Polly Cooper
Oneida woman
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Polly Cooper was an Oneida woman from the New York colony who took part in an expedition in 1777 to aid the Continental army during the American Revolution. Troops were camped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in winter quarters during 1777–78. She and other Oneida carried white corn to them.
Cooper stayed with the troops for a period to teach them how to prepare the white corn, which needed a different cooking technique for digestion. In addition, she aided with herbal supplements and medical care. In 2005, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Oneida County Historical Society.