Elizabeth Berry, Rev. War Hero

Elizabeth Gilmore, along with her sister Ann, were nurses at the winter camp of General George Washington at Valley Forge, west of Philadelphia (December 19 1777 to June 19 1778). She is also recorded as a soldier (private) in the Continental Army. She is recognised as a patriot by the "Daughters of the American Revolution", having served during the revolutionary wars (1775-1783). DAR# A045194

"Little is known about the women but there were women at Valley Forge. Junior officers' wives probably remained in the homes of their husbands and socialized among themselves. The enlisted men's wives lived and labored among the troops, some working as housekeepers for the officers; others as cooks. The most common positions were nurse and laundress. A washerwoman might work for wages or charge by the piece."

(Reference: http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/VALLEY.HTM)

Elizabeth Gilmore met and fell in love with John Berry on a ship from Ireland in 1775. Newspaper article says she enlisted as a private in Pennsylvania's Rangers. John served under Col. Daniel Brodhead's Penn. Regiment of Riflemen. They spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge. They married in 1780....moved to Washington Co., PA. in 1794 and settled on land purchased from George Washington (in 1796). They are buried in Robinson Run Cemetery.

Elizabeth had a sister Ann who came on the ship with her.

Info taken from article "History Records Heroic Deeds" in the Observer-Reporter, Washington, PA.

Sept. 24, 1975.