Fighting for the Crown?: Irish Catholic Loyalists in the Military, Part 1

On 22 Nov, 2018 0 Comments

An entire regiment of soldiers of Irish Catholic origin fighting for the British Crown was quite an unusual situation in the British Atlantic World at the end of the eighteenth century, but two such a groups were created in the colonies of Pennsylvania and New York during the American Revolution.  Irish Catholic participation in British military campaigns during this period is particularly intriguing for two reasons.  Firstly, instances of Catholics

On Archives and Stolen Papers

On 25 Jul, 2018 2 Comments

Researchers using archives are often puzzled as to why we ask them to register, and leave all bags and coats in a locker before they may use the collection.  It is because archives, libraries, and museums have been pillaged in the past of valuable collections, and the job of an archive is to protect these items, whether from the elements or thieves.

What’s a Muster Roll?

On 27 Jun, 2018 0 Comments

The words “muster roll” flow easily off the tongue of a military historian or veteran genealogist.  Some researchers, however, may have some recollection of the term, but are unsure as to its exact nature.

Death on the Sea: The Crew of the Eclipse

On 13 Jun, 2018 0 Comments

At the head of Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, in 1831, the end came for seven sailors belonging to the brig Eclipse like many others employed in this potentially lethal occupation.  The story of the crew of the Eclipse is just one of the dramas that is revealed through common, local county court documents.  The primary documents assembled below demonstrate the very practical concerns surrounding shipwreck deaths and the treatment of its victims.

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