Deborah Sampson: Disguised herself as a man and enlisted as âPrivate Robert Shurtliffâ during the American Revolution; served for 18 months before being honorably discharged. Born: December 17, 1760 in Plympton, Massachusetts. Died: April 29, 1827 in Sharon, Massachusetts. Spouse: Benjamin Gannett (m. April 17, 1785 Children: Earl (1786), Mary (1788), Patience (1790), and Susanna (adopted). Deborah Sampson’s parents were descended from Mayflower passengers and Puritan luminaries, but they did not prosper like many of their ancestors. When Deborah was about five years old, her father vanished. The family believed that he was lost at sea during a fishing trip, but it later emerged that he had abandoned his wife and six young children to build a new life and family in Maine. rochestermilitary.com
