Margaret Cochran Corbin | 1751–1800 Plaque

Who would have thought a cannon could change a life? Here at the Margaret Cochran Corbin Plaque, in Fort Tryon Park, we remember a woman whose life was irrevocably altered by the roar of artillery. The Margaret Cochran Corbin Plaque commemorates a woman who defied expectations and stepped into the heart of battle during the Revolutionary War. Margaret Cochran Corbin’s story isn’t just one of courage, it’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Margaret’s early life was marked by tragedy. Born in 1751, she was orphaned at the age of five after a Native American raid. Her father was killed, and her mother was captured, never to be seen again. Raised by her uncle, Margaret eventually married John Corbin, a farmer who enlisted in the Pennsylvania Artillery when the Revolution ignited. Margaret, unwilling to be separated from her husband, became a camp follower. She cooked, washed, nursed the wounded, and earned the nickname “Molly Pitcher” for carrying water to the soldiers and cannons. Then came November 16, 1776. The Battle of Fort Washington raged, and Margaret was right there with John as he manned his cannon. When John fell, Margaret didn’t hesitate. She took his place, loading and firing the cannon with a skill that astonished those around her. Her aim was true, her resolve unwavering, making her a target for the Hessian forces. She fought until she too was severely wounded, her arm nearly severed, her chest and jaw mangled by enemy fire. Margaret survived, but her injuries were permanent. The Margaret Cochran Corbin Plaque tells us that she was the first woman in US history to receive a military pension. Congress recognized her service and sacrifice, granting her half a soldier’s pay and a new set of clothes. She later joined the Corps of Invalids at West Point. Though she remarried briefly, her second husband also died soon after. Margaret Cochran Corbin died in 1800, just shy of her fiftieth birthday. Her story, however, continues to resonate. Here, at the Margaret Cochran Corbin Plaque, we honor her bravery and her contribution to the fight for American independence. She stands as a symbol of the often-unsung women who played a vital role in shaping our nation’s history.