Jane McCrea | |
|---|---|
 The Death of Jane McCrea by John Vanderlyn, 1804 | |
| Born | c. 1752 |
| Died | 27 July 1777 (aged 24–25) |
Jane McCrea[a] (c. 1752 – July 27, 1777) was an American woman who was killed by a Native American warrior serving alongside a British Army expedition under the command of John Burgoyne during the American Revolutionary War. Engaged to a Loyalist officer serving under Burgoyne, her death led to widespread outrage in the Thirteen Colonies and was used by Patriots as part of their anti-British propaganda campaign.
Born in Bedminster, New Jersey, McCrea moved to Saratoga, New York where she became engaged to David Jones, a Loyalist. When the Revolutionary War broke out, Jones fled to Quebec while McCrea's brothers divided their loyalties between the British and the Patriots. During the Saratoga campaign of 1777, McCrea left her brother's home to join Jones who was stationed in Fort Ticonderoga. While staying at Fort Edward, McCrea was abducted, killed and scalped by a group of Native American warriors.
Upon receiving word of the incident, Burgoyne attempted to punish the culprit but was dissuaded from doing so. Her death was widely reported on throughout the Thirteen Colonies; historians and journalists frequently embellished the incident. The killing of McCrea also inspired American resistance to the British, contributing to the failure of the Saratoga campaign. McCrea's life and death eventually became part of American folklore, with pantomimes, poems, folk songs and novels being written about her. Her body has been exhumed numerous times since her death.
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