Lydia Darragh, A Heroine of the American Revolution Presented by Robert N. Fanelli

Join us on March 11 at 7:30 PM via Zoom as Robert N. Fanelli presents “Lydia Darragh, A Heroine of the American Revolution.”  Who is Lydia Darragh?  She is famed for eavesdropping on British General William Howe’s staff as they planned a surprise attack, then sneaking through the lines to give warning to American soldiers. Her actions are said to have saved George Washington’s army from a devastating ambush as it lay starving and freezing on the barren hills of Whitemarsh at the end of 1777. But did the secret she brought to the Patriots really prevent their defeat? Why would a professed pacifist choose to risk her life by intervening in military affairs? Who was the mysterious intelligence officer she met between the lines? Was her story even true?

 

Lydia’s Tale: The Mystery of Lydia Darragh, Irish Quaker, Patriot Spy by Fanelli uncovers a myriad of previously unknown records, knitting together for the first time the life and experiences of this remarkable heroine of the American Revolution who lived in the heart of Philadelphia. Behind her story, we find an assertive woman who took an active hand in the affairs of her family and her community.

 

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Speaker Bio:

Robert N. Fanelli is Secretary of the Washington Crossing American Revolution Round Table and a frequent contributor to the Journal of the American Revolution. He serves as a Trustee of the Swan Historical Foundation, which owns an excellent collection of Revolutionary War artifacts on display at the Washington Crossing State Park Museum in Titusville, New Jersey. He is particularly interested in Pennsylvania’s role in the American Revolution, and has lived most of his life in southeastern Pennsylvania, along the flanks of Edge Hill, site of an encounter between the American and British armies on December 7, 1777.

 

About DRGP

The Delaware River Greenway Partnership (DRGP) sponsors lectures about different aspects of the Delaware River's cultural, recreational, and natural heritage. An environmental nonprofit, DRGP supports the Delaware River Scenic Byway, the Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic River, the Delaware River Water Trail, and the Delaware River Heritage Trail.

 

To view previous Heritage Lectures, visit our YouTube channel.

 

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We extend our sincere gratitude to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for their financial support of the 2026 Heritage Lectures.