The Death of Jane McCrea

Jane McRea is one of the most famous women of the Revolution.  Her story has been told in paintings, novels, and poems, and embellished by folklorists and historians.  , But we know very little about this 24-year old who died tragically in the summer of 1777.  We know that as General Burgoyne's army marched toward Albany she was killed, and though her betrothed was a Tory marching with Burgoyne, her death at the hands of Burgoyne's Native American allies became a cause celebre,  which may have roused the New England militia to defend the frontier.  Who was Jane McCrea?  What was she doing at Fort Edward in July of 1777? 

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