Molly Williams Explained

Molly Williams (fl. 1818) was the first known female, and first known black, firefighter in the United States.^[1]

An African American, she was a slave^[2] of the New York City merchant Benjamin Aymar. She was affiliated with the Oceanus Engine Company #11 in lower Manhattan. During her time in the company, she was called Volunteer No. 11.^[3] Williams made a distinguished presence in her sturdy work clothes of calico dress and checked apron Her service was noted particularly during the blizzard of 1818. Male firefighters were scarce due to a cholera outbreak,^[4] but Williams took her place with the men on the dragropes and pulled the pumper to the fire through the deep snow.^[5]

When asked, Williams always replied: "‘I belongs to ole ‘Leven; I allers runs wid dat ole bull-gine.’"^[6]

Further reading

• Book: Ochlitree . Diana . Kemly (illustrator) . Kathleen . 2012 . Molly, by Golly! The Legend of Molly Williams, America's First Female Firefighter. Calkins Creek . 978-1590787212 . Story book for young children

See also

• Lillie Hitchcock Coit

Notes and References

1. News: IFD Black History. 2007-01-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070109071727/http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DPS/IFD/History/black_history.htm . 2007-01-09.
2. Web site: History of Women in Firefighting . i-women.org . 22 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141014060453/http://i-women.org/firefighters/history-of-women-in-firefighting/ . 14 October 2014 . dead.
3. News: History – The History of Volunteer Firefighting. 2007-01-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20061018183026/http://www.firefightersrealstories.com/volunteer.html. 2006-10-18. dead.
4. Snyder . Michael R. . Ravi . Sanjana J. . 1818, 1918, 2018: Two Centuries of Pandemics . Health Security . December 2018 . 16 . 6 . 410–415 . 10.1089/hs.2018.0083 . 30511884. 54558613 .
5. Web site: Molly Williams, a black woman and a slave, fought fires years before the FDNY was formed was a pioneer for fellow female smoke-eaters. New York Daily News. 26 April 2015 .
6. https://web.archive.org/web/20111008014230/http://www.marinwoodfire.org/content/Firefighting_History/100096 The History of Volunteer Firefighting