It's estimated that upwards of 50% of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War were Irish immigrants. Many Irish also served in the British Army. Torn between loyalty to the British Crown, economic stability, and opportunity, the Irish made a lasting impact during the war and post-war settlement in the American colonies. Join Senior Genealogist Melanie McComb to learn about the incentives offered to the Irish from both sides of the conflict, how to research their military service, pensions, bounty land, and identify their origins in Ireland.
Registration in this program includes access to a 60-minute live broadcast, recording, and other materials for the foreseeable future.
Lecture Materials
About the Speaker
Melanie McComb, Senior Genealogist, assists library visitors, both on-site and online, with their family history research. She is an international lecturer who teaches on a variety of topics. Melanie holds a B.S. degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. She previously served as the social media coordinator for the NextGen Genealogy Network, a non-profit that creates a community for younger genealogists, where she managed the Facebook and Twitter accounts. She continues her interest in helping younger genealogists get involved at American Ancestors by assisting with educational programs from local schools, scout groups, and universities. Her areas of expertise include Irish genealogy, DNA, Atlantic Canada, Jewish genealogy, and military records.
Other Resources
Research Guide: Irish Genealogy
Archived webinar: Friend or Foe: Researching Colonial Ancestors During the American Revolution
American Ancestors magazine article: Finding Revolutionary War Patriots in Your Family Tree
American Ancestors magazine article: Strategies for Tracing Revolutionary War Veterans
Archived webinar: Applying to Revolutionary War Lineage Societies
This event is presented in partnership with the Irish Genealogical Research Society.
The Irish Genealogical Research Society is a learned society, established in 1936. The primary concern back then was to gather surviving copies of materials which had been lost in the destruction of the Public Record Office of Ireland in Dublin in 1922.
The IGRS’s journal, the Irish Genealogist, has been published annually since 1937. The core of its unique reference library was formed at its foundation, and the collection has been greatly expanded since. The library is widely recognized as the world’s largest and most important collection of Irish genealogical material held in private hands.
Despite it being a learned society, the IGRS is also a welcoming one, aiming to help those starting their family history experience. It has members in various countries across the globe, including Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and the USA. Its Ireland Branch serves members throughout the island of Ireland, while there is also a group for those living in the London and South-East of England.
As well as through the journal, members are kept informed by a regular newsletter, a monthly e-bulletin, the website (www.irishancestors.ie) and social media posts. Online lectures, mainly hosted by the Ireland Branch, are open to members and non-members, while there is a growing collection of lecture recordings. The annual general meeting is held online. Since 2020 the Wallace Clare Award has been presented annually, celebrating outstanding long-term contributions to the development of Irish genealogy worldwide.