Ann "Mad Ann"  HENNIS

About 1765, she married Richard Trotter in Virginia

Ann’s husband, Richard was part of the Virginia Militia when he was killed on October 10, 1774, at the Battle of Point Pleasant in Dunmore’s War, a conflict between the Virginia Colony and the Shawnee and Mingo Indian tribes.

Afterward, she resolved to avenge his death and left her son with a neighbor, Mrs. Moses Mann before adopting male clothing and taking up a rifle and tomahawk. She soon became a hunter, frontier scout, messenger, spy, and Indian fighter. She earned her nickname as “Mad Ann” because of her hot temper.

During this time, she became the subject of numerous adventures and was said to have killed several Indians. She also earned another nickname – the “white squaw of the Kanawha.” In addition to dressing like a man, she also was said to have learned to drink and swear like a man...

In 1785 she married John Bailey, a frontiersman, and ranger... Ann continued her service for the U.S. military by patrolling the frontier against Native Americans and acting as a messenger between Fort Lee and other frontier posts...

In 1791, when she was 49-years-old, the people of Fort Lee were warned that a large force of Indians was going to attack. When the defenders found that their supply of gunpowder was running low, Ann volunteered to ride for help. She made her way 100 miles through the forest to Savannah at present-day Lewisburg, West Virginia and returned in three days with gunpowder. She is credited with saving Fort Lee...

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