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Margaret Cochran Corbin, known as Captain Molly during the American Revolutionary War, holds the distinction of being the first woman to receive a United States military pension. Her remarkable story, however, ended on a somber note.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1751 to an Irish immigrant family on the western frontier, Margaret faced tragedy early in life. At age five, her father, Robert Cochran, was killed, and her mother was abducted during an Indian raid.
Margaret and her brother escaped and were subsequently raised by their uncle. She later married John Corbin, a farmer, when she was 21.
When the Revolutionary War began, John enlisted to fight, and Margaret accompanied him, joining the many women who cared for wounded soldiers and handled domestic tasks. Her strong-willed nature earned her the nickname “Captain Molly.”
The couple was stationed at Fort Washington in New York during a British attack. After John was killed operating a cannon, Margaret stepped in to load and fire it herself. She was wounded and captured but eventually returned to Pennsylvania, though she never fully recovered from her injuries.
In 1779, Margaret became the first woman awarded a U.S. military pension, receiving half of a soldier’s monthly pay. She continued to serve by assisting with cooking and laundry for wounded soldiers at the Corps of Invalids in West Point in 1781.
According to historical accounts from the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Major Boynton’s History of West Point, Captain Molly was often seen wearing an artilleryman’s coat over her skirt. Descriptions portray her as brusque, red-haired, and lacking traditional feminine qualities-one biographer even noted her frequent use of swear words.
Margaret Cochran Corbin died in 1800 in Highland Falls, New York, and was buried without ceremony. Her unconventional demeanor did not align with the Victorian-era values that followed her lifetime. Although the exact location of her remains is unknown, three memorials stand in her honor today, commemorating her courage and service during a pivotal moment in American history.