Course: 2026-03
Navigating Independence: Researching the Lives of Revolutionary War Ancestors
Virtual via Zoom
Faculty:
- Coordinator and Instructor: Cheri Daniels, MSLS
- Other Instructors: William Burchfield II, MSLS; Linda Colston; Kathryn Lake Hogan, BA, PCLGS, UE; J. Mark Lowe, FUGA; Deborah Maddox; Shelly Viola Murphy, DM; Michael L. Strauss, MA, AG®, AGL™
Tuition:
- Regular Price: $615.00
- NGS Member Price: $575.00
Description:
In this course, students will:
- Gain an understanding of the complex groups, communities, governments, and cultures that contributed to the colonial conditions that led to a war for independence from British rule.
- Learn about the structures and inner workings of the military forces involved: Continental, British/Loyalist, Indigenous, Spanish, Hessians, French, etc.
- Learn about the complications of life on the home front, and the shifting nature of governmental powers.
- Explore the religious groups that influenced the trajectory of the fighting, and become inspired by some of the philosophical writings of the time, such as Phillis Wheatley, and Joseph Warren, among others.
- Gain an understanding of the Indigenous groups and governments that supported war efforts on both sides.
- Learn about the precarious years of the early republic and how the war experience continued to shape our ancestors lives for several decades – including infrastructure, settlement, pensions, construction of American identities, and legal developments.
All sessions will provide information regarding access and use of resources not commonly known and which are specific to the timeframe and regions being covered.
Student Prerequisites:
Students must have 1) mastered foundational genealogical research skills and be comfortable conducting research in physical locations beyond web-based resources; and 2) reliable internet access. This course is for intermediate researchers.
Recommendations:
None
Recordings:
Sessions will be recorded and available through Friday, 10 July 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.
NOTE: All times are listed in Eastern Time.
Live Sessions may be subject to schedule adjustments by your course coordinator.
| Day | Session | Time | Session Title | Description | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 22 June |
Intro | 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Class and Course Introductions | Huzzah for Independence: Welcome to our journey as we explore the lives of those who lived during this turbulent time. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the inception of the United States, students will get a brief glimpse into the creation of this course – what inspired it – and where we hope it will take them by the close of the last session. | Daniels |
| 1 | 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM | Smoldering Embers: Fanning the Flames of Revolution | As America celebrates the 250th anniversary of our founding years, it is important to evaluate our ancestors from this era under the lens of historical context and the changes that came along with birthing a new nation. This session will set the stage for the eruption of the Revolutionary era: Pre-war economics, protests, networks, communication, identities, allegiances and residual effects of previous conflicts. All of these things influenced our ancestors’ lives and how they reacted when faced with war – but more importantly, these activities produced records in various formats and locations – some of which are still only accessed across the Atlantic. | Daniels | |
| 2 | 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM | Setting the Stage: Lord Dunmore’s Pre-War Skirmish | In 1774—just before the Revolution—Lord Dunmore’s War broke out along the Virginia/Kentucky frontier and the broader Ohio Country. The conflict pitted Virginia and Pennsylvania officials, the British Crown, migrating settlers, and Native tribes such as the Shawnee, Delaware, and Mingo against one another over land claims. Though marked mainly by skirmishes, the decisive Battle of Point Pleasant led to a treaty restricting these tribes from hunting or settling south of the Ohio River. This session explores the causes and impact of this overlooked prelude to the Revolution. | Colston | |
| 3 | 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM | The Impossible Choice: Indigenous Groups and their Gamble for Independence | When the Revolutionary War broke out, the Indigenous tribes had an even more precarious dilemma when deciding on which side to support. This session will map out the various tribes and their relationships with local communities and governments throughout the conflict – as we trace the negative land impact forced upon them through broken treaties, bogus land sales, and stubborn settlers. We will attempt to tell some of their stories from tribal archives, oral narratives, and U.S. Government records to demonstrate how the War years impacted their future displacement. | Daniels | |
| 4 | 3:45 PM – 5:00 PM | Separating Church from State: The Spiritual Influences that Guided the Conflict | Our new government made sure to include a separation of Church and State in the Constitution – for very important reasons. As war drew closer, some groups were opposed to violence, some were upholding the spiritual authority of the King, while others were leading the rebellious charge from the pulpit. This session will explore the various groups that had the greatest influence and the struggles they encountered when picking a side. We will also delve into the resources and documents held at regional archives. | Daniels/Colston | |
| Tuesday 23 June |
5 | 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM | In Defense of the Crown – Part 1: Understanding Loyalists | Not everyone supported the American cause during the Revolution. In this session, we’ll explore who the Loyalists were—why they chose to remain loyal to the British Crown, what that decision cost them, and where they went after the war. You’ll discover the diverse range of people who became Loyalists, including families, women, Black Loyalists, and Indigenous allies. We’ll trace their journeys north to Canada and beyond, mapping key migration routes and settlement areas. Along the way, you’ll learn how to identify early signs of Loyalist ancestry in your own family research. | Hogan |
| 6 | 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM | In Defense of the Crown – Part 2: Researching Loyalists | Think you’ve found a Loyalist ancestor? Explore essential sources such as muster rolls, land petitions, claims for compensation, and church records. Learn where to locate these records, how to utilize them, and what steps to take when the paper trail becomes complicated. We’ll discuss research strategies that address common Loyalist challenges, including alias names, resettlement patterns, and missing records, and conclude with a case study that reconstructs a Loyalist’s life. | Hogan | |
