Elizabeth Burgin (before 1760 – after 1790) was an American patriot during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

who helped over 200

prisoners of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held Captivity, captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold priso ...

escape British

prison ships A prison ship, often more accurately described as a prison hulk, is a current or former seagoing vessel that has been modified to become a place of substantive detention for convicts, prisoners of war or civilian internees. While many nation ...

Life

Not much is known of Elizabeth Burgin's early life. She was a mother of three and probably a war widow.

Watson Watson may refer to: Companies * Actavis, a pharmaceutical company formerly known as Watson Pharmaceuticals * A.S. Watson Group, retail division of Hutchison Whampoa * Thomas J. Watson Research Center, IBM research center * Watson Systems, make ...

2017, p. 144 Burgin brought food for prisoners of war housed on British

in New York.

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2013, p. 112 In 1779, she was approached by George Higday, a member of the

Culper Spy Ring The Culper Ring was a network of spy, spies active during the American Revolutionary War, organized by Major Benjamin Tallmadge and General George Washington in 1778 during the British New York and New Jersey campaign, occupation of New York Cit ...

, to help prisoners of war escape the prison ships. Some time later, the British intercepted a letter sent from George Washington to Benjamin Tallmadge, which talked about Higday's espionage. On July 13, 1779, Higday's home was raided by the British and arrested him. Higday's wife, in order to help her husband, told the British about Burgin's help. As a result, British authorities attempted to locate her and placed a bounty of £200 (£ or $ in 2016). Burgin hid for two weeks before moving to

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...

. After hiding for another five weeks, she moved to Connecticut and finally Philadelphia. In October 1779, Burgin received a flag of truce from the

Board of War The Board of War, also known as the Board of War and Ordinance, was created by the Second Continental Congress as a special standing committee to oversee the American Continental Army's administration and to make recommendations regarding the ar ...

in order for her to get her children from New York back to Philadelphia. However she was not allowed to take her clothes or furniture. Since she was left with essentially nothing, Burgin petitioned to Washington in November 1779 for assistance. On December 25, 1779 George Washington allowed her to receive rations. Burgin received an annuity starting from 1781 and claimed the funds at least through 1787.

2013, p. 113

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Burgin, Elizabeth People of New York (state) in the American Revolution Women in the American Revolution Year of death missing Place of birth missing Year of birth uncertain