Corbin, Margaret Cochran (1751–c. 1800)

views updated

Corbin, Margaret Cochran (1751–c. 1800)

American revolutionary. Name variations: Captain Molly; Dirty Kate. Born Margaret Cochran, Nov 12, 1751, in what is now Franklin Co., Pennsylvania; died in Highland Falls, New York, c. 1800; dau. of Robert Cochran; m. John Corbin, 1772 (killed 1776); married, 1782.

Father killed by Indians (1756) and mother made captive, never to return; accompanied husband John Corbin to the army; learned the intricate steps of loading and firing; at Fort Washington, during battle, took over gunner's position in place of husband who was killed (Nov 16, 1776); received army pension and became a soldier in the Invalid Corps (1779), remaining in this capacity until the unit was disbanded (April 1783); lived in vicinity of West Point, drawing provisions from the army commissary; eventually settled in what is now Highland Falls, NY; not to be confused with Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley.

See also Edward Hall, Margaret Corbin: Heroine of the Battle of Fort Washington, 16 Nov 1776 (1932); and Women in World History.

About this article

Corbin, Margaret Cochran (1751–c. 1800)

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article