(1754–1832) Who was she? Did she really even exist? We know her real name was not Molly Pitcher—that was the nickname she earned on the battlefield, perhaps while bringing water to parched soldiers. While some historians doubt she was a real person, others note that eyewitness accounts place a woman in the line of fire at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. Most likely she was Pennsylvania native Mary Hays, the wife of a Continental Army soldier named William Hays. She was awarded a pension for her services during the Revolution. And she has a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike named in her honor. What higher tribute is there?
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