New Play Brings Revolutionary War Widow’s Story to the Stage in Pine Plains

The American Revolution, like all wars, had many unforeseen consequences for the individuals directly affected by the conflict. An example of one such consequence, played out in Pine Plains in the 19th century, is the subject of a new play written by Dyan Wapnick, the president of the Little Nine Partners Historical Society.

“Widow’s Weeds” tells the story of Mary Ingalls, the widow of Elihu Ingalls, who was a lieutenant in the New York militia during the revolution. They married in Pine Plains in 1777 and had at least eight children. Elihu died in 1823, at the age of 75.

In 1836, Congress passed a revised pension act that extended benefits to the widows of Revolutionary War veterans, and Mary applied for one in 1842. Her application, however, was challenging: The relevant records, including her husband’s service papers and even proof of their marriage, were lost. Fortunately, the law allowed her to rely on the oral testimony of witnesses to prove her claim.

The play will be directed by Robert Lyons, a longtime Off-Off-Broadway director, writer and producer, and will be performed at Stissing Center in Pine Plains on Sept. 6.

The Little Nine Partners Historical Society, which is producing the play, has also scheduled other Revolutionary War era-themed activities for Sept. 6 in Pine Plains as part of its observation of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. There will be tours of the Graham-Brush House, one of the only remaining 18th-century log houses in the Hudson Valley; a talk on the Revolutionary War soldier by local history teacher and reenactor Neil Murray; cooking demonstrations; a performance by Thayer Durell as Isaac Hunting, a local historical personage, on the natural history of Pine Plains; and a blacksmith demonstration.

The society received a $9,475 grant from the Dutchess County Department of History as part of a $100,000 county initiative to support local programming tied to the American Revolution.

“The project proposed by the Little Nine Partners Historical Society was among the most innovative we received,” said Dutchess County Historian Will Tatum, in a press release. “This play brings a vital type of primary source record to life, places a spotlight on the experience of Revolutionary War veterans’ widows, and explores the lingering impact of our struggle for independence on our rural landscape.”