Working Out Her Destiny - Where are the Women: Examples from the LVA Collections

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Where are the Women: Examples from the LVA Collections A War Veteran
Introduction Shaping Public Opinion Women's Organizations Education Work Service to Country Votes for Women Electing Women Where are the Women: Examples from the LVA Collections Notable Virginia Women Timeline Related Resources	An Ordinary Life \|Tales through Letters \| A War Veteran Family Violence \| Mistaken Identity \| Divorce and Remarriage Abuse and Independence \| Property Rights \| The Invisible Economy The Unfortunate Mary Webley \| Family or Freedom That Properly Belongs to Every Christian Man, 1708 \| Virginia Indian Women Fugitive bits of evidence such as receipts enable historians to reconstruct the remarkable life of Anna Maria Lane, a Revolutionary War veteran. Perhaps a native of New Hampshire, Anna Maria Lane followed her husband, John, who enlisted in the Continental army in 1776 and served in the campaigns in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Many women worked as cooks or seamstresses or laundry assistants at the military camps. Anna Maria dressed in men's clothing and performed the duties of a soldier. At the Battle of Germantown, near Philadelphia, on 3 October 1777, she performed "extraordinary military services" and was wounded in battle. After the war, the Lanes lived in Virginia, where John worked at the arsenal in Fluvanna County. In 1801 the couple moved to Richmond and John joined the public guard. Anna Maria volunteered to assist in the military hospital and made the acquaintance of Dr. John H. Foushee, at whose request Governor James Monroe authorized her to be paid for her work. By 1807 Anna Maria was too feeble to work. Early the next year Governor William H. Cabell requested the General Assembly to provide pensions for the disabled soldiers in the public guard. The assembly awarded John Lane $40 a year for life and Anna Maria Lane $100 a year for life in recognition of her service "in the revolutionary war, in the garb, and with the courage of a soldier." Letter, William H. Cabell to Speaker of the House of Delegates. 28 January 1808. Manuscript. RG 3, Governor’s Office, Executive Letter Books, William H. Cabell, 8 July 1807–9 March 1808. Acc. 35358, The Library of Virginia Receipt for pensions for John Lane and Ann Maria Lane. 6 February 1809. Manuscript. Auditor of Public Accounts (Entry 230), RG 48. State Pension Records. Library of Virginia. Receipt for pension for Ann Maria Lane. 20 May 1808. Manuscript. Auditor of Public Accounts (Entry 230), RG 48. State Pension Records. Library of Virginia. Historical Highway Marker for Anna Maria Lane. 2004. Library of Virginia.