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The Female Paul Revere

© Mary M. Alward

Hi! My name is Sybil Ludington. I was born in 1761, in Fredericksburg, New York. (Now known as the Ludington section of Kent.) I was the oldest of twelve children. I spent most of my time taking care of my younger siblings and doing household chores. Those were the things that girls did in that era (time).

My world changed suddenly on April 26, 1777. I was 16 years old at the time and was putting the younger children to bed when a rider galloped up to our house. He informed us that British troops were burning the town of Danbury, Connecticut. It was only a few miles from our house.

My father was colonel of the local militia. His men were scattered over the countryside. Since the exhausted rider who had warned us of the British destruction could go no further, I convinced father to allow me to take my horse, Star, and ride to the homes of his men telling them to band together to defend our community.

Father finally agreed and I jumped on Star and rode 40 miles alerting his men. The night was dark and I rode alone, using only a stick to prod Star and knock on doors. It was quite a trip, but I succeeded in alerting all the men. They banded together and drove the British back to their ships.

The ride was kind of scary. After all, there was a war going on and I was alone with no one to protect me. Because of what I did, people hailed me as a heroine. I was just doing what I felt I had to do.

If you would like to follow my path, you will have to visit Putnam County, New York. Markers have been placed along the route. A statue of me has been erected on Route 52, beside Gleneida Lake in Carmel. A smaller statue can be seen in Constitution Memorial Hall in Washington, DC. In 1975, a stamp was issued in my honor.

After the war, I married Edmond Odgen, a lawyer from Catskill. We had one son, Henry. I died in 1839, and was buried in Maple Avenue Cemetery near my father.