Our Ancestors in American History:
The American Revolution

Hey! I'm Joseph, the oldest grandson. We all know about the "rebellion" of the American colonies against England. Here's what some of my ancestors did during that War:

In 1775 James Morris of Litchfield, Connecticut graduated from Yale College, and the next year he became a soldier. After a few battles, he was captured by the British and imprisoned first in Philadelphia, and later in Brooklyn, NY. While in Philadelphia he convinced his jailers to let him borrow books from the subscription library begun by Benjamin Franklin. Most of the library's books actually belonged to Benjamin Franklin! Finally, James Morris, who was then a Captain in the Continental Army, was set free in exchange for a British prisoner. Then he fought at the famous battle of Yorktown, under General George Washington. After the war, my ancestor became a Justice of the Peace and an educator. He started the Morris Academy, where both boys and girls were taught. He was admired so much that, when a new town was created near his school, they named it after him --> Morris, Connecticut!

From the beginning of the American Revolution to the end of the War of 1812, or, from about 1774 to 1815, "privateering" was a thriving financial business that was approved and even encouraged by the government and authorities of Nova Scotia. Enterprising citizens of the "14th colony" were free to run down and board Yankee ships "on the high seas" and take whatever booty they could; often these ships were laden with weapons, food, and other supplies to support the "patriot" cause against the British. My ancestor Jean "George" Perrin is believed to have engaged in this legal but dangerous occupation, and he may have lost his life while in this service.

Another one of my ancestors, Amos Whitehead of Georgia, supported the British at first. In 1774, Amos joined 113 other citizens of Burke County in a signed statement of non-agreement with the Augusta GA protest against the Stamp Acts and other actions of the King and the British government. Amos apparently continued to side with the British even after the conflict began in earnest, although he eventually went over to the Patriots' side. He wrote a petition to Gen. Anthony Wayne on March 30, 1782, begging to be released from the jail at Ebenezer, GA. He said he now wanted to join the American militia, and that he had been with the British only because they had threatened his life if he would not fight with them. General Wayne wrote on the paper, "Petition of Amos Whitehead, an outcamper," and, "Signed by Some good men." At the end of the War, many British supporters had to leave America, and their properties were taken away. Amos Whitehead was allowed to stay, but the GA Assembly made him pay a fine of 12% of the value of all his property. He was even denied American citizenship at first, in 1784. But later he did become a citizen.

"It's All Relative"

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