From Revolution to Remembrance: Patriots of Color and Their Descendants
On the eve of Juneteenth, this special event in support of 10 Million Names, will feature a conversation between acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns (The American Revolution) and historian Dr. Vincent Brown, moderated by American Ancestors President & CEO Ryan Woods. Together they will explore the history and enduring significance of Patriots of color and the vital, yet often overlooked, role they played in the American Revolution.
Prompted by a financial crisis and poor crop production, Joseph Litzelswope and his family left the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany in 1817. Destitution and death in Ireland between 1845 and 1852 due to the Great Famine fueled John Ryan’s and Patrick Quinn’s decisions to emigrate from Ireland to America. Better work and land ownership opportunities in the United States than in Ireland prompted the departures of Cornelius Harrington in 1827 and John Dwyer in the 1860s. Members of all these families put down roots in the United States and served their communities as teachers and lawyers—and, in wartime, in both military and civilian positions.
Share your story! Each week in our Readers Respond column, we publish a selection of reader-submitted stories related to our most recent survey. Submissions must be 150 words or fewer and include your full name, city, and state. Published responses will be edited for clarity and length.
31%, Yes, I will visit at least one library, archive, or historical society.
36%, Yes, I will visit at least one cemetery to do research or pay respects to ancestors/relatives.
26%, Yes, I will visit at least one ancestral town or city.
6%, Yes, I will visit at least one ancestral country.
18%, Yes, I will visit relatives who share my interest in genealogy.
4%, Yes, I will attend a genealogical conference.
11%, Yes, I will attend a family reunion.
4%, Yes, I will travel for genealogy for a reason not mentioned above.
16%, I am not sure if I will travel for genealogy this summer.
38%, No, I am not planning to travel for genealogy this summer.
Readers Respond
Sue Clasen, Westminster, Colorado: I am heading to Belfast, Northern Ireland, in late July to continue researching the mystery family of my great-great-grandfather Samuel Bain/Bayne. Samuel was allegedly a native of County Antrim before immigrating to Toronto, Canada, in 1832 at age 21. I will be researching at the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland with the help of Ulster Historical Foundation researchers. Andrew Kane, author of Townland Atlas of Ulster, will accompany me to several townlands in the Civil Parish of Connor. I hope to visit the Connor Presbyterian Church and the old and new graveyards adjoining the church.
Nancy L. Gaynor, Crystal Lake, Illinois: I am excited to attend GRIP—a conference by the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh—this July. I am especially looking forward to Sandra Rumble’s course, “Researching Penn’s Colony.” I will use what I learn to break down some brick walls.
Linda Russell, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts: My husband and I will travel to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada, this summer. We are both working on getting our Canadian citizenship certifications. My husband has fond memories of visiting his family’s New Brunswick family homestead. I have discovered much from my research on four Canadian lines in my family, including an ancestor who was part of the New England Planter migration to Nova Scotia. We're looking forward to visiting these places where our ancestors lived.
Andrea Ryan, North Adams, Massachusetts: Before leaving for Perth, Australia, earlier this month, I determined through DNA testing that I have family there. This week, I had lunch with two third cousins in Perth. I had a gap in my research regarding their grandfather, who I traced to western Australia before the trail went cold. My Australian cousins explained that their grandfather had married a Protestant, resulting in a rift with his Catholic family. This discovery alone was worth the twenty-four hours of travel!
The Festive History of American Birthdays “Once the province of national heroes and celebrities, birthday parties have gradually become an essential part of modern life.”
Cursive Club, Where Students Learn With a Flourish “Students are practicing cursive in clubs after school and in libraries after it was cut from the Common Core curriculum. Some states are reintroducing it into schools.”
Spotlight: Red Oak Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, Iowa
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Red Oak, seat of Montgomery County, is located in southwestern Iowa. More than 13,000 individuals are buried in Red Oak Evergreen Cemetery. The earliest burials took place in the mid 1850s. To begin your search, click “View the Online Burial Records Kiosk.” Enter the name of the deceased in the search box. Click a name in the drop-down list to view a detailed record. The detailed record includes full name, maiden name, sex, when and where born, when and where died, where interred, funeral home, military information, burial location details, and notes. The grave location is pinpointed on the cemetery map. Search Now
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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
