"Mary Had a Little Lamb" is an English-language nursery rhyme of nineteenth-century American origin, first published by American writer Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830. Its Roud Folk Song Index number is 7622.

May 24, 2017 · As documented by poet Sarah Josepha Hale, the story, published on this day in 1830, goes like this: Mary’s lamb, unnamed, follows her everywhere, and follows her to school one day. But that’s...

Dec 19, 2017 · In 1815, Mary, then nine, was helping her father with farm chores when they discovered a sickly newborn lamb in the sheep pen that had been abandoned by its mother. After a lot of pleading, Mary was allowed to keep the animal, although her father didn’t hold out much hope for its survival.

Mar 30, 2025 · In the old days, a little girl named Mary lived in a town called Sterling in Massachusetts. Mary owned a cute little lamb and they were always together. The lamb even went to school with Mary, even though the school didn't allow animals. Mary just couldn't bear to leave her lamb behind.

Mar 6, 2025 · Mary Sawyer was a young girl growing up in the rural town of Sterling, Massachusetts, in the early 1800s. Like many children in agricultural communities, she helped care for animals on her family’s farm. One morning, Mary discovered a weak and frail newborn lamb that had been rejected by its mother.

Mary had a little lamb, the childhood nursery rhyme familiar to all, tells the story of a real Mary, a real lamb, and it really did follow her to school one day around 1816. Mary was Mary Sawyer, born in 1806, and she remembered her lamb all her life.

Jun 7, 2019 · The lyrics of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” were inspired by Mary Sawyer, who lived in Sterling, Massachusetts, in the 1800s, reports the New England Historical Society. Mary took the young animal under her care after the poor thing was …

Oct 14, 2021 · As Modern Farmer notes, back in 1815, a 9-year-old Massachusetts girl named Mary Sawyer took pity on a lamb born on her farm. The sickly beast had been abandoned by its mother, and Mary tried valiantly to nurse the animal back to health.

Oct 22, 2021 · Mary Sawyer of Sterling, Massachusetts claimed that her 1816 rescue of a lamb inspired "Mary Had A Little Lamb" — but debate over the nursery rhyme's origins remain. A surprising debate has waged for more than a century over who actually wrote the nursery rhyme — and who the real-life Mary is.

Mar 5, 2024 · The nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb“, first published in 1830, is based on a real-life event involving Mary Elizabeth Sawyer, who was born in 1806 on a farm in Sterling, Mass. The rhyme tells the story of Mary’s pet lamb following her to school one day, which causes a …