The Revolutionary War was fought in part over tensions between England and her colonies that escalated over time into violence with the opening shots fired in Massachusetts in April 1775. Some of the historical records examined will include compiled military service records, pensions, state and federal bounty land, local militia, along with records from the Continental Navy and Marine Corps. Additional historical context includes some of the national emergencies after the end of the war in 1783, including both Shay’s Rebellion and the later Whiskey Rebellion.

Michael L. Strauss, MA, AG®, AGL™, is a military historian and professional genealogist. His research expertise is recognized in the judicial systems of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, where he provides testimony as an expert witness in kinship and forensic estate investigation. Strauss has a B.A. in history with a concentration on the Civil War from Shepherd University in West Virginia and a M.A. in military history from the University of Massachusetts in Boston. He has lectured at universities, conferences, and institutes, and contributed to numerous publications, including books and edited collections, peer-reviewed journal articles, popular history writing, blogs, and book reviews, that demonstrate his background in military history.