Born: 1763, United States (assumed)
Died: 1849
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Rachel Clay
The following is republished from the National Park Service. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
Elizabeth Martin 1727-1797, Grace Martin 1758-1820, & Rachel Martin 1763-1849
Elizabeth Martin was the wife of Abram Martin. Abram had served under George Washington during the French and Indian War. In 1769, the couple moved their family from Virginia to South Carolina, settling in what is now Edgefield County. The Martins had nine children, eight of them sons, who all became patriot soldiers. In 1773, while on a surveying trip in Wilkes County, Georgia, Abram was killed by Native Americans, leaving Elizabeth a widow.
During the Revolutionary War several of Elizabeth’s daughters-in-law lived with her. Two of the most notable daughters-in-law were Grace and Rachel. Grace was the widow of Elizabeth’s oldest son, William, who had been killed at the Siege of Augusta and Rachel was the wife or another son, Barclay. Throughout the war the Martin women nursed and tended the wounded continental army soldiers.
One day in May of 1781, during the siege of Ninety Six, Rachel and Grace took on a new role. They had heard that a British currier would be passing through the area with two guards. Disguising themselves as men, using their husbands clothing, they set out to ambush the currier. Taking position along a protected turn in the road they waited. Just before night fall, they heard the approaching messenger and guards. Armed with firearms the women jumped out and startled the men. They demanded the surrender of documents as well as the guards’ weapons.
According to a local tale, after the ambush, the British returned from the direction they had come and sought accommodations at a house. The house turned out to be non-other than the Marin home. When Elizabeth asked why they had returned so early they exclaimed how “two Rebel lads” had surprised them and stolen their dispatch. The men were fed and rested, never expecting their two younger host to be the “lads” they had encountered.With the exception of her eldest, William, all of Elizabeth’s sons survived the war. When alerted about her son’s death, Mrs. Martin responded, “He could not have died in a nobler cause.”
The following is excerpted from The Women of the American Revolution (1849) by Elizabeth F. Ellet.
THE daring exploit of two women in Ninety-Six District, furnishes an instance of courage as striking as any remembered among the traditions of South Carolina. During the sieges of Augusta and Cambridge, the patriotic enthusiasm that prevailed among the people prompted to numerous acts of personal risk and sacrifice. This spirit, encouraged by the successes of Sumter and others over the British arms, was earnestly fostered by General Greene, whose directions marked at least the outline of every undertaking. In the efforts made to strike a blow at the invader’s power, the sons of the Martin family were among the most distinguished for active service rendered, and for injuries sustained at the enemy’s hands. The wives of the two eldest, during their absence, remained at home with their mother in law. One evening intelligence came to them that a courier, conveying important despatches to one of the upper stations, was to pass that night along the road, guarded by two British officers. They determined to waylay the party, and at the risk of their lives, to obtain possession of the papers. For this purpose the two young women disguised themselves in their husbands’ clothes, and being well provided with arms, took their station at a point on the road which they knew the escort must pass. It was already late, and they had not waited long before the tramp of horses was heard in the distance. It may be imagined with what anxious expectation the heroines awaited the approach of the critical moment on which so much depended. The forest solitude around them, the silence of night, and the darkness, must have added to the terrors conjured up by busy fancy. Presently the courier appeared, with his attendant guards. As they came close to the spot, the disguised women leaped from their covert in the bushes, presented their pistols at the officers, and demanded the instant surrender of the party and their dispatches. The men were completely taken by surprise, and in their alarm at the sudden attack, yielded a prompt submission. The seeming soldiers put them on their parole, and having taken possession of the papers, hastened home by a short cut through the woods. No time was lost in sending the important documents by a trusty messenger to General Greene. The adventure had a singular termination. The paroled officers, thus thwarted in their mission, returned by the road they had taken, and stopping at the house of Mrs. Martin, asked accommodation as weary travelers, for the night. The hostess inquired the reason of their returning so soon after they had passed. They replied by showing their paroles, saying they had been taken prisoners by two rebel lads. The ladies rallied them upon their want of intrepidity.
“Had you no arms?” was asked. The officers answered that they had arms, but had been suddenly taken off their guard, and were allowed no time to use their weapons. They departed the next morning, having no suspicion that they owed their capture to the very women whose hospitality they had claimed
This eldest son married Grace Waring, of Dorchester, when she was but fourteen years of age. She was the daughter of Benjamin Waring, who afterwards became one of the earliest settlers of Columbia when established as the seat of government in the State. The principles of the Revolution had been taught her from childhood; and her efforts to promote its advancement were joined with those of her husband’s family. She was one of the two who risked their lives to seize upon the dispatches, as above related. Her husband’s untimely death left her with three young children-two sons and a daughter; but she never married again.