“Breck, You should honour your relative as loyal to the Crown. He was not the traitor!”
Stanley,
By the way you spelled “honor”, I suspect I know where your loyalty lies.
My loyalties are mixed. Mother was born and raised in northern France - have traced her ancestors there back to the 1300’s. My paternal grandfather’s dad immigrated to the U.S. from England (Midlands) in 1872. My paternal grandmother’s ancestors all date back to Plymouth Rock and the colonies - mostly immigrants from England.
Finally, I have a sister who has lived in London for 30+ years. When I told her about our ancestor the traitor/spy, she said “good for him”. She has obviously “gone to the dark side”.
There was a book written about my ancestor a few years back. It’s one of the lesser known stories of the “American Revolution”. I enjoyed it. Other students of early American history might find it interesting as well.
"Fame is at best but an inconstant Good: Vain are ye boasted titles of our Blood. We soonest lose, what we most highly prize And with our youth our short-lived Beauty dies. A generous Ardor boils within my Breast, Eager of Action, Enemy to Rest. This urges me to fight and fires my Mind, To leave a memorable Name behind.
Jeffrey B. Walker. The Devil Undone: The Life and Poetry of Benjamin Church, 1734-1778 (New York: Arno Press, 1982), 172-173, 221, 224-225.
Thanks for the interesting reply. Yes, my loyalties generally lie elsewhere but I also like to provoke a little reaction. From a distance of 250 years it’s difficult to argue with the general tenor of ‘no taxation without representation’. After all, as a resident of Boston, that most revolutionary of cities, I too got to endure a little taxation without representation for many years. Also happened to live literally round the corner from Paul Revere though he had moved on before I got there.
Wish I could trace my family’s roots as far back as you’ve been able to do. And I’ll take a look at the book link.
From a distance of 250 years it’s difficult to argue with the general tenor of ‘no taxation without representation’.
Indeed, it’s a reasonable sentiment.
Though it’s fun to remember that the “Boston tea party”, though a complicated saga, was proximally a protest triggered by a tax cut.
I am not allowed to vote where I live, as a mere foreigner with a residence permit. No representation at all.
But on the other hand I’m not taxed either, so fair enough.
“I am not allowed to vote where I live, as a mere foreigner with a residence permit. No representation at all.
But on the other hand I’m not taxed either, so fair enough.”
