Mary Dillard

Mary (Ramage) Dillard 1755 –1836 drew a private's pay in the American Revolutionary War.

A Patriot of the American Revolution for SOUTH CAROLINA. DAR Ancestor # A036097  
Service Description:  1) WARNED COL CLARKE OF PLANNED TORY ATTACK AT CEDAR SPRINGS

Mary Ramage (daughter of John Ramage and Jean Adair) 622 was born Abt. 1760, and died 1795.
She married James Dillard.

from Find A Grave Memorial #29696253

History records that Mary Ramage Dillard was a beautiful woman, remarkably little and very active.

After the Revolution, James and Mary continued to live in Laurens County where they reared their family.
They had seven children:

1. John Dillard,
2. George Washington Dillard,
3. Priscilla Ramage Dillard,
4. Mary (Polly) Dillard,
5. Jane (Jennie) Dillard,
6. Elizabeth (Betsy) Dillard and
7. Samuel H. Dillard.

Mary is considered a Revolutionary Heroine because of her midnight ride to warn the American Patriots of an impending attack.
It seems that her husband, Capt James Dillard, was away from home at the time serving in the American Army. A group of British and Tory soldiers came to Mary's home and ordered Mary to prepare them a meal.
While serving the meal, Mary overheard them discussing that they would attack the American Army.
After they left, Mary mounted a horse, not even taking time to saddle it, and carried the information to the American Patriots.
She had a baby son to deal with and having no time to find somewhere to leave him, Mary lifted the bed post and sat it down on the end of his dressing gown, keeping the baby from safe while he slept.
Her effort is said to have prevented a Tory victory at Blackstocks which was Tarleton's first defeat in South Carolina.
Tarleton later recalled seeing a woman on horseback among the trees bordering his march and he believed that she reported him to Sumter.

From http://www.scssar.org/PDF/Patriot_Grave_Stones_How_To_2.pdf

Between the dangers of living on the Indian Frontier and he vulnerability she accompanied her husband on every, campaign, bivouac, drill, and battle.
In addition to being the information Conduit for Kerr (SUPER SPY) and his guardian, during the Battle of Blackstock’s Plantation, at the height of the fighting, she noticed that some fifty-plus British horses were unattended and off to the side tethered to a long rope tied between two trees.
Un noticed, she walked to the horses, cut each end of the rope and boldly led them from the field and across the river to the Virginans on the American Side of the River.
The British officers and Cavalry had to walk away (rather than ride) and they had to abandon their three canons plus supply wagons (Tents, blankets, Lanterns, Shovels, Axes, Pots & Pans, and their munitions wagons without the means to propel them.

From: Carolina Herald, March 1990.... by Thomas L. Wallis

Mary Ramage Dillard, a daughter of John and Jean (Jane) Adair Ramage of Laurens District, South Carolina, was born during the early 1760's.
Mary was the wife of James Dillard, who was born in 1755 in Culpeper County, Virginia.
James had settled in what is now Laurens County when he was seven years old.
James and Mary lived near the South Fork Creek in the eastern section of Laurens County.

Both Mary's father, John Ramage, and maternal grandfather, Joseph Adair, Sr., were American Patriots in Laurens District.
Mary's husband James Dillard served as a Captain in the American Revolution.
Mary is considered a Revolutionary Heroine because of her midnight ride to warn the American Patriots of an impending attack.
It seems that her husband, Capt James Dillard, was away from home at the time serving in the American Army. A group of British and Tory soldiers came to Mary's home and ordered Mary to prepare them a meal.
While serving the meal, Mary overheard them discussing that they would attack the American Army.
After they left, Mary mounted a horse, not even taking time to saddle it, and carried the information to the American Patriots.
She had a baby son to deal with and having no time to find somewhere to leave him, Mary lifted the bed post and sat it down on the end of his dressing gown, keeping the baby from safe while he slept.
Her effort is said to have prevented a Tory victory at Blackstocks which was Tarleton's first defeat in South Carolina.
Tarleton later recalled seeing a woman on horseback among the trees bordering his march and he believed that she reported him to Sumter.

On another occasion, Mary numbered the British Army while they marched down the road near her home.
By counting the men in each file and then counting the number of files, she was able to calculate the number of British.
She gave this information to her husband who passed it to the commander of the American Patriots.
On two occasions during the Revolution the Dillard's home was burned but this did not discourage their desire for American Independence.

History records that Mary Ramage Dillard was a beautiful woman, remarkably little and very active.
After the Revolution, James and Mary continued to live in Laurens County where they reared their family, They had seven children: John Dillard, George Washington Dillard, Priscilla Ramage Dillard, Mary (Polly) Dillard, Jane (Jennie) Dillard, Elizabeth (Betsy) Dillard and Samuel H. Dillard.

Mary was a member of a family who supported independence during the American Revolution.
Mary Ramage dillard's father, John Ramage, her maternal grandfather, Joseph Adair, and her husband, Capt. Jamrs dillard, fought for American independence during the Revolution.
Capt. James and Mary had a large home on the Enoree River, opposite the Musgrove plantation.
On two occasions, Capt. James and Mary Ramage Dillard's home was burned by the British and/or the Tories but this did not discourage their desire for American independence.

Mary Ramage Dillard died at the age of 38 in 1795. Cause of death is unknown by this writer, but I suspect death came shortly after the death of her last child.

The date of death on her headstone is incorrect.
She had been confused with the second Mary Dillard, wife of James Dillard.
The headstone was moved from Mary Puckett Dillard's grave to the Duncan Creek Church cemetery because no one knows exactly where she was buried.

References

• Military service: Heroine of the American Revolution Updated from MyHeritage Match via daughter Mary Polly Dillard by SmartCopy: Sep 12 2014, 4:09:14 UTC
• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: May 28 2020, 2:39:11 UTC
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 10 2022, 21:51:20 UTC
• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Dec 24 2022, 8:38:54 UTC
• https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/b/o/w/Lisa-Bowes-1/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-1...