Lydia Barrington was born in Dublin, Ireland, and at the age of 25 she married the family tutor, William Darrah. After a few years of marriage, the two immigrated to Philadelphia, where she gave birth to nine children, four of whom died in infancy.
1778, the British troops left Philadelphia, and Lydia’s young children, who had been sent away earlier to live with relatives, returned home. William passed away in 1783, two years after Lydia’s son Charles was kicked out of the Quaker church. Lydia herself lost her membership in 1783 for her actions, and she soon moved with her children to a new house, where she operated a shoe store until her death three years later.
Born. | |
Married William Darrah. | |
British troops occupied Philadelphia. | |
Helped foil British plans for an attack on Washington’s troops. | |
Lost her membership to the Society of Friends. | |
Moved into a new house with her children. | |
Died. |
Lydia Darrah in | America First—100 Stories from Our History by Lawton B. Evans |
The Quaker Woman in | Story of the Thirteen Colonies by H. A. Guerber |
Quakeress Patriot in | Historical Tales, Vol I: American by Charles Morris |
Lydia Darrah Saves General Washington in | American History Stories, Volume II by Mara L. Pratt |
George Washington | Leader of the Continental Army of the U.S. during the Revolutionary War, and first President. |
When her husband was killed, she took over his position and helped man a cannon at the Battle of Monmouth. | |
Pioneer woman who captured a group of Tory soldiers in her home, and later hung them. |