07/21/2026
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Sally Wister, an eye witness to history, was born July 20, 1761. You ask who is Sally Wister? She was a 15 year old Quaker girl who kept a journal of her experiences of leaving Philadelphia as the British occupied it, until they left, and she was able to go home.
…although opposed to war the Wisters, like fully ninety per cent, of the Quakers, were at heart friends of liberty and silent sympathizers with their country’s cause. (1) There is no doubt as to the side that Sally takes. They had moved 20 miles north, into the thick of it all. General Smallwood housed with them for awhile. I would like to share a few of her comments to give you a taste as she wrote her journal to her friend.
“Yesterday, which was the 24th of September, two Virginia officers call’d at our house, and inform’d us that the British Army had cross d the Schuylkill About seven o clock we heard a great noise. To the door we all went. A large number of waggons, with about three hundred of the Philadelphia Militia… but after a while, seeing the officers appear gentlemanly, and the soldiers civil, I call’d reason to my aid. My fears were in some measure dispell’d, tho’ my teeth rattled, and my hand shook like an aspen leaf.
Fourth Day, September 25th. About that time he made a stop at our door, and said the British were at Skippack road; that we should soon see their light horse, and [that] a party of Hessians had actually turn’d into our lane. My Dadda and Mamma gave it the credit it deserv’d,… but the delicate, chicken-hearted Liddy and I were wretchedly scar’d. We cou’d say nothing but “Oh! what shall we do? What will become of us?” These questions only augmented the terror we were in… Well, the fright went off. We saw no light horse or Hessians… so we expected to be in the midst of one army or t’other.
Fifth Day, September 26th. I was standing in the kitchen1 about 12, when somebody came to me in a hurry, screaming, “Sally, Sally, here are the light horse!” This was by far the greatest fright I had endured; fear tack’d wings to my feet; I was at the house in a moment; at the porch I stopt, and it really was the light horse… The men, to our great joy, were Americans, and but 4 in all. What made us imagine them British, they wore blue and red, which with us is not common. It has rained all this afternoon, and to present appearances, will all night. In all probability the English will take possession of the city to-morrow or next day. What a change will it be! May the Almighty take you under His protection, for without His divine aid all human assistance is vain… This evening some of our folks heard a very heavy cannon. We supposed it to be fir’d by the English. The report seem’d to come from Philada. We hear the American army will be within five miles of us tonight. The uncertainty of our position engrosses me quite. Perhaps to be in the midst of war, and ruin, and the clang of arms. But we must hope the best.
Second Day, October the 19th, 1777. Now for new and uncommon scenes. As I was lying in bed, and ruminating on past and present events, and thinking how happy I shou’d be if I cou’d see you, Liddy came running into the room, and said there was the greatest drumming, fifing, and rattling of waggons that ever she had heard. What to make of this we were at a loss. We dress d and down stairs in a hurry. Our wonder ceas’d. The British had left Germantown, and our Army was marching to take possession. It was the general opinion that they wou’d evacuate the capital.
December 5th, Sixth Day. Oh, gracious! Debby, I am all alive with fear. The English have come out to attack (as we imagine) our army. They are on Chestnut Hill, our army three miles this side.1 What will become of us, only six miles distant? We are in hourly expectation of an
engagement. I fear we shall be in the midst of it. Heaven defend us from so dreadful a sight. The battle of Germantown, and the horrors of that day, are recent in my mind. It will be sufficiently dreadful if we are only in hearing of the firing, to think how many of our fellow -creatures are plung’d into the boundless ocean of eternity, few of them prepar’d to meet their fate. But they are summon’d before an all-merciful Judge, from whom they have a great deal to hope.
First Day Afternoon, December 7th. ‘Tis amazing how we get reconciled to such things. Six months ago the bare idea of being within ten, aye twenty miles, of a battle, wou’d almost have distracted me. And now, tho’ two such large armies are within six miles of us, we can be cheerful and converse calmly of it. It verifies the old proverb, that “Use is second nature.”
“Philadelphia, July, 1778. It has at length pleased the Almighty to restore us to our friends and native city. May I be grateful for this & every other blessing. I will just relate a few circumstances that occur’d. We intended removing immediately to town upon my father s return from Lancaster, which did happen the third day after the evacuation of Philad, but our intentions were frustrated by a severe fit of illness, which my sister Betsy had; it held her two weeks. Thro the goodness of providence she was again restor’d to us. We then bid adieu to the peaceful tho’ solitary Shades of N. Wales, which for the space of months afforded us as undisturb’d a retirement as the unhappy situation of affairs wou’d admit. Ardent as my desires were to return to this dear city, I did not leave our good and obliging relations and quiet retreat, without regret. I sigh’d, and the starting tear stood trembling in my eye. A tear was a poor tribute to the many happy scenes I have enjoy’d there; yet they shall ever live in my memory. I will fondly cherish the idea of past happiness and shall often give a tear and [a] sigh to the remembrance of joyful hours beyond recovery fled. I had the satisfaction of finding my frds in possession of health and tolerable spirits. My heart danc’d and eyes sparkled at the sight of the companions of my girlish days. Add to this the rattling of carriages over the streets harsh music, tho’ preferable to croaking frogs and screeching owls.”
(1) See Isaac Sharpless work, “The Quakers in the Revolution,” and Gilbert Cope s paper on “Friends in the Revolution,” read before the Chester County Historical Society, November, 1902.
Sally Wister’s Journal, A True Narrative, Edited by Albert Cook Myers, 1902
Image: Sally Wister, silhouette.
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