This is the story of free Black man Jacob Francis of Amwell township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey who was indentured out by his free Black mother to age 21. Five different men "owned his time" during his indenture and each provided a different experience for him. The last man lived in Salem, Massachusetts and Jacob lived there between 1768 and 1775 during the buildup to fighting in the American Revolution. Jacob enlisted in a Massachusetts Continental regiment in October 1775 and served through the siege of Boston, the New York campaign, and the Battle of Trenton. When his enlistment expired on January 1, 1777, he left the army and went back to his birthplace to find his mother and learn his family surname. He established himself in Amwell and turned out for active militia duty for the rest of the war. In 1789 he married an enslaved woman named Mary whose master sold her to him on their wedding day. He freed her and together they raised a family of nine children. After his life of farming, Jacob and Mary moved into the village of Flemington about 1811 and lived there the remainder of their lives. They were active in the local Baptist Church and their youngest son, Abner, became an ardent abolitionist opposed to the idea of sending freed Black people as "colonists" to Africa. Abner always noted that his father's participation in the Revolution had been an inspiration for his lifelong endeavors to achieve equal rights Black people as well as White people. The story of Jacob and his family helps us understand the longstanding systemic racism that Black people in the United States have had to deal with while working to establish their place in society. It is a story of grit and determination combined with kindness and friendship.

The Revolutionary World of a Free Black Man: Jacob Francis: 1754-1836

History

Kidder, William L.

Americas

William L. Kidder

In Defending Fort Stanwix, William L. Kidder tells the dramatic story of "the fort that never surrendered" and the crucial role it played in the American War for Independence. After a series of military defeats over the winter of 1776-1777, British military leaders developed a bold plan to gain control of the Hudson River and divide New England from the rest of the colonies. Three armies would converge on Albany: one under Lieutenant General John Burgoyne moving south from Quebec, one under General William Howe moving north from New York City, and a third under Lieutenant Colonel Barrimore St. Leger cutting east from Lake Ontario along the Mohawk River. Fort Stanwix lay directly on the path of St. Leger's force, making it a key defensive position for the Continental Army. By delaying St. Leger's troops and forcing a retreat, the garrison's stand at Fort Stanwix contributed to Burgoyne's surrender at the Battles of Saratoga a month later, a major turning point in the course of the war. Kidder offers an engaging account of life in and around the fort in the months leading up to the siege, detailing the lives of soldiers and their families, civilians, and the Haudenosaunee peoples with a focus on both the mundane aspects of military life and the courageous actions that earned distinction. Defending Fort Stanwix relates the stories of local men and women, both white and Indian, who helped with the fort's defense before, during, and after the siege and showcases an exciting, overlooked story of bravery and cooperation on New York's frontier during the American Revolution.

Defending Fort Stanwix: A Story of the New York Frontier in the American Revolution

Three Hills

Discover how eighteenth-century Princeton and its residents--including two signers of the Declaration of Independence--contributed to and were affected by the American Revolution. The battles of Trenton and Princeton have been the subject of several recent books, but this story complements them by expanding the story to include the many experiences of the people of Princeton in the wider Revolution and their contributions to it. This story combines social history with the better known military and political history of the Revolution. It does not just deal with amorphous groups and institutions, but rather with individuals working with and affected by various groups on both sides of the conflict. Readers can identify with real people they get to know in the story. This story of Princeton unfolds in narrative format and, while deeply researched, reads more like a novel than an academic study. &nbsp; Larry Kidder's&nbsp;Revolutionary Princeton&nbsp;is a smart local history of Princeton's place in the American Revolution. Kidder rightly reminds his readers that the American struggle for independence was also a civil war within the British empire, within each colony, and within towns, villages, and cities. The people pf Princeton lived through the civil war that was the American War for Independence. Larry Kidder deftly reminds us that the reality of the war was ugly, messy, and tore apart families and communities.&nbsp;~&nbsp;Ricardo A. Herrera is Professor of Military History at the US Army School of Advanced Military Studies, author of For Liberty and the Republic: The American Citizen as Soldier, 1775-1861. Larry Kidder has given us a piercing view of a town caught up in an international&nbsp;and&nbsp;a civil war. For a time the town was at the epicenter of both, with dramatic consequences for the region and the wider conflict.&nbsp; The struggles of Princetonians--patriots and tories--will disabuse any notion that the War for Independence at the local level was an easy time. Cogently written,&nbsp;Revolutionary Princeton&nbsp;is a good read and a welcome contribution to the literature of the American Revolution. ~&nbsp;Mark Edward Lender, author of&nbsp;Cabal! The Plot Against General Washington Larry Kidder produces another great hit with his latest book,&nbsp;Revolutionary Princeton 1774-1783: The Biography of a Town at the Heart of a Civil War. Most of us has heard of the Battle of Princeton and the recent saving of precious battlefield land. Larry not only does a tremendous job covering the Battle of Princeton in great detail but he also provides important details about Princeton before and after the battle, covering the entire Revolutionary War period. This book includes excellent maps to go along with an engaging narrative. This is a must have book for everyone's Revolutionary War library. -Brian P. Mack - The Fort Plain Museum and Historical Park&nbsp;

