Due to a famous tv show, women that spied with the Americans try well-known now. There had been of numerous United kingdom and you can Loyalist women that took similar threats. Mary Henshaw’s partner Richard are a good soldier throughout the 7 th Routine out of Feet, the latest Royal North British Fusiliers, and you may she most likely involved The united states that have your if regiment try sent to Quebec during the 1773. The seven th Regiment got a crude time in the war; the men, in addition to their spouses, have been caught on the Autumn of 1775 when Us americans seized the new listings between Lake Champlain and you can Quebec. The new prisoners had been sent to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and were not exchanged before pursuing the year. In the event the troops rejoined the brand new army, this new routine supported toward several ways culminating operating regarding the Carolinas. It was here one to Richard Henshaw died within the June 1781.
A long time before that it, even in the event, Richard and you will Mary had forgotten experience of each other, to your extent one to Mary thought he’d died. In place of go homeward as numerous British widows did, she remarried, now to Charles McCarthy about grenadier business of your 9 th Regiment of Base. How they came across if in case it elizabeth a prisoner-of-war whenever Standard Burgoyne’s armed forces capitulated from inside the October 1777. Inmates from one to armed forces escaped because of the numerous and wound up thrown all over the territories; McCarthy try recaptured in the August 1780 over the Hudson River significantly more than Nyc. His spouse Mary and her children (where partner we really do not understand) is today stuck from inside the aggressive territory, and anxiously must reach a british garrison.
With the cuatro Sep 1780 the guy gave their particular a violation to go so you can New york city and you will build an escort when planning on taking her for the United kingdom lines
Luck is on her behalf front side. She concerned the attention out-of a well known Western officer who anxiously had a need to rating guidance for the an uk garrison, specifically General Benedict Arnold. The guy and additionally entrusted their particular having dispatches to transmit so you can British head office. Having done their particular mission, she remained for the Ny and you can gotten service on British armed forces together with other family broke up off their husbands. Which left Mary Henshaw McCarthy along with her around three people alone but really once more. She typed a great petition with the commander in master:
Your Petitioner Mary McCarthay, previously the new Partner out of Richd. Henshaw Inactive who was a good Soldier in the Majesty’s seven th Regt. out of Regal Fusiliers-Just after their decease she hitched so you can Charles McCarthay snap this site of 9 th Regt., who was caught having Standard Burgoyne, that Petitioners Spouse Charles McCarthay, within the endeavouring and work out their Stay away from, regarding Rebels to Nyc, try drawn Prisoner regarding Highlands-following the latest Petitioner have been intrusted because of the Standard Arnold along with his dispatches to take to help you Letter: York, which had been a few days in advance of the guy leftover the brand new Rebell Army in the West Area, As well as a possibility of her lifetime delivered them toward which Garrison, and you can introduced these to his Excellency Standard Robertson throughout the exposure of Colo. Beverly Robertson.
Whenever hostilities concluded and you may inmates away from war had been repatriated, Charles McCarthy didn’t go back; their fate is not familiar
Their Petitioner are a keen English Lady and you can hath sign’d to visit so you can ily out-of About three People now very unwell plus petitioner is very much indeed Distressed and achieving no Residence in this Town humbly Desires their Excellency’s Embarrassment and Rescue that can significantly lessen their and you may Childrens troubled Problem getting to help them on the Passageway.
As far as we realize, it imaginative lady performed build their own answer to Nova Scotia with each other that have thousands of most other displaced Loyalists and you will refugees.