Margaret Corbin
1751-1789
Soldier, camp follower
Level 1 biography
Level 1 biography
Fast Facts
Margaret Cochran Corbin was a soldier’s wife. Her husband fought in the Revolutionary War. When her husband was killed in battle, Margaret took his place. Born: November 12, 1751 Franklin County, Pa.
Husband: John Corbin
Died: 1789 Westchester County, New York.
Margaret Cochran Corbin was a soldier’s wife. Her husband fought in the Revolutionary War. When her husband was killed in battle, Margaret took his place. Born: November 12, 1751 Franklin County, Pa.
Husband: John Corbin
Died: 1789 Westchester County, New York.
Early Life
Margaret Cochran was born on November 12, 1751. She was born near the town of Chambersburg, Pa. Her father was named Robert Cochran. She had a little brother named John. In 1756 Native Americans came to the Cochrans’ house. They killed Margaret’s parents. Margaret was five years old. Now Margaret and John were orphans. They went to live with their uncle.
Soldier’s Wife
Margaret grew up to be a strong, tall woman. She was five feet, eight inches tall. Margaret married a man from Virginia. His name was John Corbin. They married around the year 1772. Four years later, in 1776, John joined the army. He went to fight the British.
Margaret became a camp follower. She was one of the people who followed behind a group of soldiers. Margaret helped with cooking and washing clothes. She took care of people who were sick or hurt. When there was a battle, Margaret went with her husband. She helped him load the cannon. She was called a half-soldier.
John Corbin was a matross. His job was to sponge the cannon and to load it with a cannon ball. He was the helper of the man who fired the cannon. On November 16, 1776 John’s division went to Fort Washington, New York. Their job was to defend the fort. John’s cannon was on Forest Hill. The British army came up the hill to attack the fort. There were many more British than Americans.
The gunner on John’s cannon was killed. John took over firing the cannon. Margaret did John’s job. Then John was shot and killed. Margaret kept firing the cannon. Margaret was hit with grape shot. This is a bunch of small musket balls all fired together. Grape shot can do a lot of damage. Margaret fell to the ground. She could not fight any more.
That afternoon a doctor walked over the hill. He was looking for people who were still alive. He found Margaret. She was very badly hurt. Her jaw and her chest were injured. Her left arm was badly cut. Margaret was put into a wagon. The nearest hospital was in Philadelphia. It was almost 100 miles away. Margaret rode in a bumpy wagon to the hospital. It was a long, painful trip.
The Invalid Regiment
After a while Margaret was allowed to leave the hospital. She could not use her left arm any more. She could not earn a living. To help injured soldiers, the Continental Congress formed a special group of soldiers. They were all people who had been wounded. They were called the Invalid Regiment. They could not fight, but they could do helpful jobs. Margaret had never been a real soldier, but she was put into the Invalid Regiment. The group was sent to West Point. Margaret was called “Captain Molly.”
Margaret was very poor. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania said that she had been a hero. In 1779 they gave her $30.00. In 1780 the Board of War checked on Margaret. She was in need. They gave her a set of clothes, and arranged to have her paid some money each month. This money was called a pension. She was given half as much money as a regular soldier would be paid. No woman had ever been given a pension by the United States government. Margaret was the first one.
Margaret married again around 1782. Her husband was also a wounded soldier. He was in bad health. He did not live long. In April 1783 the Invalid Regiment was broken up. They were not needed any more. Margaret needed money. She asked for a rum ration. This was money given to each soldier. It was never given to camp followers. Margaret was given the rum ration. She was even given extra money as back pay.
Later Life
As time went on, Margaret lived in the West Point area. She was sometimes rude to people. She spoke sharply, and did not dress neatly. Even though she acted a little strange, people who knew whom she was respected her. They still called her “Captain Molly.” Local people sometimes helped her.
Margaret Corbin died in 1789. She was buried in the Highland Falls Cemetery in New York.
