Thank you for registering for the online seminar, Researching American Revolutionary War Patriots!
Nearly 250 years ago, America declared its independence from the British Empire, changing the course of history. For those of us with American ancestry from that period, we want to know if—and how—our ancestor served the cause. This five-week online course will delve into the many primary and published records that exist to document your ancestors’ role in the American Revolution and their contributions to the cause for independence.
This course includes five 90-minute classes and exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation. These recordings and all course materials will be available for the foreseeable future.
CLASS TOPICS
Class 1: Getting to Know Your Revolutionary War Veteran Ancestor, Presented by Jonathan Hill
This first class will discuss how muster rolls, manuscript materials, published histories, lineage society databases, and more can help you establish your ancestor’s service and explore their role in the American Revolution. We will also review key repositories to begin—and deepen—your research.
Class 2: No Battlefield Service Required: Researching Patriotic Ancestors, Presented by Melanie McComb
Your ancestor may not have served on the battlefield, but still supported the cause by furnishing supplies or medical aid to troops, signing petitions or oaths of fidelity, serving as a member of the Continental Congress, state conventions, and assemblies, and more. This class will explore the many records that may shed light on an ancestor’s patriotic leanings and support. We will also examine women’s patriotic service during the Revolutionary War.
Class 3: Using Revolutionary War Bounty Land Warrants in Your Family History Research, Presented by David Allen Lambert
From 1775 to 1855 the United States awarded bounty-land warrants to veterans of the Revolution. These grants may not have only affected your family’s migrations, but greatly impacted the reach and settlement of the fledgling nation. This class will discuss who was eligible to receive bounty land warrants, what records exist documenting the grants, where to find these resources, and ultimately determine if your ancestor received a warrant.
Class 4: Using Revolutionary War Pension Records, Presented by David Allen Lambert
Pension records offer a goldmine of information for family historians. This session will discuss who was eligible to receive pension records, where to find them, what information is provided, how to navigate these records, and offer strategies for getting the most out of these important records.
Class 5: Compiling Patriot Stories, Presented by Elizabeth Peay
This final class brings together several records and strategies discussed throughout the course to uncover the stories of your patriot ancestor and to understand the greater context in which they lived.
COURSE HANDOUTS
Class 5: Timeline Example (.xlsx)
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS
Class 1: Getting to Know Your Revolutionary War Veteran Ancestor
Live broadcast: January 3, 2024
Presented by: Jonathan Hill
Running time: 1:26:16
Class 2: No Battlefield Service Required: Researching Patriotic Ancestors
Live broadcast: January 10, 2024
Presented by: Melanie McComb
Running time: 1:19:24
Class 3: Using Revolutionary War Bounty Land Warrants in Your Family History Research
Live broadcast: January 17, 2024
Presented by: David Allen Lambert
Running time: 1:29:23
Class 4: Using Revolutionary War Pension Records
Live broadcast: January 24, 2024
Presented by: David Allen Lambert
Running time: 1:27:43
Class 5: Compiling Patriot Stories
Live broadcast: January 31, 2024
Presented by: Elizabeth Peay
Running time: 1:27:01
OTHER RESOURCES
Archived Webinar: Applying to Revolutionary War Lineage Societies
Archived Webinar: Researching Black Patriots and Loyalists During the Revolutionary Era
Archived Webinar: Stacy Schiff with The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
Jonathan Hill, Researcher earned his BFA from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He served as a Board Member of the Friends of the Town of Bedford Cemeteries. His historical research resulted in the installation of government issued headstones for unmarked Civil War soldiers’ gravesites around the country. He works as a volunteer researcher for Virginia Tech's Civil War Photo Sleuth Project and has contributed to the Green-Wood Cemetery’s Civil War Project, as well as many other historical volunteer projects across the country. His areas of expertise include Military records, New England and southeastern United States records, deeds and property records.
David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist has been on the staff of American Ancestors since 1993 and is the organization’s Chief Genealogist. David is an internationally recognized speaker on the topics of genealogy and history. His genealogical expertise includes New England and Atlantic Canadian records of the 17th through 21st century; military records; DNA research; and Native American and African American genealogical research in New England. Lambert has published many articles in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, the New Hampshire Genealogical Record, Rhode Island Roots, The Mayflower Descendant, and American Ancestors magazine. He has also published A Guide to Massachusetts Cemeteries (American Ancestors, 2019). David is an elected Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, Mass., and a life member of the New Hampshire Society of the Cincinnati. He is also the tribal genealogist for the Massachuset-Punkapoag Indians of Massachusetts.
Melanie McComb, Senior Genealogist assists library visitors, both on-site and online, with their family history research. She also provides lectures on a variety of genealogical topics. Melanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. Her areas of research interest include Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Kansas, Prince Edward Island, Québec, and Ireland, and she is experienced in DNA, genealogical technology and social media, Jewish genealogy, and military records.
Elizabeth Peay, Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press studied at the University of Connecticut and Smith College, earning a dual B.A. in History and Classical Studies. Before joining the American Ancestors team she worked as a Lead Guide at Roseland Cottage for Historic New England and completed an internship with the Tiffany Windows Education Center. Growing up in historic Lebanon, CT inspired Elizabeth’s research interests in Revolutionary War, Native American, and Colonial New England genealogy.