Revolutionary Princeton 1774-1783: The Biography of an American Town in the Heart of a Civil War

Knox Press

TEN CRUCIAL DAYS: Washington's Vision for Victory Unfolds

While the American Revolution seemed on the verge of defeat on December 25, 1776, George Washington had assessed the weaknesses and strengths of his situation, and while steadfastly focusing on ultimate victory, reacted to the complex situation and developments over the next ten days to turn the psychological—if not the strictly military—situation completely around.\nOn December 25, 1776, the American Revolution seemed all but defeated just six months after the Declaration of Independence had been adopted. George Washington’s army had suffered a series of defeats in New York and had retreated under British pressure across New Jersey and then the Delaware River to temporary sanctuary in Pennsylvania. This left the British army in a string of winter cantonments across the middle of New Jersey, the New Jersey state government in total disarray, and the Continental Congress fleeing Philadelphia now perceived as the next British target. Loyalists in New Jersey felt empowered and Patriots felt abandoned. Washington needed not only a battlefield victory, but also to reestablish Patriot control in New Jersey. Otherwise, it would be impossible to raise a larger, long-term army to continue the fight and convince the citizens that victory was possible.\nThe story of these ten crucial days is one that displays Washington’s military and interpersonal abilities along with his personal determination and bravery to keep the Revolution alive through maintaining the psychological confidence of the Patriots, while reducing the psychological confidence of his British political and military opponents. Throughout these ten days, Washington was faced with changing situations requiring modifications or outright different plans and his well-thought-out actions benefitted from elements of luck—such as the weather or British decisions—which he could not control.\nWhile most books look at these ten crucial days focusing on the military actions of the armies involved, this account also considers what was happening in other parts of the world. Leaders and ordinary people in other parts of America, in Britain, and in France were also dealing with the Revolution as they understood its condition. Without the instantaneous communication we have today, they were dealing with dated information and were missing knowledge that could influence their thoughts about the Revolution. This lack of immediate communication was also true—although to lesser extent—for the individuals directly involved in the events in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Ten Crucial Days: Washington's Vision for Victory Unfolds

While the American Revolution seemed on the verge of defeat on December 25, 1776, George Washington had assessed the weaknesses and strengths of his situation, and while steadfastly focusing on ultimate victory, reacted to the complex situation and developments over the next ten days to turn the psychological, if not the strictly military, situation completely around. On December 25, 1776 the American Revolution seemed all but defeated just six months after the Declaration of Independence had been adopted. General George Washington’s army had suffered a series of defeats in New York, retreated under British pressure across New Jersey, and then crossed the Delaware River to temporary sanctuary in Pennsylvania. This left the British army in a string of winter cantonments across the middle of New Jersey, the New Jersey state government in total disarray, and the Continental Congress fleeing Philadelphia, fearfully perceived to be the next British target. Loyalists in New Jersey felt empowered and Patriots felt abandoned. Washington needed not only a battlefield victory, but also to reestablish Patriot control in New Jersey. The story of these ten crucial days is one that displays Washington’s military and interpersonal abilities along with his personal determination and bravery to keep the Revolution alive through restoring the psychological confidence of the Patriots, while reducing that of his British political and military opponents. Throughout these ten days, Washington’s efforts faced constantly changing situations, requiring modifications or completely new plans that fortunately often benefitted from elements of luck, such as the weather or British decisions, which he could not control. Join the winter patriots who marched with Washington, fought, and died in frigid temperatures during those “times that tried men’s souls”. Through meticulous primary source research and masterful storytelling, author William L. Kidder corrects the record and presents what we now know about how Washington exploited his enemy’s hubris by leading his upstart army in daring maneuvers that humiliated His Majesty’s forces in just ten short days that changed the course of history. Praise for TEN CRUCIAL DAYS “Larry Kidder walks with us in the bloody footprints of Washington’s soldiers as they changed the history of the world in ten days, in this electrifying testament to the qualities of the human spirit” - Edward G. Lengel, author of GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON: A Military Life "TEN CRUCIAL DAYS represents the very best kind of immersive history. Readers will feel like they were there with those British and American soldiers who fought and survived or died during the pivotal Trenton to Princeton campaign of late 1776, early 1777. Many huzzahs to author William L. Kidder for producing this thoroughly researched, easy to read volume focusing on the epic events that breathed new life into the faltering cause of liberty. Highly recommended . . . Deserves a wide readership". --James Kirby Martin, author of the awarding winning BENEDICT ARNOLD, REVOLUTIONARY HERO: An American Warrior Reconsidered. “Larry Kidder's TEN CRUCIAL DAYS takes you step by step across the wintery landscape of southern New Jersey. Based on extensive research in primary sources drawn from all sides of the conflict, Kidder introduces the reader to the deeply personal experiences of officers and common soldiers alike during what pamphleteer Thomas Paine called in December of 1776, "the times that try men's souls” - Bob Selig, Historical Consultant, Project Historian, Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. "Larry Kidder has given us a meticulously researched and deeply informed account of the "Ten Crucial Days" in our struggle for independence from Great Britain. His work reflects the impressive scholarship and extensive knowledge of this subject for which he is known and provides the reader with a wealth of information about one of the most critical periods in American history". - David Price, author of RESCUING THE REVOLUTION: Unsung Patriot Heroes and the Ten Crucial Days of America's War for Independence and THE ROAD TO ASSUNPINK CREEK: Liberty’s Desperate Hour and the Ten Crucial Days of the American Revolution "Stryker, Smith, Dwyer, Fischer, and now… Kidder. His TEN CRUCIALDAYS: Washington’s Vision for Victory Unfolds is a masterful addition to the literature of Trenton and Princeton. Kidder mines overlooked sources, corrects standing errors, and presents a clear, concise, and accurate picture of the campaign. Relying heavily on original narratives, he offers the opposing participants’ own observations, giving the reader a feeling of immediacy. The action flows smoothly, carrying us from the dark days of the retreat to the triumphant march to Morristown". -- Bill Welsch, President, American Revolutionary War Round Table (ARRT) - Richmond and Co-Founder of the Congress of ARRTs

