Photo/Vincent Morreale
Westborough – The public is invited to attend “A Revolution of Her Own: Deborah Sampson 1760-1827” on Monday, April 30 at The Willows at Westborough, 1 Lyman St., at 7:30 p.m.
The story of Deborah Sampson, the first woman to enlist, to fight, and to be honorably discharged from the American military, will captivate the audience in this hour-long program chronicling her life. Without the ability to vote nor own property, Sampson knew her options were limited; breaking the rules was necessary to accomplish a greater goal. Sampson, a self-educated woman, was strong and possessed the physical capabilities of her male counterparts. On May 23, 1782, wearing male attire, Sampson bound her chest, tied back her hair, and enlisted in the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army, under the alias “Robert Shurtlieff.”
Judith Kalaova of History at Play presents Sampson’s courage, spirit and patriotism in a stirring performance. The event is co-sponsored by the Westborough Historical Society and the Willows. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Westborough Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
