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Position:Home>Genealogy> How can I find out if my family fought for independence, or were Loyalists?Question: How can I find out if my family fought for independence, or were Loyalists!? Doing genealogical research, and I am trying to find out which side my family was on in Massachusetts during the time of the Revolution!. Are there any websites or databases out there that have information on who fought on which side!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Be very careful using the DAR records, as many of the histories published are in error with mis-attachments!. Call you local historical society and or University Library and ask if they have "HeritageQuest" Online!. Which has the Rev War Pensions available on line!. Your local historical society will also most likely have the Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors books which listed the Individuals who served and in which company!. Because Massachusetts was a much older colony - if your family was hear late 1600 to early 1750 - most likely, they were for Independence and fought the crown!. If however they had arrived recently 1765-75 they might be Loyalist!. Most Loyalist either returned to the greater UK or were exiled to Canada!. Good luck in your hunt!. DL Www@QuestionHome@Com Thank you for your service to the nation!. All of my lines, mostly Presbyterian Scotch, arrived during a migration from Northern Ireland between 1700 and 1725!. Most of them settled in Colerain, Londonderry and Peterborough!. At the time, New Hampshire was still Massachusetts territory!. These people were hearty and prolific!. All of them were Patriots!. E-mail me with the surnames if you suspect a Scottish line and I'll respond!. The amount of historical data on these people won't fit into an standard Yahoo answer dialog box!. I've got tons of info on my lines, I'll be glad to help you with yours if possible!. Happy hunting!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Chad - DeAnne's right on target!. Be very careful of your source materials!. The Massachusetts S & S are a great source as is HeritageQuest!. I am only 6 generations removed from the Rev!. War!. My great-great-great Grandfather was a private in the 1st New Hampshire Regiment of 1776 and served for almost 5 years!. Was taken prisoner at the Battle of the Cedars in Canada!. Was released to Benedict Arnold on his retreat out of Canada!. He re-upped in 1777 and was in many of the major battles - Bemis Heights, Saratoga, Hubbardton!. He wintered over at Valley Forge and was under the charge of George Washington at the Battle of Monmouth!. It was his Rev!. War pension that directed me to his family and I am humble to know that I am a 10th generation American!. Great Post! DeAnne!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com I believe most of those people who were Loyalist left the colonies!. There are now some in Northern Louisiana and there are pockets of them in Arkansas and Missouri!. The reason why is that France gave safe haven into the Louisiana Territory to those who backed King George during the Revolution!. Arkansas and Missouri were part of the Louisiana Territory!. Those people were already there when the U!.S!. bought the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803!. You have to understand after the war was over everybody didn't get together and have a big 4th of July picnic!. The winners took it out on the losers!. They burned their homes down!. We had family friends who were redcoats from Northern Louisiana and believe me, they didn't celebrate the 4th of July until after WWII!. Uncle Tom(we called them uncle and aunt) said "if our side had one we'd hung em all!."Www@QuestionHome@Com You can work them (individually) through DAR patriot indexes!. You also can look for court records in their county!.!. sometimes those will have persons designated!. Your answer may not be in database format!. Www@QuestionHome@Com Ancestry!.com, under Military Records, has several possibilities for finding that information!. If you do not have a subscription to Ancestry, give the names and I can do the looking up!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |