About American Ancestors
An award-winning publication
American Ancestors is a unique, full-color magazine that comes out four times a year, and offers compelling information for family historians of all levels. Features cover useful genealogical sources, helpful research strategies, compelling historical accounts, and interesting case studies. American Ancestors is a benefit of membership starting at the Individual level, as both a print publication and an online PDF.
Fall 2025 issue now available
This issue of American Ancestors magazine explores Revolutionary War topics, with a focus on Loyalists. Other articles discuss the Hard Winter of 1779–1780; the life and service of a Black Revolutionary soldier from Westborough, Massachusetts; and the new second edition of The Great Migration Directory. As always, the issue contains information about our membership benefits, news, events, and educational opportunities.
Volume 26, Number 3, Fall 2025
Revolutionary Stories: Loyalists, the Hard Winter, and a Black Soldier from Massachusetts
| A Message from the President and CEO | In This Issue |
Your Member Benefits | Your Photo Submissions |
Programs & Tours | News |
10 Million Names | Branches of Our Family |
Special Event Highlights | On the Road and at Home with American Ancestors |
| Staff Profile | Spotlight on Summer Interns |
| Obituaries | American Ancestors Staff |
Features
The Loyalist Experience During the American Revolution Alexander Cain | Finding Loyalists in Your Family Tree Melanie McComb |
Loyalist Ancestors Weekly Genealogist Readers | “Liberty to Slaves”: Black Loyalists in the American Revolution Danielle Rose |
The Revolutionary War’s Hard Winter Judith E. Harper | Peter Maynard: A Black Revolutionary War Soldier from Westborough, Massachusetts Ross W. Beales Jr. |
The Great Migration Directory: Updated and Improved Lynn Betlock and Sharon Inglis | Christmas in the Country House Christopher Ridgway |
Columns
From Our Collections The Tyler Portraits Gerald W. R. Ward and Curt DiCamillo | State Spotlight Researching Independent Texans Kyle Hurst |
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You can access and download all past issues of American Ancestors magazine from 2010 to present with your American Ancestors membership.
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Search the magazine database by name, date, keyword, and more. You can also access a database of past issues of New England Ancestors (2000-2009), predecessor to American Ancestors magazine.
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Email letters to magazine@americanancestors.org or American Ancestors magazine, 101 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116. We regret that we cannot reply to every letter. Published letters will be edited for clarity and length.
Have you hit a brick wall in your research?
We seek stories of members’ most challenging “brick walls” for publication in American Ancestors. Send your story to magazine@americanancestors.org. Please limit your submissions to 200 words or less; include your name and American Ancestors member number. We regret that we cannot publish or respond to every submission. Published submissions will be edited for clarity and length.
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Recently published genealogies and other books
American Ancestors is pleased to list members’ recently published family history and source records publications. Books must be published within twelve months of the date of submission. Visit AmericanAncestors.org/Book-Notices
Other notices: Genealogies in Progress, Family Associations, DNS Studies, and Websites
Genealogies in progress, family association events, and DNA studies in progress are announced free for members on a space-available basis. (The same notice will be published only once per year.) Event notices should be submitted at least six to nine months prior to the event date. Visit AmericanAncestors.org/Notices
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For information on writing and submitting an article to American Ancestors, please click here to review our writer’s guidelines.