Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/77

54 characteristics of almost all these settlers of that time was their strong religious faith, particularly the women, and certainly nothing else could have supported and sustained them through the daily horrors of their lives. Mrs. Haines died in 1790, having survived her husband only a few years.

Born in Bethlehem, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, February 14, 1749, she was the sixteenth child of her parents, having even a younger sister. On her mother's side she was descended from the Huguenots of France. Her parents had removed to Germany after the Edict of Nantes, and later emigrated to America. In 1771 Elizabeth Bartholomew was married to Alexander Harper, of Harpersfield, New York. He was one of several brothers to enter the service at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. Owing to the frequent visits of the Indians and Tories, the families of these Whig leaders were obliged to seek protection in Fort Schoharie. In moments of peace and quiet, Mrs. Harper lived with her children a short distance from the fort. In times of trouble, she spent her necessary imprisonment within the enclosure of the fort in baking bread for the soldiers and in making bullets. On one of these occasions the commander of the fort becoming discouraged by the tardy arrival of ammunition decided to surrender, and ordered a flag of truce hoisted. This brought forth such indignant protests from Mrs. Harper and the other women who had been working since early morning preparing ammunition for the poor wearied soldiers, that they determined to make one more effort to repel the enemy themselves. A soldier offered to fire on the flag of truce if hoisted, provided the women would conceal him, and as often as the flag was run up he fired at it, bringing down the wrath of the commander,