Continental Congress grants first formal military service pension to Margaret Corbin, a figure later merged into "Molly Pitcher."
On July 6, 1779, Margaret Corbin, often incorporated into the "Molly Pitcher" narrative, was recognized by the Continental Congress with a pension for her service at Fort Washington. This groundbreaking recognition was the first formal acknowledgment by Congress of a woman's service in the military, setting a precedent that would highlight the crucial roles women played in pursuits traditionally dominated by men. Corbin’s legacy, intertwined with the "Molly Pitcher" legend, underscores the composite nature of how women's contributions during the Revolutionary War became mythologized over time.