Fame After Her Death
150 years after her death, Margaret’s body was moved. It was taken to West Point Military Academy. She was buried in a grave there. A marker was put on the grave to honor her. It has a bronze picture on it. The picture shows Margaret in battle.
Molly Pitcher
Some people think Margaret Corbin was Molly Pitcher. Many people think that honor belongs to a woman named Mary McCauley. Both were brave women.
Reading Level 4.4
Margaret Cochran was born on November 12, 1751. She was born near the town of Chambersburg, Pa. Her father was named Robert Cochran. She had a little brother named John. In 1756 Native Americans came to the Cochrans’ house. They killed Margaret’s parents. Margaret was five years old. Now Margaret and John were orphans. They went to live with their uncle.
Soldier’s Wife
Margaret grew up to be a strong, tall woman. She was five feet, eight inches tall. Margaret married a man from Virginia. His name was John Corbin. They married around the year 1772. Four years later, in 1776, John joined the army. He went to fight the British.
Margaret became a camp follower. She was one of the people who followed behind a group of soldiers. Margaret helped with cooking and washing clothes. She took care of people who were sick or hurt. When there was a battle, Margaret went with her husband. She helped him load the cannon. She was called a half-soldier.
John Corbin was a matross. His job was to sponge the cannon and to load it with a cannon ball. He was the helper of the man who fired the cannon. On November 16, 1776 John’s division went to Fort Washington, New York. Their job was to defend the fort. John’s cannon was on Forest Hill. The British army came up the hill to attack the fort. There were many more British than Americans.
The gunner on John’s cannon was killed. John took over firing the cannon. Margaret did John’s job. Then John was shot and killed. Margaret kept firing the cannon. Margaret was hit with grape shot. This is a bunch of small musket balls all fired together. Grape shot can do a lot of damage. Margaret fell to the ground. She could not fight any more.
That afternoon a doctor walked over the hill. He was looking for people who were still alive. He found Margaret. She was very badly hurt. Her jaw and her chest were injured. Her left arm was badly cut. Margaret was put into a wagon. The nearest hospital was in Philadelphia. It was almost 100 miles away. Margaret rode in a bumpy wagon to the hospital. It was a long, painful trip.
The Invalid Regiment
After a while Margaret was allowed to leave the hospital. She could not use her left arm any more. She could not earn a living. To help injured soldiers, the Continental Congress formed a special group of soldiers. They were all people who had been wounded. They were called the Invalid Regiment. They could not fight, but they could do helpful jobs. Margaret had never been a real soldier, but she was put into the Invalid Regiment. The group was sent to West Point. Margaret was called “Captain Molly.”
Margaret was very poor. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania said that she had been a hero. In 1779 they gave her $30.00. In 1780 the Board of War checked on Margaret. She was in need. They gave her a set of clothes, and arranged to have her paid some money each month. This money was called a pension. She was given half as much money as a regular soldier would be paid. No woman had ever been given a pension by the United States government. Margaret was the first one.
Margaret married again around 1782. Her husband was also a wounded soldier. He was in bad health. He did not live long. In April 1783 the Invalid Regiment was broken up. They were not needed any more. Margaret needed money. She asked for a rum ration. This was money given to each soldier. It was never given to camp followers. Margaret was given the rum ration. She was even given extra money as back pay.
Later Life
As time went on, Margaret lived in the West Point area. She was sometimes rude to people. She spoke sharply, and did not dress neatly. Even though she acted a little strange, people who knew whom she was respected her. They still called her “Captain Molly.” Local people sometimes helped her.
Margaret Corbin died in 1789. She was buried in the Highland Falls Cemetery in New York.
Fame After Her Death
150 years after her death, Margaret’s body was moved. It was taken to West Point Military Academy. She was buried in a grave there. A marker was put on the grave to honor her. It has a bronze picture on it. The picture shows Margaret in battle.
Molly Pitcher
Some people think Margaret Corbin was Molly Pitcher. Many people think that honor belongs to a woman named Mary McCauley. Both were brave women.
Reading Level 4.4