Lineage Society – Page 17

Was the Connecticut Continental Line Segregated?

Short answer: no. The integration of military units during the American Revolution is a question that has largely yet to be touched by scholarship. Many accounts mention only that Washington banned recruitment of African American soldiers in 1775; that British Commander Lord Dunmore offered freedom to those who joined his “Ethiopian” unit in November ofContinueContinue reading “Was the Connecticut Continental Line Segregated?”

My ancestor served in the Army: the three types of Revolutionary War Army service

When we talk about an ancestor’s service in World War I, we’re talking about service in a single unit – the US Army. However, an ancestor who served in the American Revolution could have served in one of three different “units.” The militia tradition was very strong in the colonies. While the British Army constitutedContinueContinue reading “My ancestor served in the Army: the three types of Revolutionary War Army service”

What’s the Minerva?

Owned by William Griswold, the Minerva served first in the Revolutionary Navy.[1] In August of 1775, it received a commission from the colony of Connecticut: […] that a certain brig, called the Minerva, belonging to Capt. Griswold and now lying in Connecticut River at Rocky Hill, is one proper vessel to be employed for theContinueContinue reading “What’s the Minerva?”

What’s a privateer?

Although we generally focus on conflict on land, the American Revolution also occurred at sea. The British had a powerful Navy. The colonists – not so much. To help supplement their forces, they employed privateers. A privateer is a privately owned ship, given permission by their government to attack an enemy ship during wartime. TheContinueContinue reading “What’s a privateer?”

How much does it cost to hire a professional genealogist to help with your application?

This is the question no one ever wants to ask, but one that’s crucially important. I’ll be speaking here in general terms, so if you have questions about a specific case, please don’t hesitate to contact me. When you’re working on a lineage society application, you generally are deal with four sets of costs: TheContinueContinue reading “How much does it cost to hire a professional genealogist to help with your application?”