Sarah Mary Mathews Read Osborn Benjamin, seen here, was born in Orange County, NY, ca. 1757. Her first husband, William Read, was killed in one of the earliest battles of the Revolution, and she married Aaron Osborn in Albany, NY in 1780. Sarah accompanied him to the battlefield, met George Washington and was present at the British surrender at Yorktown. After the birth of two children, Osborn deserted the family, and in 1787 Sarah married John Benjamin in White Lake, NY. They moved in 1822 to Mt. Pleasant Township, Wayne County, where John died in 1825.

Sarah was noted for her handwork, which was exhibited at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London. In later life, she took pride in adding years to her age, which led to the myth that Sarah had lived to the age of 114. In her Revolutionary pension application, she swore that she was 81 years old in 1837, making her 101 years old at the time of her death in 1858.

From the collection of the Wayne County Historical Society, 810 Main St., Honesdale. The museum and research library are open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. and museum only 12 noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.