My Genealogy Hound

Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Monument of Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley "Molly Pitcher", vintage postcard photo

A vintage postcard of the monument marking the grave of Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley, otherwise known as "Molly Pitcher", at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Molly (a common nickname for the name of Mary) was born as Mary Ludwig on October 13th, 1754 near Trenton, New Jersey. At the age of fourteen, Molly married William Hayes in 1769 at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. During the Revolutionary War, Molly was one of the many women, who, like Martha Washington, followed their husbands as they moved between various battlefield camps. It is believed that both Molly and her husband were among those at Valley Forge during the brutal winter of 1777-78.

At the Battle of Monmouth fought at Freehold, New Jersey on June 28, 1778, her husband was one of those manning the artillery cannons. Molly served by bringing pitchers of cool water to the men for drinking and for the cooling of the hot cannon barrels. At some point during the battle, her husband collapsed from either injuries or heat exhaustion. Molly immediately moved to take his place at the cannon and continued to help operate that cannon for the remainder of the battle.

After the war ended, Molly and her husband returned to Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After his death, Molly married another Revolutionary War veteran by the name of John McCauley. In 1822, the Pennsylvania Legislature honored her war service with an annual pension of $40. Mary "Molly" Ludwig Hays McCauley died January 22, 1832 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania at the age 77. Her grave is marked by a statue and a cannon monument. See the additional photos below.

The Molly Pitcher - Mary McCauley Monument and tombstone as photographed 2016. See the additional photo below.

A plaque on the monument to Molly Pitcher - Mary McCauley.