Mary Bowser facts for kids

Mary Richards, also known as Mary Jane Richards Garvin, was a brave Union spy during the Civil War. She was likely born in Virginia around 1846. When she was about seven years old, she lived in the household of Elizabeth Van Lew, who was also in Richmond. The Van Lew family helped Mary get an education in the northern states and later sent her to Liberia in West Africa.

Mary returned to Richmond just before the Civil War began. She became an an important part of a secret network of people, both Black and white, who gathered military information for the United States Army. This spy ring was led by Elizabeth Van Lew. Many stories about Mary Richards have been shared over the years, and sometimes she is called Mary Bowser. While she may have been married to a man named Wilson Bowser, some of the more dramatic tales about her, like working directly in the Confederate White House or trying to set it on fire, are not fully confirmed by historical records.

Mary's Early Life and Education

Mary Jane Richards was probably born in Virginia. She was baptized at St. John's Church in Richmond on May 17, 1846. The Van Lew family showed special care for Mary, arranging for her to receive an education. This was very unusual for someone in her situation at that time.

In 1855, Mary traveled to Liberia, a country in West Africa, to join a missionary community. Elizabeth Van Lew helped arrange this journey. By the spring of 1860, Mary had returned to Richmond, ready for the challenges ahead.

A Secret Agent for the Union

The American Civil War began in April 1861. Just four days after the first shots were fired at Fort Sumter, Mary married Wilson Bowser at St. John's Church. However, her marriage was short, and she later returned to using the name Richards.

Throughout the war, Mary played a vital role in a secret spy network that supported the Union. This network was organized by Elizabeth Van Lew. Mary took part in many activities to help the Union cause. For example, she once went into the home of Jefferson Davis, who was the president of the Confederacy, when he was away. She pretended to be doing laundry, but her real mission was to search for important war documents.

The information gathered by this spy ring was incredibly valuable. Important Union Generals like Ulysses S. Grant recognized how helpful their efforts were to the war. Elizabeth Van Lew herself wrote in her diary, "Most generally our reliable news is gathered from negroes, and they certainly show wisdom, discretion and prudence, which is wonderful."

Life After the War: A Teacher and Speaker

After the war ended and Richmond fell to Union forces, Mary Jane Richards immediately began working as a teacher. She taught formerly enslaved people in the city, helping them learn to read and write.

In 1865, Mary gave at least two lectures in the northern states. She spoke about her education, her travels to Liberia, and her experiences during the war. To protect her identity, she used different names, such as Richmonia Richards and Richmonia R. St. Pierre, when she spoke to audiences.

In early 1867, Mary J. Richards founded a school for formerly enslaved people, called a freedmen's school, in St. Marys, Georgia. She taught all the students herself, including children during the day, adults at night, and Sunday school classes. Later that year, she asked to be referred to as Mary J. R. Garvin, possibly because she planned to join a new husband.

Separating Fact from Fiction: What We Know About Mary

Over the years, many stories have been told about Mary Richards, and some of them have become mixed up or exaggerated. It's important to know what historians have confirmed and what remains a mystery.

• While Mary was a brave spy, there is no strong evidence that she worked as a permanent servant inside the Confederate White House. However, we do know she entered the house at least once to look for documents.
• Some accounts claim she had a "photographic memory," meaning she could remember everything she saw perfectly. While she was certainly intelligent, this specific claim is not fully proven.
• Mary used different names to protect herself, but the name "Ellen Bond" was not one of them.
• It's also not true that she tried to set fire to the Confederate White House or fled Richmond in a cart of manure. Records show she was still in Richmond after the war, teaching new students.
• A photograph sometimes shown as Mary Richards is actually of a different woman named Mary Bowser.

Historians continue to research Mary Richards' life to understand her true contributions.

Honoring Mary's Bravery

Mary Richards, sometimes referred to as "Mary Elizabeth Bowser," has been recognized for her important work during the Civil War. She was inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, by the U.S. government. This honor celebrates her courage and intelligence as a spy.

See also

• Harriet Tubman
• Ellen Barnes McGinnis, an enslaved woman who worked in the Confederate White House