<![CDATA[1777 - DANBURY ON FIRE! - The Occasional Blog]]>

<![CDATA[1777 - DANBURY ON FIRE! - The Occasional Blog]]>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:04:07 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[How I Accidentally Got Promoted....]]>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:17:01 GMThttps://www.danburyonfire.com/the-occasional-blog/how-i-accidentally-got-promotedI seem to have a new gig now. The French and Indian War Foundation in Winchester VA is the only national organization focusing on "the war before the way" that plowed the way for the Revolutionary War. Hardened veterans were ready to take on a world power with a very young volunteer army after the brutality of what some also call "The Seven Years War."

My 4th great-grandfather, Silas Hamilton was taken into the war as a lieutenant in 1757 and made a captain in 1762.

The only other large national F&I War society does not accept women as members. You know I'd never go for that!]]><![CDATA[Per my last title: "I had to work!"]]>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 02:16:27 GMThttps://www.danburyonfire.com/the-occasional-blog/per-my-last-title-i-had-to-workYes, I did, and it prevented me from going anywhere great after Kalamazoo, but that was amazement enough for a while. Then spring came and a tiny puppy joined the family.
He now weighs 105. Even though he belongs to my son, he spends a lot of time with me.
Then I had to work again, most of July and half of August..

Basically, I never went anywhere until I heard of a trade fair in Highland County VAin September

Fair Lawn Farm is not a period house, but its liberal hospitality is unmatched. Truly shocking how much food came our way. Better than standing in line and retreating back to our own friends or areas, each room and porch had a an extra seat for me. This BAR lady got in with some Continental Line females that all they could talk about was black powder: where to buy, what size loads, the pedigrees of their cannon, etc..

I had always heard about Martin's Station being the end-al/be-all of events, so I went - in October. And was the only vendor there. The reenactor population was light but present and the client traffic was actually fairly good due to a music event next door. I had time for longer discussions. I camped in a national park (Wilderness Road), which I loved enough to make up for everything else. The drive to Ewing VA is interminable, but I can't wait to go back for the spring edition - in other words, when everyone else in the vending world knows to come!

]]><![CDATA[2025 - Easter]]>Sun, 20 Apr 2025 11:37:47 GMThttps://www.danburyonfire.com/the-occasional-blog/2025-easterNever Enough Research Part Two!

More money came from The Battlefield Trust for research of the Ridgefield area where Benedict Arnold and Gen. Wooster tried to stop the British on their retreat back to their boats. A letter just went out requesting landowners to contact those in charge of the coming project.

For the serious scoop on how this accidentally began, go the the Ridgefield Historical Society's page archives and go back to Dec. 2020 for the news/explanation on the original excavation.

So many events and reenactments this year, but I have to work! Darn!

]]><![CDATA[Just Letting You Know: Never Enough Danbury Research!]]>Tue, 08 Oct 2024 12:01:34 GMThttps://www.danburyonfire.com/the-occasional-blog/just-letting-you-know-never-enough-danbury-research

The Ridgefield Historical Society, in collaboration with the State Historic Preservation Office, seeks to contract with a professional cultural resource management firm to carry out the objectives of an American Battlefield Protection Program Grant, administered by the National Park Service. The tasks associated with the scope of services are intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of The Battle of Ridgefield and to promote future preservation and stewardship activities. The currently requested services consist of conducting additional research, archaeological excavations, and preparing a final report of the investigation.

]]><![CDATA[Still Not a Scam: No! It's Hard Work!]]>Tue, 08 Oct 2024 11:55:45 GMThttps://www.danburyonfire.com/the-occasional-blog/still-not-a-scam-no-its-hard-workI never make a secret of the fact that I hate to write because everything I say sounds so trite to me!
After enrolling in a class from an LA group, I realized that I had chosen well. The lady mentioned previously was not a good match with me after all.... So what to do if I can't/won't write new?

Just take all the dialogue out of the book and use it! Craig Fernandez, our fearsome leader seconded the idea, so it can't be too bad.

]]><![CDATA[Still Not a Scam]]>Tue, 06 Aug 2024 20:34:47 GMThttps://www.danburyonfire.com/the-occasional-blog/still-not-a-scamNever put all your eggs in one basket - so I found another site with movie experts, among them a delightful lady to work with - at least when I have composed said work.

Looking for fall events that I cannot swear I can attend due to possible work, which only shows up in fall. Maybe this year I will go back to The Southern Campaign - who have changed their name AGAIN. This was an outstanding event, national BAR, when I when for their first production several years ago. I will remember it all my life....

