American Revolution

Documenting the American Revolution in Westchester County, New York

Located between British occupied New York City and patriot Connecticut, Westchester County, New York has sometimes been referred to as Revolutionary War “neutral ground.” Yet, neutral did not mean without conflict: as one author described, from 1777 to the end of the War, “[…], there was no systematic campaign in Westchester county, but continuous fighting.”ContinueContinue reading “Documenting the American Revolution in Westchester County, New York”

Why was this source created?: Knowing the history can help your research

When we first start researching, we’re often so delighted to find an ancestor listed in a source that we may not do much in the way of source analysis. If you’ve ever found an ancestor on a list of Revolutionary War veterans or a Mayflower passenger listed on a family tree, you probably know thisContinueContinue reading “Why was this source created?: Knowing the history can help your research”

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?”

Did Benjamin Graves die as a result of wounds sustained at the Battle of Groton Heights?

The Daughters of the American Revolution GRS System lists an unusual death entry for Benjamin Graves of Connecticut. It reads: “Death: 9-6- 1781 WOUND REC IN BATTLE.” In other words, according to previous applications to the Daughters of the American Revolution, Benjamin Graves died 6 September 1781 of wounds received in battle. 6 September 1781ContinueContinue reading “Did Benjamin Graves die as a result of wounds sustained at the Battle of Groton Heights?”

What sources are available to document service for a female patriot from Connecticut?

For a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, documenting a female patriot can offer a special satisfaction. Not only are you putting a new ancestor on file, but you are documenting one whose history is little covered. What sources can help you complete her line? Due to coverture, it can be extremely difficultContinueContinue reading “What sources are available to document service for a female patriot from Connecticut?”