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Birth Date
She was born near Trenton, New Jersey, as Mary Ludwig. -
Married
On this date Mary married John Hays. If she had not married him she wouldn't have gone to war with him or got the nickname Molly Pitcher from bringing the soldiers water. She also wouldn't have become truly famous for manning the cannon when her husband fell wounded. -
Camp Followers
Mary joined a group that was lead by Martha Washington. This group, that helped during the American Revolutionary War, helped care for the sick and dying. They washed blankets and clothes. The group was known as camp followers. -
The Cannon
Her husband John was fighting in the Battle of Monmouth, that took place in Freehold, New Jersey, and was manning a cannon. As the battle continued Mary saw her husband collapse, and she quickly took his place at the cannon. She manned this cannon until the battle ended. -
The Enemy
As Mary was manning the cannon after her husband fell, an enemy cannon shot right between her legs. Though the cannon tore her petticoat, she was luckily unharmed. After she knew she it hadn't hit her, she reurned to manning the cannon. -
Molly Pitcher
When her husband, William [John] Hays, went to fight in the American Revoluntionary War, Mary went with him. One day it was so hot she began filling pitchers with cold water from a stream for the soldiers to drink and pouring the water over their cannons to help them cool down. She did this during the Battle of Monmouth. Because of her large efforts, the soldiers nicknamed her Molly Pitcher. -
After the Battle of Monmouth
After her heroic acts in the Battle of Monmouth, she was approached by George Washington. He asked her to help with the war. She stayed with the army until the end of the war, proving to be a valuable help. -
After the War
After the war, Mary and John went to live in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Shortly after they moved there, John Hays died. Mary went to live at the Carlisle barracks for many years, washing and cooking for the soldiers. -
Remarried
After John Hays died, Mary married John McCauley, a war veteran. She now went by Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley. Her new husband was not a very nice man, and he disappeared between 1807 and 1810. -
The State House
When Mary lived in Carlisle with John McCauley she worked at the State House. In the State House, in Carlisle, she worked as a domestic. -
Honored
Mary was honored for her times in the war in 1822. She was honored by the Pennsylvania Legislature. She recieved $40, and would recieve the same amount each year for the rest of her life. -
Death Date
In Carlisle, Pennsylvania, she died.