]]><![CDATA[It's not a scam if you learn something from it, right?]]>Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:57:11 GMThttps://www.danburyonfire.com/the-occasional-blog/its-not-a-scam-if-you-learn-something-from-it-rightDisgruntled and dissatisfied folks will complain about services that don't work out well for them and call them scams. But what if that experience inspires buying books on the subject and seeking out other professional advice - while still receiving personalized advice from the alleged "scam?"

Here's how my first call to a supposed scriptwriter went a few years ago:

Movie Guy: How about we send your protagonist on a 'hero's journey?'
Me: The story is about Danbury - where he lives.
Movie Guy: The how about we blow something up at the end?
Me: The book's about fire. Plus they had no gunpowder.
Me Again: Good-bye.

This time will doubtless work out the same, but it's a lot more fun to learn terminology and how to observe movies instead of watching them.
Another thing I learned: maybe we should add visuals of that beheading....
]]><![CDATA[England: The Train Strike Struck]]>Mon, 03 Jun 2024 12:48:15 GMThttps://www.danburyonfire.com/the-occasional-blog/england-the-train-strike-struckThere's more to my family than I put into 1777 - the Trowbridges. My grandmother's name was Minerva Trowbridge Hamilton. We may have met Lt. John Trowbridge before when Joe and Capt. Hamilton stop to talk at the closed-up tavern belonging to the officer.
My 9-10 great-grandfathers owned a wool sales site in Taunton England at 15 Fore Street. It's still there, now a Caffe Nero.
I had left my little day trips in England until my long trips to Scotland and France were complete, but alas...
On the way down from Scotland, most of the trains after mine were cancelled or delayed: "No crew." Well, no crew indeed, when a 4-day train strike overtook me and plans went down the drain.
Well, as the say in baseball, "Maybe next year!"

]]><![CDATA[And here we are in a new year and winter gone already!]]>Sat, 09 Mar 2024 17:33:23 GMThttps://www.danburyonfire.com/the-occasional-blog/and-here-we-are-in-a-new-year-and-winter-gone-already
Vows to travel more came to fruition and this week I'll sail over the seas to England and Scotland, the latter being the home of the Hamiltons. Alas, they came so early to America that no information on their lives before arriving from Lanark exists now other than several birth/death records.

My focus instead will be on my Trowbridge family and visiting the home/business place of this fine wool mercer whose grandson came to New Haven CT in 1636, only to return a few years later to Taunton, Somersetshire.

Having searched for actual site information there, I found absolute blanks as far as anyplace except the local churches where I could "visit family." One church was said to have a partially worn-away in-floor stone -- as stated in 1860. Want to bet that it's completely worn away by now? My spirits sank.

BUT THEN! One day last month, I hit the jackpot! My 10th great-grandfather's house has its own Wikipedia page! Check out 15 Fore Street, Taunton, UK. (Dbl-cl for link)

The house held two businesses and was in sad repair before having a costly renovation in 2003. Probably every century had seen a new and costly remodel!

My connection to the Trowbridge family is this: my paternal great-grandmother was born Minerva Trowbridge. (See my complete genealogy in the back of my book.)

Think I'll just drop by for coffee on Saturday, April 6 with my new friends from the Historical Society.

(Courtesy of Wikipedia)

]]><![CDATA[Where did a year go....]]>Thu, 07 Dec 2023 18:04:21 GMThttps://www.danburyonfire.com/the-occasional-blog/where-did-a-year-goHard to believe that I was too depressed to make any entries for a whole year, but when I recovered from that, I was too busy catching up! Of course, I have probably never recovered from moving into this house almost 8 years ago! I become obsessed with the little things
such as my tiny garden, I plant, reconfigure, put in a raised bed, take out raised bed, fight drought, dig up to give away all the stuff my green thumb has encouraged. (If I were talentless at gardening, I would save a lot of time.)

(If I had talent at writing, I would save a lot of time, too! I did complete a picture book (a snarky one), but just one PB (with no illustration) will sell nowhere.

I became embroiled in friends' and family member's health issues, which basically took no time at all. The worries did take time because then I distracted myself by time-sucking means.

After being in the 1976 Daniel Morgan's riflemen group, I decided to attach myself to his Millwood VA place of business, which involved both the 2 10-day art shows and appearing in costume each Saturday.
I now go to New England more than in previous years (went 3 times this year) and hope to visit more states in 2024. Already getting a new sidesaddle skirt stitched!

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