History of Trenton New Jersey during the American RevolutionExhaustively researched and beautifully written, this it he story of revolutionary Trenton, New Jersey both a critical supply post and a crucial junction halfway between loyalist New York, and patriot Philadelphia.   Trenton between 1774 and 1783 is a microcosm of the challenges faced by ordinary Americans during the revolution, struggles intensified by Trenton’s geographic location in the state which saw more military activity than others and on a road constantly user to move and supply armies. Life in Trenton connected to just about every aspect of the revolution. The story of the people who lived in Trenton, or who spent time there because of the revolution, helps us better understand the hitherto untold importance of their town beyond the one well known day of battle.  Praise for CROSSROADS OF THE REVOLUTION: 1774 - 1783   A meticulous, compelling, and well-researched account of how the American Revolution pivoted around a village in southern New Jersey.– Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer Prize Winning Historian   William L. Kidder’s Crossroads of the Revolution: Trenton, 1774-1783is a gem. In this engaging and well-researched narrative, Kidder shines a light on Trenton, its people, and the events that centered on that town. Most Americans know Trenton as the location of George Washington’s post-Christmas victory over a Hessian brigade in 1776. Trenton was, however, much more than that. It was an active and lively town at the center of the American Revolution in New Jersey. Through his lively writing bolstered by assiduous research, Kidder tells the stories of Whigs, Loyalists, slaves, Britons, Hessians, and others who helped make Trenton a crossroads of the American Revolution. Readers will not be disappointed. - Ricardo A. Herrera is Associate Professor of Military History, US Army School of Advanced Military Studies and the author ofFor Liberty and the Republic: The American Citizen as Soldier, 1775-1861.   Known by most Americans for an hour of dramatic combat, Trenton was a small but important industrial city at the crux of so much of the War for Independence. Mr. Kidder’s marvelous study not only brings to life Trenton’s many unique personalities, but stands as a valuable case study for how a town and its people weathered and adapted through nine grueling years in the eye of the storm we know as the Revolution.Richard Patterson Executive Director, Old Barracks Museum, Trenton, NJ   Most histories of the Revolution remember Trenton, New Jersey, simply as the battle site where George Washington snatched the Patriot cause from the jaws of defeat on December 26, 1776, with his surprise attack on a Hessian brigade.  William L. Kidder’s Crossroads of the Revolution, presents a vivid, well-research portrait of a community at war, which reveals the daily courage and persistence it took to win independence.  Trentonians faced a daunting array of crises and other challenges between 1774 and 1783, and innumerable options with unpredictable outcomes.  Not all chose the same course – not all saw their stories end happily – but all were Americans who sought to define liberty in their own terms – much like their descendants who live in equally uncertain times today.  Gregory J. W. Urwin, Professor of History, Temple University

Crossroads of the Revolution: Trenton 1774 - 1783

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