Image via Wikipedia- Streets of New York” illustration/advertisement. From Ledger Job Printing Establishment, Philadelphia. From Specimens of theatrical cuts: being fac-similes, in miniature, of poster cuts: comprising colored and plain designs, suitable for theatrical, variety and circus business, 1869. TS 240.12.1.69 (A), Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard University

Volunteer No. 11, The 70-Year-Old Former Slave Who Was New York City’s First Female Firefighter

Molly Williams was a strong and heroic woman who overcame a lot in her life

Fighting fires has long been one of the most noble professions in the world. Men and women put their lives on the line to protect their communities from the ravages of conglagrations. Some of the finest departments in the world are recognized to be in New York City, but they have only been desegregated by gender (and race) in recent years. However, the first female first fighter in the history of New York City dates back more than 200 years, when a 70-year-old former slave named Molly Williams came to be known as Volunteer No.11.

Born into slavery, little is known about much of Williams’ life. As an older woman, she “belonged” to Benjamin Aymar, a wealthy New York City merchant who was also involved in his local fire service due to his concern over protecting his property assets. Among the few details that are known about her, she lived at 42 Greenwich Street, where she managed Aymar’s home and took care of his eight children.

Williams and her husband, Peter were eventually able to buy their freedom, but she continued to work for the Aymar family as a servant in order to jelp support them. Aymar began to bring…