Michael Luo and Jill Lepore discuss Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America
Beginning in the middle of the nineteenth century, tens of thousands of Chinese came to America seeking job opportunities related to the Gold Rush and railroad expansion. Initially, they were welcomed; then, in 1882, they were excluded by the first major US law to explicitly restrict immigration based on race. Strangers in the Land tells the story of the Chinese experience in the United States into modern times and examines the complications of our multiracial democracy. Learn More
Take Advantage of Our Spring Sale—$25 Off New American Ancestors Memberships!
Join American Ancestors today and save $25 on your membership cost. An American Ancestors membership offers access to billions of searchable names on our website, a subscription to American Ancestors magazine, discounts on books and research for hire, and more! Use code Apr25 at checkout.
On the Other Side of Lexington Green—April 19, 1775
On the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Chief Genealogist David Allen Lambert reflects on his own ties to the Revolution: Patriots who marched on the Alarm and a Loyalist ancestor who stood with the British at Lexington Green. Read More
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
Books That Belonged to Your Ancestors
Share your thoughts about the survey! Please limit submissions to 150 words or fewer. Your submission may be featured in an upcoming newsletter or shared on social media; please note in your email if you do not want your story to be shared. Published responses may be edited for clarity and length.
Connections to the Revolutionary War and the Battles of Lexington and Concord
Total: 2,740 Responses
23%, At least one of my ancestors or relatives fought in the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
21%, At least one of my ancestors or relatives lived in Lexington, Concord, or a nearby town in 1775.
41%, I have visited historic sites related to the Revolution in Lexington and/or Concord.
7%, I have attended a Revolutionary reenactment in Lexington and/or Concord, or plan to attend this year.
1%, I am or have been a Revolutionary War reenactor.
81%, My ancestor or relative served in the Revolutionary War as a Patriot.
41%, My ancestor or relative contributed to the Patriot war effort in some other way.
16%, My ancestor or relative served in the Revolutionary War as a Loyalist.
9%, My ancestor or relative contributed to the Loyalist war effort in some other way.
5%, I am not sure whether any of my ancestors were involved in the American Revolution.
7%, None of my ancestors or relatives served in the Revolutionary War or contributed to Revolutionary War efforts.
18%, I will take part in 250th anniversary activities this year.
5%, I have a connection not mentioned above.
Readers Respond
Linda Russell, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts: My 6th great-grandfather Jason Russell was shot and killed by the British in his home in Menotomy (now Arlington), Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775, as the British were retreating back to Boston from the battles in Concord and Lexington. Known as the Battle of Menotomy, this engagement, centered around Russell's house, was the bloodiest fighting of the day, with twenty-five colonial militiamen and forty British troops killed during the battle—eleven of the militia and two of the British died in Russell's home. The house is now a museum. Re-enactments of the battle are held on Patriots’ Day. Jason’s son Jason Russell, Jr. went on to fight in the battle at Bunker Hill.
Victoria B. Bjorklund, Sea Cliff, New York: My ancestor Sarah Shattuck was second-in-command of Mrs. David Wright's Guard, an all-women Patriot militia raised when the men of Pepperell, Massachusetts, left to fight in Concord. The Guard captured Loyalist Leonard Whiting, who was carrying incriminating papers on his way to Boston. They turned him over to the Groton Committee of Safety. In 1777, a Pepperell town committee granted the Guard compensation for their service after the state declined to pay them because they were women.
Margaret Fairfield Read, Rio Rancho, New Mexico: My ancestor William Fairfield was a Loyalist who was driven out of Pawlet (now in Vermont) by the Revolutionaries. He went to Canada. His wife had to petition the Revolutionaries for horses in order to follow him with their children. The family lived in refugee quarters for the duration of the war. The king then gave land to William near Kingston, Ontario. William built a lovely home there that was later dedicated as a museum by Queen Elizabeth.
Glenn Berry, Boston, Massachusetts: The Battle of Machias was the first naval battle of the Revolution. An impromptu group of Patriots led by Jeremiah O'Brien captured the British sloop HMS Margaretta. After its capture, the Margaretta was renamed the Machias Liberty; Jeremiah was its first captain. I descend from Jeremiah’s sister Joanna and also from multiple battle participants—including Josiah Libby, who is said to have fired the first shot of this battle. The 250th anniversary will be celebrated this year on June 20 and 21.
Fay Bennett, Greenfield, Massachusetts: My 4x great-grandfather was Capt. Joel Fletcher, who answered the alarm on April 19, 1775. My great-great-grandfathers Amos Hunting of Dedham and Josiah Ballard of New Salem fought as well. At age 16, Josiah marched to Ticonderoga in place of his father. I have also discovered that Paul Revere and I share common ancestry through the Patteshall line. I will celebrate the 250th anniversary of his famous ride on April 18, 1775, by reading Longfellow's well-known poem. I am sure there are other connections, but this is all I have time to research as I will celebrate my 100th birthday in July.
In the Cradle of the American Revolution, Telling History Her Way “A teenager in Lexington, Mass., has for years been teaching people about the battle that started the war 250 years ago this weekend. Her entertaining website has drawn praise and raised eyebrows.”
The Tragedy of the Titanic The Beehive, the Massachusetts Historical Society blog, shares the April 23, 1912, diary entry of Amelia Peabody, who wrote about the sinking of the Titanic.
Spotlight: Genealogy Resources, Muskogee Public Library, Oklahoma
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Muskogee, seat of Muskogee County, is located in eastern Oklahoma. The Muskogee Public Library, which is part of the Eastern Oklahoma Library System, has made genealogical resources available on its website. Among the resources are a death records database and the Muskogee Yearbook Project. The more than 4,000-record database can be accessed by first clicking the Muskogee County Death Records 1910-1916 banner, then the View Records link. Click the Muskogee Yearbook Project to access the digitized collection of yearbooks from six local high schools and junior high schools. Search Now
Database News
New Sketches: Early Vermont Settlers, 1700-1784
We have added new sketches to the Early Vermont Settlers, 1700-1784 database: Hilkiah Grout (Vernon, Weathersfield), Joseph Stebbins (Vernon), and Zadock Wright (Hartland). This study project, researched by Scott Andrew Bartley, treats heads of households who lived within the present-day borders of Vermont by 1784. Each entry includes known vital records and a list of children with spouses. This database is available to American Ancestors members only. Search Now
As a family historian, you know that wills are important in your research—but have you created a will for yourself? Free Will, an easy and free online will creation tool, will guide you step-by-step through identifying beneficiaries for your assets, supporting the causes that are important to you, and planning for the preservation of your research. Learn More
