Biography lydia darragh

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  • Lydia Barrington Darragh was an American Revolutionary War heroine who is said to have saved General George Washington's army from a British.

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    Lydia Darrah

    1728–1789

    Lydia Barrington was born in Dublin, Ireland, and at the age of 25 she married the family tutor, William Darrah. After a few years of marriage, the two immigrated to Philadelphia, where she gave birth to nine children, kvartet of whom died in infancy.

    BRITISHSOLDIERS
    As Quakers, the Darrahs were pacifists, but their eldest son Charles served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. In 1777, when British troops occupied Philadelphia, Englishmen such as General William Howe took up residence nära the Darrah family, and Lydia eavesdropped on the enemy, later relaying the overheard data to her son through coded scraps of paper. That fall, their home was requested for use as a British meeting place. Because Quakers were known to be unsupportive of the war effort, the Darrah were allowed to remain in their home. One night, the family was told to go to bed early, and that they would be awakened to let the soldiers out. Faking s

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    This anecdote is given in the first number of the American Quarterly Review, and is said to be taken from Lydia’s own narration. It is mentioned or alluded to by several other authorities, and in letters written at the time. The story is familiar to many persons in Philadelphia, who heard it from their parents; so that there appears no reason to doubt its authenticity.

    On the second day of December, 1777, late in the afternoon, an officer in the British uniform ascended the steps of a house in Second street, Philadelphia, immediately opposite the quarters occupied by General Howe, who, at that time, had full possession of the city. The house was plain and neat in its exterior, and well known to be tenanted by William and Lydia Darrah, members of the Society of Friends. It was the place chosen by the superior officers of the army for private conference, whenever it was necessary to hold consultations on subjects of importance; and selected, perhaps, on account of the unobtrusi

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    Lydia Darragh

    Lydia Darragh shares much in common with Betsy Ross. Both were Quaker woman who supported the war effort and both were read out of their meetings because of that support. The place of both in history is challenged because there is no concrete proof of their stories — instead, a family member brought each one's memorable act to light.

    In Darragh's case, it was her daughter Ann who recounted the story years after it played out. Since Ann's telling has some information which doesn't gibe with other accounts, some historians have dismissed it outright as a concocted tale.

    Lydia Darrah Giving Warning
    From an engraving in
    Godey's Lady's Book, 1845
    (Note the alternate spelling "Darrah")

    When the British occupied Philadelphia on September 26, 1777, Darragh was a housewife living on Second Street. The home of her neighbor John Cadwalader was occupied by General Howe for use as his headquarters during the occupation. (Cadwalader, a member of the Philadelphia Lig

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