DAR to share its Patriots of Color research to be included in American Ancestors’ project aimed at recovering the names of people enslaved in America and locate their living descendants.
Daughters of the American Revolution Joins 10 Million Names Project to Honor the Family Histories of African Americans Whose Ancestors Lived Under Slavery
Forgotten Patriots – African American and American Indian Patriots in the Revolutionary War
The second edition of Forgotten Patriots (2008) identifies over 6,600 names of African Americans and American Indians who contributed to American Independence and is a nearly five-fold expansion in pages over the 2001 edition.
Now available as a free PDF download, this 874 page document contains details of the documented service of the listed Patriots, historical commentary on happenings of the time, an assortment of illustrations, and an extensive bibliography of research sources related to the topic.
Following an introduction that provides context to the service of these often overlooked Patriots and the challenges faced in documenting their service, the book organizes its findings into chapters that include historical commentary, sources cited, names of identified Patriots and a bibliography directly related to each state and region of the country. Additional chapters also cover miscellaneous naval and military records, foreign allies, and the West Indies.
Seven appendices are included to elaborate on topics not often addressed in other publications:
- Map of the Enslaved Population, 1790 Census
- Documenting the Color of Participants in the American Revolution
- Names as Clues to Finding Forgotten Patriots
- The Numbers of Minority Participants in the Revolution
- Glossary of Terms Used
- Master List of Source Abbreviations Used in This Book
- Contacting the DAR
Just as important to researchers will be the vast array of thousands of sources found in the book's extensive bibliography that provides a roadmap for those seeking to discover even more information on the topic.
The Forgotten Patriots research guide is an indispensable tool for students, scholars, historians, and genealogists interested in the important contributions of African Americans and American Indians in America's fight for Independence. On an additional level, the hope is that it will also encourage the female descendants of these patriots to join the important volunteer and educational work of the DAR.
Post is dedicated and in Honor to all those Forgotten Patriots who are no longer Forgotten.
From your Daughter of the American Revolution
True Lewis, Pennsylvania State Society
