by Linda Harris Sittig
What would you do if you found out your two brothers and your husband, all three serving in the Continental Army, had run out of food and supplies, and your brothers were sick, encamped 200 miles from you?
Naturally, you would be upset, concerned, maybe even frustrated. But would you consider leaving your three young children to ride horseback over 200 miles of rough terrain to bring aid to your brothers and husband?
Anna Asbury Stone did just that.
Anna’s Story
Born on Oct. 6, 1747, in Stafford County, Virginia, Anna became accustomed at an early age to step up to the plate. When her father died young and left Anna’s mother and siblings without enough income to survive, Anna’s family went to live with an uncle.
When Anna was 11, the uncle farmed her out as an indentured servant to a well-to-do family in the county for seven years.
But well-to-do does not necessarily equate with kindness.
When Anna worked as an indentured servant, she became friends with the African cook, who also served as a healer on the plantation. From Rhoda, the African woman, Anna learned invaluable lessons about cooking and using age-old techniques for treating the sick.
When Anna returned to her uncle’s house at 18, she met and fell in love with the new Baptist preacher, Benjamin Stone. They married and started a family and lived a simple rural life in Fauquier County, VA.
But then history intervened. The American colonies began to rebel against the tyranny of King George of England. Benjamin Stone felt it was his patriotic duty to volunteer as a chaplain to the Continental Army.
By December of 1777, George Washington’s troops were ensconced at Valley Forge, PA, for their winter quarters. Living in tents or crudely constructed huts, poorly clothed, and not enough food, diseases became rampant. The most feared was smallpox.
When Anna receives the letter from her husband, attesting to the problematic situation and the news that both her brothers are in a nearby field hospital sick with the pox, Anna does not hesitate.
Within days she is saddled on her horse with multiple saddlebags and bundles filled with men’s winter clothing and food provisions.
Her 200-mile trek from Fauquier County, VA, to Valley Forge is over treacherous terrain for a woman riding alone, especially in winter. More than once, she fends off would-be attackers.
The Plot Against General George Washington
When Anna reaches York, PA, she receives a packet of letters intended for General George Washington. The hope is that the British will not suspect a woman carrier. One of the letters discloses a plot by a small group of founding fathers bent on Washington’s removal so that a new leader who would favor trade with Britain be installed.
Her journey takes two weeks, but she arrives at Valley Forge to tend to her sick brothers and husband. She also delivers the letters to General Washington. Once her brothers seem to be on the mend, Anna sets out again on horseback, but this time to return home.
The American Revolution would drag on for an additional six years before the colonies achieved their goal of complete independence from Great Britain.
Benjamin Stone returns home to Anna and continues his life as a Baptist preacher. Their marriage is ultimately blessed with a total of eleven children. Anna never again rode on such a journey as the trip to Valley Forge. Still, when American women had virtually no freedoms for themselves, Anna learned that she could take care of herself and perform duties as a community healer.
Further Reading
If you are interested in Anna’s full story, look for Answering Liberty’s Call, available online and in bookstores, by Tracy Lawson. Today, a D.A.R. chapter in Cambridge, Ohio, is named in honor of Anna Stone, a true American Patriot.
If you enjoyed this brief synopsis of Anna’s story and would like to learn about more strong women from history, sign up on the right sidebar and become a follower of this blog.
You can also learn about more strong women from my three novels, Cut From Strong Cloth, Last Curtain Call, and Counting Crows, all available online and in bookstores. You can learn more about me as an author from www.lindasittig.com or follow me on Twitter @lhsittig and Instagram @lhsittig.
On Feb. 15, from 7 – 8 pm, I will be participating in the 3 Great Books Launch Party on Facebook. Joining with two other authors, we will be sharing the stories behind our novels and open to interactive questions. And, we will be doing giveaways! Please do join in on the fun.
~ Linda
This Anna sounds a little like the “Anna” in the TV series TURN about the American Revolution. Good story, thanks!