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Old 11-18-2018, 11:53 AM
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HC - another posting on Darragh
RE: https://www.revolutionary-war.net/lydia-darragh.html

Photo link of Lydia: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...&GRid=28814348

Quakers are committed to pacifism. They reject sacraments, ritual and formal ministry, hold meetings at which any member may speak, and promote many causes for social reform. Since Lydia and her husband were raised as Quakers, that is what they taught their children to be as well. However, their eldest son Charles broke this when he enlisted in the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment.

Spying for the Americans

After the British occupied Philadelphia in 1777, they stationed soldiers in citizens' home. One of those homes was the Darragh home. On the night of December 2, 1777, they even held a conference there with top British officers. There, General William Howe finalized plans for an attack on Whitemarsh on the 4th.

The other officers listened intently to his story.

Unbeknownst to them, so did Lydia Darragh.

Hurriedly, she made notes, rolled up the paper she wrote them on, stuffed them in the pocket of a book, and rushed to the Rising Sun Tavern, where Elias Boudinot was serving as Commissary of Prisoners. There, as many other women did, she asked permission to leave the city in order to go the countryside and purchase flour. Unlike other women, she also pressed a needle book into his hands with many pockets.

He told her to wait while he secured permission, but she left while he was gone. At that point, he went through the book and found the rolled up note, saying that General Howe would be going out with 5,000 men, 13 cannons, and 11 boats on wheels.

Immediately he rode post to American headquarters.

Later, after the failed offensive, Major Andre, the British spymaster, would report, "One thing is certain, the enemy had notice of our coming, were prepared for us, and we marched back like a parcel of fools. The walls must have ears."

These things are recorded in the journals of Elias Boudinot, and are only made possible by the ridiculous 18th century notion that women couldn't understand the intricacies of war. Thus, the British officers were not afraid to speak freely in a house that had only mere women in it. Further, when Major Andre went searching for the leak later, he believed Lydia Darragh when she told him she was sleeping while they discussed their plans.

Note: despite a lot of searching, we couldn't find out what Mr. Darragh was doing the night of Dec. 2, 1777. It is clear that he was not at the house, nor was he questioned when the British went searching for spies. Nonetheless, no one bothers mentioning what he was doing! It's possible he was not even alive by this time, it being 25 years after their marriage.

Final Years

After the death of her husband, in 1783 she ran a store until her death in December 26, 1789.

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Philadelphia During the Revolutionary War
RE: https://www.revolutionary-war.net/philadelphia.html#war

Queen Anne's War,fought in between 1702 and 1713, cut off trade to the city, causing the city much financial pain. The war was closely suffered by a depression in the 1720's, which caused Philly's population to begin to dwindle.

In her earlier years, "The City of Brotherly Love" had been a major export and trade center. So in order to help not only Philadelphia but themselves, England and some other European countries helped them build their farmlands back up.

Philadelphia was the headquarters, if not the official capitol, of the colonies during the American Revolutionary War. This historical city hosted the First Continental Congress, which was held in Carpenter's Hall, before the war, and the Second Continental Congress, which signed the Declaration of Independence.

Thus it was that General William Howe was thrilled to outmaneuver George Washington and march into Philadelphia without opposition on September 26, 1777.

Tense conflict ensued, however, because American patriots stripped the city of supplies before they arrived. Even the Liberty Bell was carried out to prevent the British from making bullets from it!

It took the British two months to defeat American forts along the Delaware River and begin to bring in supplies. By then, their skirmishes with the continental army and the damages that resulted had angered the populace. Worse, General Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga in October had inspired French trust in the Americans and brought them into the war.

By spring of 1778, General Howe, fearing being cut off by French ships at the mouth of the Delaware, simply fled Philadelphia for New York, returning it to the Americans for good.

Philadelphia had been taken by the British and lost without a shot being fired!

Political and religious tensions began to grow when more religions were introduced such as Quakers, Pietists, Anglicans, and Catholics. Religious controversy led to riots in the 1740's as a result of this. In October of '42, the riots climaxed in an event known as the "Bloody Election" or the "Philadelphia Election Riot of 1742."

Pickpockets and criminals prospered during the unrest. Nonetheless, by the mid 1700s' Philadelphia surpassed even Boston in population. Few fled the city despite its problems.

By the 1750's, Philadelphia had a permanent trading center, which Benjamin Franklin, who had become a leading citizen in the city, helped improve. Benjamin Franklin also built a hospital for the poor, established the first public library, started the first American police force. He also started a fire department called the Union Fire Company which is still in operation today.

Thus, Philadelphia was a thriving, central city when the War for Independence began.
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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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