American Patriot whose home – the Elijah Miller House – was used as General George Washington’s headquarters and later as the site for the first Methodist church services in her area. Ann Fisher was born and raised in White Plains, New York. She met and married Elijah Miller, and they eventually settled with their seven children on his grandfather’s 660 acre farm in North White Plains. Her husband’s dedicated military service earned him two commissions – one prior to the war (in 1772) as first lieutenant of Captain Fowler’s company in the Westchester County militia, and another in 1775 as adjutant of Colonel Samuel Drake’s Westchester Regiment of Minute Men. He was wounded at Hell Gate, New York, and died from his injuries. Their patriot sons, John (age 20) and Elijah, Jr (age 16), soon followed, dying in camp of disease having served in the same regiment with their father. As a young widow, Ann and her remaining children continued in the cause for liberty. She made their home and property available to General George Washington, which he used as his headquarters during the Battle of White Plains (1776) and again in 1778 and 1781. Generals Lee, McDougal, and Gates also headquartered there at times. The Continental Army’s tents covered her land, and permanent fortifications, used during the Battle of White Plains, were made on the hill above her house – the remnants of which still stand today as Miller Hill Park. Ann helped care for sick and wounded soldiers brought in from battle, and her daughters, Sarah and Martha, are reported to have volunteered to deliver a message for General Washington. After the war, she again opened her home (in 1785) – this time as the first place in her area to hold Methodist church services, and where the First Methodist Church of White Plains was founded. The Elijah Miller House was later turned into a museum where it served as an active, historic location for school field trips and camps for many years. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located in North White Plains, New York. -bio by Preserving Our Past