Talk:Lydia Darragh

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Other notes & bibliographic information

This section was previous included in the main article, and I have moved to here for archiving/discussion purposes as necessary. None of these are sourced in the main article, and really add nothing substantive. As such, I am removing as extraneous for now. Alphageekpa (talk) 10:26, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

In Historic Tales of Olden Time: Concerning the Early Settlement and Progress of Philadelphia Pennsylvania. FOR THE USE OF FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS. by John Fanning Watson - Philadelphia (Pa.), 1833, there is an account of "Lydia Darrach" listed on page 294 under "MISCELLANEA."

The Watson account:

"I have very direct and certain evidence for saying, that Mrs. Lydia Darrach (the wife of William Darrach, a teacher, dwelling in the house No. 177, South Second street, corner of Little Dock street,) was the cause of saving Washington's army from great disaster while it lay at Whitemarsh, in 1777. The case was this ..."

The name "Lydia Darrach" appears July, 1845 in THE LADY'S BOOK, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Volume XXXI in an article titled: HEROIC WOMEN OF AMERICA with the following account:

"... But the Loxley house is deserving of most distinction as the residence, in the time of the Revolution, of Lydia Darrach. At the time when the British were in possession of Philadelphia, the head-quarters of General Howe were in the house on Society Hill, formerly occupied by General Cadwallader. William and Lydia Darrach, both members of the Society of Friends, and many of the British officers were among their boarders. Among them was the adjutant-general, who had his office in a back room, where he frequently met other officers of the army in consultation. On the 2d of December, he told Lydia that they would be in the room from seven o'clock until late in the evening; he therefore wished her to cause her family to retire early to bed, and stated that when about to go away they would call her to let them out and extinguish the fire and candles. ..."

A different account appears in January 1848 in Godey's Lady's Book, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Vol XXXVI, page 11, titled AMERICAN HEROINES. BY MRS. E. F. ELLET, as follows:

"LYDIA DARRAH.

It was on the second day of December, 1777, late in the afternoon, that an officer in the British uniform might have been seen ascending the steps of a house in Second street, a few doors below Spruce street, Philadelphia, immediately opposite the quarters occupied by General Howe, the commander-in-chief of the British forces, who, at that time, had 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. ..."

Mark Twain's account when visiting Philadelphia, Dec. 24, 1853 as published in the Muscatine Journal, Friday, January 6, 1854:

- Lydia Darrah's House -

During the week I have visited several places of note near Philadelphia. ... At the corner of Little Dock and Second streets, stands the queer looking old house occupied by the heroic Lydia Darrah. It was here, if I remember the story aright, that she left the British officer, and taking her flour bag, set off to inform Gen. Washington of the intended attack of the British upon his camp; and her heroic conduct defeated the plans of the red-coats, and saved the Americans. Well does she deserve a monument; but no such monument is hers. As one might almost guess, her old mansion is now occupied by a Jew, as a clothing store.

what really happened

It was a sunny day when lydia went to get her 24 kids some food from the farm but clouds started forming and a thunder storm hit! She got shocked by lighting so we think but who would really believe that she killded herself with an apple. please take note this is a joke. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.219.50.165 (talk) 22:38, 8 February 2012 (UTC)

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Summary

Lydia Darragh was born in 1728. She died on December 28, 1789. She married William Darragh. They had nine children but four died at birth. Their children were named Charles, Ann, John, William, and Susannah. Lydia's hometown was Dublin, Ireland. She moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A few years later, she got married. Her oldest son Charles joined the Continental Army and was at Whitemarsh, Pa. In 1777 the British were staying in Philadelphia. Her important accomplishment during the war was on December 2, 1777, when the British asked Lydia and her husband if they could use their house for a meeting. They said yes. The British asked Lydia and her husband because they were Quakers and were against the war. That night Lydia said she was going to sleep but she was really listening to what the British were saying. She heard that they were going to surprise attack the Continental Army at Whitemarsh, Pa. So the next morning Lydia told the British she was going to the store to get some flour for cooking, but on her way she went to the Continental camp and met one of the officers. She told him what the British said and asked that the officer tell George Washington. On December 4th, the British attacked the Continental Army but soon realized that the Americans were waiting for them and withdrew the attack. They never found out that Lydia was the spy and had told the Americans their plans. One major event in her life was she was a Quaker, a member of the Society of Friends. The Quakers did not believe in the war and if they thought any members were in support of the war, they asked them to leave the Society of Friends. Lydia lost her membership on August 29, 1783. It is not known why they asked her to leave or if it had to do with her supporting the war since the war had ended by 1783.