| 7 | 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM | Forging a National Army: Organizing a Functional Military during the Revolutionary War | The establishment of a cohesive army was a defining challenge during the Revolutionary War, requiring innovative strategies to overcome the limitations of the colonial militia. From the beginning of the war, supply problems, scarcity of money, and a weakened transportation system plagued the Continental Army. To bolster the Continental Line, wartime needs led to the inclusion of militia, who played a crucial role in supporting Continental Army regulars. After the end of the Revolutionary War, the need for a more permanent organization led to the creation of “Levies Regiments,” designed to maintain some military preparedness during peacetime, providing a template for our future regular army. | Strauss | |
| 8 | 3:45 PM – 5:00 PM | Invisible No More: Tracing Black Patriots of the American Revolution | This session introduces the pivotal but often overlooked contributions of African American Patriots during the American Revolution. Participants will explore the reasons Black men and women fought, the obstacles they overcame, and the genealogical records that can help uncover their stories. | Murphy | |
| Wednesday 24 June | 9 | 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM | Spain’s Influence on the American Revolution | During this session, we will explore the many impacts Spain had during the American Revolutionary War. For historical context, we will look at how the years surrounding the Seven Years’ War, also known as the French and Indian War, helped shape the political climate leading into the war for American independence. From the outbreak of hostilities in 1775, how did the Spanish affect the war effort? One clue lies in our own currency for the new republic being formed. This session will survey the political, financial, and military aide that Spain provided the newly formed United States of America during their struggle. | Burchfield |
| 10 | 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM | Hessians: The Hired Guns of the American Revolution | This session will explore the importance of German troops in the American Revolutionary War. Who were the “Hessians” and why were they fighting for the British Army? How complicated was their allegiance, and why do so many Americans descend from this force that was supposed to return home after the War? We will answer these questions and more as we learn about these hired German soldiers and the influences they had on the American Revolution, and track their document trail through three governments. | Burchfield | |
| 11 | 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM | Origins of Naval Power: The Continental Navy and Marine Corps in the Revolutionary War | The rise of naval strength during the Revolutionary War led to the establishment of the Continental Navy, which was aided by the Continental Marines. These forces were bolstered by privateering, wherein merchant vessels, granted Letters of Marque, actively targeted British shipping. In the aftermath of the war, the necessity for coastal protection and tariff enforcement led to the creation of the Revenue Cutter Service, shifting the naval focus from wartime aggression to the safeguarding of national commercial interests and the prevention of smuggling, illustrating a transition in naval power from direct military engagement to economic and legal oversight. | Strauss | |
| 12 | 3:45 PM – 5:00 PM | Enduring on the Homefront: Loyalties, Allegiances, and Shifting Powers | Beyond Continental or militia units, this session explores the records and stories of non-military Revolutionary War service, including civil and patriotic contributions. What decisions did our ancestors make when local authority changed? We will analyze documents to reveal the complex loyalties and shifting allegiances of those who had to flee or stay, completing the picture of how ordinary citizens contributed to American freedom. | Maddox | |
| Thursday 25 June |
13 | 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM | 1782: The Bloody Year on the Frontier and the Expansion of the Western War Front | By 1782, while the American Revolution raged in the east, frontier settlers faced their own battles—against wilderness, isolation, and constant danger. Their forts were not symbols of conquest but sanctuaries of survival. Many sought peace far from the war, yet conflict reached even the frontier. That year, a failed British plan to strike the Falls of the Ohio and capture George Rogers Clark brought devastation to Ruddell’s Station and Martin’s Fork—revealing the hidden toll of a war that touched even the most remote corners of early America. | Colston |
| 14 | 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM | To Stay or to Flee: African Americans Who Fought for the British | While many African Americans fought for the Patriot cause, thousands aligned with the British, lured by promises of freedom. This session explores the stories of African American Loyalists, their global diaspora, and the records that trace their journeys to Nova Scotia, Sierra Leone, the Caribbean, and beyond. | Murphy | |
| 15 | 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM | From Service to Settlement: Bounty Land and the Making of the Early American Frontier | Explore how Revolutionary War bounty land grants shaped westward expansion and the genealogical records they left behind. Understand how land opportunities incentivized movement that allows us to track those Revolutionary ancestors and those who followed them into frontier regions. | Lowe | |
| 16 | 3:45 PM – 5:00 PM | Revolutionary War Pensions: Exploring the Complex Timeline and Requirements Necessary to Gain Compensation | Genealogists love it when they find a Revolutionary War Pension file for their ancestor – which often included family and wartime details via testimonies from their FAN network. This session will take a deep dive into the laws that created the pension system, how pensions were awarded, when veterans and/or family members became eligible, and where to look for the records produced during the process. | Maddox | |
| Friday 26 June |
17 | 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM | Over the Mountains and Through the South: Tracing Revolutionary Families in Motion | The Revolution didn’t just win a war—it set entire families in motion. Understanding the Southern migration and land legacies allows us to see our ancestors not just as names on paper, but as active participants in a young, expanding, and often turbulent republic. We will look at the records that were created and develop some strategies for following those families, along with case studies to illustrate the settlement. | Lowe |
| 18 | 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM | Memory and Remembrance: The Jubilee of 1826 and the Stories that Emerged | When the Jubilee celebrations took place, historians, newspapers, and families took the opportunity to ask those who had lived through the Revolution to relate their stories. General Lafayette also came over to participate and his trail of visitations read like a who’s who of fellow veterans and war time acquaintances. Also during this time, the Abolitionist Movement was gaining steam as they brought forth the martyr, Crispus Attucks, to remind everyone who first shed blood for independence. This session will follow the resources that yield those Revolutionary stories, from newspapers, to the Draper Collection, to the advent of photography. | Daniels |