**Note on Abner Weston diary**
Contemporary militia diary; acquired by Museum of the American Revolution circa 2019. Entry of January 23, 1782 describes a woman hiring herself to Israel Wood in Middleborough and being found out — corroborates the first failed enlistment and post-dates Yorktown, contradicting later claims of Yorktown service.
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**Slug:** deborah-sampson-continental-army-robert-shurtliff-identity-revealed
**Meta Description:** Deborah Sampson served 17 months in the Continental Army as Robert Shurtliff. A fever in 1783 led Dr. Barnabas Binney to discover her identity — and her story is more complex than the legend. (198 characters)
**Category:** Overlooked Human Story / Women in Military History
**Thumbnail hook:** She served 17 months as a Continental soldier. A fever in Philadelphia finally revealed her secret.