During the American Revolution, many patriots like Elizabeth Burgin played a key role in America’s victory over Britain even though she never fought on the frontlines. Her ability to glide past British soldiers under their radar proved to be so effective that Congress rewarded her for her services to her country.
Most of Burgin’s early life is unknown, and the information available about her came out during the Revolutionary War. By the late 1770s, Burgin had become a widow with three children. Many accounts say that her husband was most likely a soldier who died while fighting for the Americans during the war.
By 1779, many American prisoners were sent to prison ships in the waters near New York. During the six-year war, nearly 10,000 prisoners were held on British prison vessels. While being held on the ships, the prisoners suffered through horrible conditions and often died from diseases like smallpox and yellow fever.
Being a staunch patriot, Burgin learned about the treacherous conditions and wanted to help. Since only women were allowed onto the prison ships, Burgin would go onto the vessels to bring the soldiers food and comfort.
One day, while leaving the prison ships, Burgin was confronted by George Higday, who was a well-known American spy. The Culper Ring was a network of spies organized by Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge and George Washington in 1778. Higday led the Culper Ring group in New York City.
Prisoners of War
Burgin agreed to help carry out Higday’s plan to free prisoners. Although little is known about the details of the escape, rumors say that a drug was smuggled on board to the prisoners, who then poisoned a guard’s beer. Burgin then rowed a small boat up to the ship and helped around 200 prisoners escape.
But soon after, the British found letters between Washington and the Culper Spy Ring. The British launched a campaign to get to the bottom of the spy ring, where they were led to Higday.
The British then broke into Higday’s house and placed him in custody. While being interrogated, Higday’s wife told the British that her husband aided Burgin in helping prisoners escape in fear that Higday would be hung for being a spy.
The British then set up guards around Burgin’s house and wouldn’t let anyone enter or exit. They also placed a 200-pound bounty on Burgin’s capture, which was equal to 20 years of a British soldier’s pay.
Giving All for Her Country
She eventually made it to Philadelphia with her children, but she was without any extra clothes or personal items. After she fled New York, the British sold everything she owned to Loyalists.In 1780, Burgin reached out to General Washington for help. Washington then wrote a letter to Congress on her behalf. “It would appear that she has been indefatigable,” Washington told Congress, “for the relief of the prisoners, and in measures for facilitating their escape.”
Congress agreed with Washington and granted Burgin and her children free lodging and food rations. But then, in 1781, Burgin reached out to Congress and told them that she didn’t want to be expensive or troublesome to the country.
She asked if she could be put to work cutting shirts out of linen to be worn by soldiers. Congress didn’t offer her a job, but instead gave her a pension that she collected until 1787, when it is believed she passed away.
