Revolutionary War

A digital collection covering Connecticut in the American Revolution

Thanks to the Connecticut Historical Society, a collection of Revolutionary War era manuscripts are now available for viewing on the Connecticut Digital Archive. This diverse collection includes images of several orderly books, hospital records, correspondence, muster and pay rolls, and more. Of particular interest is a document attesting that Backus Fox, a man held inContinueContinue reading “A digital collection covering Connecticut in the American Revolution”

Why is it so challenging to document a female patriot?

Women supported the American cause during the Revolutionary War. Yet, most of the available records address men. Why – and how does it impact our research? In a word: coverture. Wikipedia’s explanation of the legal principal is quite clear (and detailed, for those interested in the history). As the listing indicates, coverture is “a legalContinueContinue reading “Why is it so challenging to document a female patriot?”

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 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?”

Profiles of Service: What role did my ancestor play in the American Revolution?

In addition to the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, the Daughters of the American Revolution classifies three types of Revolutionary War “service”: military, civil, and patriotic. Clients often wonder how I know they’ve assigned the wrong service to their ancestor. There are actually profiles of the “typical” ancestor with each kind of service. IfContinueContinue reading “Profiles of Service: What role did my ancestor play in the American Revolution?”