By way of a popular tv show, ladies who spied toward Americans are popular today. There were of several British and Loyalist women who got comparable risks. Mary Henshaw’s husband Richard is an effective soldier regarding eight th Routine away from Base, the latest Regal Northern United kingdom Fusiliers, and you will she most likely found America that have your when the regiment is actually delivered to Quebec during the 1773. The newest eight th Routine had a rough amount of time in the war; the dudes, and their spouses, was basically caught throughout the Trip out of 1775 whenever People in the us captured the newest posts between Lake Champlain and you may Quebec. The fresh prisoners was indeed provided for Lancaster, Pennsylvania and you can weren’t replaced until the adopting the season. When the troops rejoined the fresh new military, the new routine supported on the several procedures culminating operating in the Carolinas. It absolutely was here you to definitely Richard Henshaw passed away in June 1781.
Long before it, no matter if, Richard and Mary had destroyed contact with each other, toward extent you to definitely Mary envision he had passed away. In lieu of go home as much British widows performed, she remarried, now in order to Charles McCarthy from the grenadier organization of one’s nine th Regiment from Feet. The way they found incase it elizabeth a prisoner-of-war whenever Standard Burgoyne’s army capitulated for the Oct 1777. Inmates out of you to army escaped of the multiple and you will finished up scattered all around the territories; McCarthy is actually recaptured inside the August 1780 along the Hudson Lake significantly more than Nyc. Their spouse Mary and her people (in which spouse we really do not discover) is now stranded within the aggressive territory, and frantically had a need to arrive at a british garrison.
Into the 4 September 1780 he offered her a violation to go to Nyc and install an escort when deciding to take their unique for the United kingdom traces
Luck is on the front. She found the interest away from a prominent Western administrator who seriously needed to score recommendations towards the an united kingdom garrison, namely General Benedict Arnold. The guy together with trusted their particular that have dispatches to transmit in order to Uk headquarters. With completed their particular mission, she remained in Nyc and you will obtained help regarding the United kingdom army along with other family split from their husbands. It kept Mary Henshaw McCarthy along with her around three youngsters alone yet , once more. She penned a good petition for the frontrunner for the master:
That your particular Petitioner Mary McCarthay, formerly the newest Partner from Richd. Henshaw Dry who was simply good Soldier in the Majesty’s 7 th Regt. away from Regal Fusiliers-After their decease she partnered so you can Charles McCarthay of nine th Regt., who was simply captured that have Standard Burgoyne, https://getbride.org/tr/porto-riko-kadinlar/ that the Petitioners Spouse Charles McCarthay, for the endeavouring and also make his Stay away from, regarding Rebels in order to Nyc, are taken Prisoner on the Highlands-appropriate new Petitioner have been intrusted by the Standard Arnold along with his dispatches to bring in order to N: York, that was a short time prior to he left the newest Rebell Army in the West Section, And also at the very best issues away from her lives introduced them toward that it Garrison, and produced these to his Excellency General Robertson throughout the exposure of Colo. Beverly Robertson.
Whenever hostilities finished and you can inmates of war had been repatriated, Charles McCarthy did not come back; their destiny was not familiar
Your own Petitioner try an enthusiastic English Lady and hath sign’d commit to ily regarding About three Children now really sick along with your petitioner is certainly much Disappointed and achieving no Home within this Town humbly Needs the Excellency’s Shame and you may Recovery that greatly ease their particular and you will Childrens upset Problem to possess to assist them to on their Passage.
So far as we all know, this ingenious lady did create her way to Nova Scotia along with thousands of almost every other displaced Loyalists and refugees.
