The simple answer: yes. "And be it further enacted That a tax of two shillings and six pence on the pound be and the same is hereby laid upon the polls and rateable estate of the inhabitants of this State upon the list aforesaid to be paid by the first day of December next in… Continue reading Did Connecticut pay the 1780 beef tax?
Many Connecticut towns and organizations required a public statement of support for the cause. The statements, issued in the form of an oath, were considered binding. Even better for the Revolutionary cause, they had public relations value. After you'd just sworn in front of the entire town to support the cause, public pressure was likely… Continue reading Did my Connecticut ancestor swear allegiance to the Revolutionary cause?
The simple answer: yes. It seems to have been more common for patriots of color to serve on the Continental Line. Due to longer enlistments, the financial benefit of joining the Continental Line was greater. A Continental soldier could have an enlistment bounty in addition to his regular pay. Enslaved soldiers may have been promised… Continue reading I’m researching a patriot of color in Connecticut. Should I check militia records?
"How do I order the vital records for my application?" is one of the most commonly asked questions in lineage society research. Here's what you need to know for Connecticut records: There are limitations on access. Anyone can purchase a copy of a death or marriage certificate, although certain information may be blacked out. Birth… Continue reading I need vital records from Connecticut for a lineage society application. How do I start?
When we talk about someone having "military" and "patriotic" service in the American Revolution, we generally mean that the individual provided support for the American cause by supporting the American Army. But that wasn't the only option. Shoreline communities, such as Saybrook in Connecticut Colony, supported the cause by building ships. The Oliver Cromwell was… Continue reading The Oliver Cromwell – A Connecticut Revolutionary War Source of Service
Enjoy a final great question from our inaugural "Tracing Connecticut Revolutionary War 'patriots'" program. First of all, what's bounty land? This finding aid from NARA offers a great brief description. In short, bounty land was a right to "public" land (owned by the state or federal government). It was issued to Revolutionary War veterans as… Continue reading Did Connecticut issue bounty land for Revolutionary War service?
Another great question from our Revolutionary War program! While some states - most notably Virginia - paid state level pensions to increase participation in the American Revolution, Connecticut did not. If your ancestor were to receive a pension for his military service from Connecticut during the American Revolution, it was paid by the federal government.… Continue reading Did Connecticut pay state Revolutionary War pensions?
Thanks to all who attended our Revolutionary War program this past Wednesday. We received some great follow up questions after the program and wanted to share the answers here. While some colonies (now states) had taxes that were gathered specifically in support of the War, Connecticut did not. Instead, towns gathered taxes for the running… Continue reading Did Connecticut pay supply taxes during the American Revolution? And did paying them qualify my ancestor for DAR or SAR?
