Heroine of Thompson’s Green Mountain Boys

By Timothy Page

Ann Story, a name that resonates with bravery and resilience, holds a prominent place in the annals of American Revolutionary War history. Born as Hannah Reynolds on February 27, 1735 or 1736, Ann Story emerged as a regional heroine in the area that would later become the state of Vermont. While her fame owes much to Daniel Pierce Thompson’s historical novel, “The Green Mountain Boys,” published in 1839, her remarkable life story stands as a testament to her indomitable spirit even twenty-two years after her death.

Early Life and Marriage

Hannah Reynolds, known affectionately as Ann, was born to Jonathan and Hannah Reynolds in Preston, Connecticut. The Reynolds family consisted of six children, with Ann being one of the fortunate survivors. Tragedy struck at the tender age of eight when Ann was orphaned, leading her to be raised by an uncle. At nineteen, she married Amos Story, a hired farm worker from Ipswich, Massachusetts, on September 17, 1755. Amos, like Ann’s father before him, harbored dreams of owning his own farm, which led the couple to set their sights on the frontier where affordable land awaited them.

Life on the Northeastern Frontier

Details of Ann Reynolds Story’s life on the northeastern frontier primarily come from John M. Weeks’ “History of Salisbury, Vermont,” written in 1860. Weeks, who happened to be Ann’s neighbor during her last 28 years in Salisbury, provides valuable insights into her life. Additionally, fragments of information have been passed down through family members and friends.

Salisbury, located in what would later become Addison County, Vermont, was one of the towns granted for settlement in 1761 by Benning Wentworth, the governor of the Province of New Hampshire. The original grantees hailed from Connecticut, particularly the vicinity of Litchfield. Despite being in disputed territory claimed by New Hampshire, New York, and Quebec, Salisbury witnessed a slow pace of settlement due to the unresolved boundary dispute. It was not until the Revolutionary War that the region declared itself the independent Vermont Republic in 1777, eventually becoming the 14th state in 1791.

In March 1775, Amos Story acquired 100 acres of land in Salisbury while residing in Norwich, Connecticut. He became the second settler in the town, and together with his son Solomon, they built a small log house and commenced clearing the land for cultivation. Tragedy struck when Amos was fatally injured by a falling tree, leaving Solomon to seek help from neighboring Middlebury. Benjamin Smalley, the first settler in southwestern Middlebury, joined Solomon in burying his father.

Despite the heart-wrenching loss, Ann Story’s determination to pioneer the wilderness grew stronger. In the spring of 1776, she relocated with her three sons (Solomon, Samuel, and Ephraim) and two daughters (Hannah and Susanna) to the log home in Salisbury that her husband and son had already erected.

A Woman of Resilience

Described by John Weeks as “Widow Story,” Ann was a woman who defied expectations. Her imposing stature and masculine appearance belied her physical strength and hardiness, qualities that matched her unwavering resolve. She demonstrated fearlessness in the face of Tories (Loyalists), Native Americans, and the wild creatures that roamed the area. With a musket at the ready, she could fire when necessary, wield an ax with precision, and handle a lever for rolling logs as skillfully as any man in the region.

As hostilities between the colonists and the British escalated in early 1777, many residents in the sparsely populated areas of future Vermont sought refuge in more densely populated regions. Against all odds, Ann Story chose to remain on her farm with her children, even after her Salisbury neighbors had fled. Throughout the Revolutionary War, she persevered, cultivating crops and enduring the harsh winters by migrating to Rutland, approximately 20 miles away.

During this tumultuous period, Ann earned a reputation as a staunch ally of the Patriots and a formidable foe of the Loyalists. She went beyond her role as a pioneer woman, occasionally acting as a spy and courier for the Vermont Militia, known as the “Green Mountain Boys,” to which her two sons eventually joined. Ann’s cabin, located beside Otter Creek, became a sanctuary for passing Patriots, including the renowned Col. Ethan Allen, according to oral tradition. Notably, she even volunteered to fight, fearlessly declaring, “Give me a place among you, and see if I am the first to desert my post.”

Ann Story shared accounts of the hardships endured during the war with John Weeks. In the early spring of 1776, as British-aligned Native Americans pillaged and burned abandoned homes in the vicinity, Ann and her family witnessed the destruction from the safety of their hiding spot. She recounted tales of narrow escapes and the constant need for vigilance, as danger lurked around every corner.

Post-War Years and Legacy

After the Revolutionary War came to a close in 1783, Ann Story continued to live on her farm in Salisbury. She saw the birth of the independent Vermont Republic in 1777 and its eventual admission to the Union as the 14th state in 1791. The hardships and sacrifices she endured during the war showcased her unwavering commitment to the cause of American independence.

Ann Story’s name gained wider recognition with the publication of Daniel Pierce Thompson’s novel, “The Green Mountain Boys,” in 1839. While the novel features fictional characters, Thompson drew inspiration from local legends and the real-life heroics of the Green Mountain Boys, including Ann Story. The character of “Widow Story” in the novel bears striking similarities to the historical figure, immortalizing her as a heroine in the popular consciousness.

Ann Story passed away on November 17, 1805, at the age of 69 or 70. She was buried in the Salisbury Congregational Churchyard, where her grave remains to this day. Her legacy lives on as a symbol of the strength, resilience, and bravery of the early pioneers and patriots who shaped the history of Vermont and the United States.

Ann Story, known as “Widow Story” in the historical accounts, was a remarkable woman who defied the conventions of her time. From her early days as an orphan to her pioneering efforts on the northeastern frontier, and her unwavering commitment to the cause of American independence, her life exemplified resilience and courage. While her fame owes much to the novel “The Green Mountain Boys,” her historical significance extends far beyond the pages of fiction. Ann Story’s legacy endures as a testament to the spirit of the early settlers and their contributions to the birth of a nation.

Further Reading:

Clifford, Deborah. (2009). More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Vermont Women. Guilford, Connecticut: The Globe Pequot Press

Hahn, Michael T. (1996). Ann Story: Vermont’s Heroine of Independence. Shelburne, Vermont: New England Press.

Petersen, Max P. (1976). Salisbury: From Birth to Bicentennial. South Burlington, Vermont: The Offset House.

Those Intriguing Indomitable Vermont Women. (1980). The Vermont State Division of the American Association of University Women.

Weeks, John M. (1860). History of Salisbury, Vermont. Middlebury, Vermont: A.H. Copeland.