I 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!

Yes, 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!

Never 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!

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.
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I 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.

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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. 
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