension from the Continental Army for her service during the Revolutionary War. She joined the army by dressing in men’s clothes and used the name Robert Shurtliff. 

Where was Deborah Sampson born? 

Sampson was born in Massachusetts in 1760. 

How long did Deborah Sampson serve in the Continental Army? 

Sampson served from 1782 to 1783. 

How did they find out that Deborah Sampson was actually a woman who dressed in men’s clothes? 

Sampson fell ill in the summer of 1783 and a doctor discovered her true biological sex. She was subsequently given an honorable discharge from the army. 

What did Deborah Sampson do after the Revolutionary War? 

Sampson married Benjamin Gannett in 1785 and had three children. Starting in 1802, she began giving lectures about her time in the Continental Army. In 1805, she was the first woman to receive a pension for her military service.