The American Revolution presented Quakers with a dilemma. Guided by a deep commitment to peace and nonviolence, many refused to take up arms or support the war, even as neighbors, friends, and family members chose opposing sides. This session explores the challenges Quakers faced during the Revolution, from fines, imprisonment, and disownment to divided families and communities. Throughout the presentation, you will learn how these events were documented in meeting records, military exemptions, court cases, and other historical sources. Whether your ancestors were Quakers or simply lived among them, this lecture sheds light on the lives, choices, and records of those whose consciences shaped their experience of America's fight for independence.
Registration in this program includes access to a 60-minute live broadcast, recording, and other materials for the foreseeable future.
Join the Live Broadcast
Click here to join the live broadcast: https://zoom.us/j/91608962972
Saturday, August 15 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
If you are unable to attend the live session you will be able to view the full recording on this webpage.
Lecture Materials
To come.
About the Speaker
Rhonda R. McClure, Senior Genealogist, is a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer. Before joining American Ancestors in 2006, she ran her own genealogical business for 18 years. She was a contributing editor for Heritage Quest Magazine, Biography magazine and was a contributor to The History Channel Magazine and American History Magazine. In addition to numerous articles, she is the author of twelve books including the award-winning The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Online Genealogy, Finding your Famous and Infamous Ancestors and Digitizing Your Family History. She is the editor of the 6th edition of the Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research, available in our bookstore. When she isn’t researching and writing about family history, she spends her time writing about ice hockey, covering collegiate to NHL teams and a couple of international teams. Her work has allowed her the privilege of attending and covering the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Korea and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Areas of expertise: Immigration and naturalization, late 19th and early 20th century urban research, missionaries (primarily in association with the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions), State Department Federal records, New England, Mid-West, Southern, German, Italian, Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and New Brunswick research as well as Internet research, genealogical software and online trees (FTM, RootsMagic, Reunion, AncesTrees, etc.), digital peripherals, and uses both Mac and Windows machines.
Other Resources
Revolutionary Roots website
American Ancestors magazine article: Finding Revolutionary War Patriots in Your Family Tree
American Ancestors magazine article: Strategies for Tracing Revolutionary War Veterans
Archived webinar: Friend or Foe: Researching Colonial Ancestors During the American Revolution
Archived webinar: Applying to Revolutionary War Lineage Societies