daughters of the american revolution

What’s a “real daughter”?

Lineage societies sometimes seem to speak their own language – and the Daughters of the American Revolution are no exception. Members are often referred to as daughters. So what’s a “real daughter”? A real daughter is exactly what you’d expect. A real daughter is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution who wasContinueContinue reading “What’s a “real daughter”?”

Did my Connecticut ancestor swear allegiance to the Revolutionary cause?

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 likelyContinueContinue reading “Did my Connecticut ancestor swear allegiance to the Revolutionary cause?”

I’m researching a patriot of color in Connecticut. Should I check militia records?

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 promisedContinueContinue reading “I’m researching a patriot of color in Connecticut. Should I check militia records?”

A Revolutionary War spy in Connecticut?

If your family has a story of an ancestor serving as a spy in Revolutionary War Connecticut, there is a source that can help you learn more. Mark Allen Baker’s Spies of Revolutionary Connecticut: From Benedict Arnold to Nathan Hale was published by the History Press in 2014. The text starts by outlining the basicsContinueContinue reading “A Revolutionary War spy in Connecticut?”

The Oliver Cromwell – A Connecticut Revolutionary War Source of Service

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 wasContinueContinue reading “The Oliver Cromwell – A Connecticut Revolutionary War Source of Service”