I love history – the written word, TV documentaries, or movies — all of it.

    I remember an afternoon when I was overwhelmed by the burial traditions of the Egyptians. It was on History TV and I was not going to miss a minute. My eyes were stretched and my nose touched the TV screen when number-two-son arrived from school. Just as he walked into the room, the announcer had described the ritual of placing internal organs (liver, lungs, stomach, intestines) of the deceased in a canopic jar that was then placed inside the sarcophagus/coffin.

         My son looked at me and said, “You are weird.”

         Okay, so I’m weird. I still love everything about history. A few months ago I read “Treacherous Beauty” written by Mark Jacob & Stephen Case — a story of a few bad girls from the American Revolution. I found this book even more intriguing than placing body parts inside a jar.

         There were conniving women during the American Revolution, for sure.  One was Peggy Shippen, better known as Mrs. Benedict Arnold. She was the youngest of an influential family who had sneaky, Royalists sympathies. Peggy was born with brilliant prospects. She was from old money. Her family was part of Philadelphia’s power structure, but they tried and failed to walk the fence between the Patriots and Royalists, with disastrous results.

         Peggy was blonde, with delicate features, flashing blue eyes – in other words, she had it all going and she flaunted it. Women sought her friendship and men described her as the most beautiful woman in the room.

    She piled her thick hair on top of her head at least 12 inches – the higher the better, which was the fashion of the time. She also had a gift-for-gab, and a special insight to political intrigues, which she used especially when with a group of men. It was said she had a sense of self-importance. She lived on Society Hill, the best neighborhood. Obviously all of the luxury became tedious. That’s when she stepped into the political scene.

         She and a group of friends were often hostesses for parties in her home. They invited the influential of Philadelphia. In 1774, her father brought a special guest for dinner, George Washington. Peggy was 14 years old at the time and established a friendship with Washington that later proved crucial to her freedom.

         In 1777, Peggy met John Andre, handsome British officer – a poet and artist. Peggy and her friends were enamored. Eventually Andre was captured and executed by the Patriots as a British spy. This could have been the catalyst that eventually brought Peggy into a spy-intrigue that almost cost her life.

         In 1778, she met Patriot, Benedict Arnold. He, 37, and she barely 18. Something clicked between them and they were married in April 1779. At the time Arnold was highly regarded by George Washington and as well Washington fondly remembered the charming Peggy.

     Perhaps Peggy sought retribution because of the death of John Andre when she influenced Arnold to perfect his spymaster talents. It was on an autumn morning in 1780 that it all came down. Her husband had fled to the enemy, leaving her at a country estate in New York’s Hudson Highlands, while he escaped to a British ship.  She was left alone to answer for her husband’s treason. She shrieked and wailed, her cries of anguish echoing throughout the large house – an award winning production. She was dressed only in a thin nightgown, and clutched her infant son to her breast. Peggy tearfully revealed hallucinations that declared her husband had risen through the ceiling and hot irons had been put on her head and only George Washington had the power to take them away.

         Good Grief – Washington and his staff believed her! “Poor darling, left alone.” She was only 20 years old and had hoodwinked the Founding Father. It is interesting to note she and her treacherous husband eventually made their way to England and lived off a hefty British pension the rest of their lives.

         Yep. I love history – the shrieking female traitor or organs in a jar. It’s all good.

    Anne McKee is a writer and storyteller. See her website: www.annemckee.net