There is a suggestion that such women may have formed their own United Irish union. In October 1796 the "Northern Star" published a letter from the secretary of the Society of United Irishwomen. This blamed the English, who made war on the new republics, for the violence of the American and French Revolutions. Denounced as a "violent republican", Martha McTier was the immediate suspect, but denied any knowledge of the society. The true author may have been her friend Jane Greg, described by informants as "very active" in Belfast "at the head of the Female Societies", (and by General Lake as being "the most violent creature possible").