Sarah Bradlee Fulton facts for kids

Sarah Bradlee Fulton was a brave American woman. She played an important part in the American Revolutionary War, which was when the American colonies fought for their freedom from Great Britain. She helped the American side in many ways. People remember her as a true hero of the American fight for freedom.

Who Was Sarah Bradlee Fulton?

Sarah Bradlee was born on December 24, 1740, in Dorchester, a town near Boston. In 1762, she married John Fulton and they moved to Medford. Sarah was a very active member of a group called the Daughters of Liberty. This group helped support the American cause.

The Boston Tea Party Heroine

Sarah Bradlee Fulton is sometimes called the "Mother of the Boston Tea Party". This famous event happened when American colonists protested against British taxes by dumping tea into Boston Harbor.

Sarah's brother, Nathaniel Bradlee, was a carpenter in Boston. He often hosted meetings for American patriots at his home. On the night of the Boston Tea Party, many of these patriots gathered at his carpenter shop. They were getting ready to disguise themselves as "Mohawks" before heading to the harbor.

Sarah Fulton and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Bradlee, helped these men. They disguised Nathaniel and his friends as Mohawks. Later, they helped them change back into their regular clothes. A British spy looked into the window, but he saw the women busy working and didn't suspect anything.

Helping During the War

Sarah Fulton helped the American cause many times during the Revolutionary War. In June 1775, after the Battle of Bunker Hill, many wounded soldiers were brought to Medford. A large open space became a field hospital. There were not many doctors, so women like Sarah became nurses.

Sarah became a leader among these nurses. She cared for a soldier who had a bullet in his cheek. With steady hands, she removed the bullet. Years later, that same soldier came to thank her for saving him.

Delivering Secret Messages

In March 1776, a military leader named Major John Brooks came to Sarah's house. He knew her husband, John Fulton, was a patriot and knew Boston well. Major Brooks asked John to deliver important messages from General George Washington. These messages had to go behind enemy lines.

When her husband could not do the job, Sarah bravely stepped up. She took the important message from John Brooks to George Washington at the Charleston war front. She managed to cross through enemy areas and return home safely.

Supporting the Troops

Later, during the Siege of Boston, Sarah and her husband used their own ship. They used it to bring wood and fuel to the American troops stationed in Medford. This was very important for keeping the soldiers warm and fed.

Remembering Sarah

Sarah Bradlee Fulton passed away on November 9, 1835, in Medford. In 1900, a special stone was placed at the Salem Street Burying Ground in Medford to honor her memory. A play about her life, called Sarah Bradlee Fulton, Patriot: A Colonial Drama in Three Acts, was written in 1919 by Grace Jewett Austin.