The Loyal and Doubtful: Index to the Acts of British Loyalism in the Greater New York and Long Island Area 1775-1783: First Series, Volume 1: Surnames Aabig - Cornwell Hardcover – August 2, 2023

Do you have an ancestor who resided in New York City, Staten Island, or on Long Island during the American Revolution? This series is part of a laborious effort to compile as many singular and individual acts of Loyalism and doubtful acts found in these areas during the war. After General Washington's retreat from New York during the disastrous battles of New York and Long Island in the fall of 1776, the British army occupied New York City and Long Island until their evacuation in November 1783. Many residents fled inland in the months or times leading up to the battle, but many other families stayed; in the meantime, many Loyalists from outside the area fled into the city, compounding the issue with homelessness, crime, and poor sanitation. During the occupation, courts were suspended and martial law ensued. The British used oaths of allegiance to the crown as a means to police allegiances within their boundaries. Those families who remained in New York may not have necessarily been true Loyalists, but many families were subjected to helping or assisting with British activities (building forts, carting provisions, serving in Loyalist regiments, etc.) during that period. It was a dangerous time, with rebels (patriots) often crossing the waterways and harassing families and stealing property; the British officers often did the same as well. Many resources have published various lists documenting oaths of allegiance, Loyalist claims, and other activities occurring in this area during the war. However, this series takes out the hard work in tracking down a number of books and compiles them all into one series! This book culls through newspapers, petitions, original oath lists, war claims, memorials, local histories, and muster rolls, from published sources to the Canadian Archives, to the National Archives UK. So many new resources were discovered in this process...so much so there will be future volumes added to this series in the long run! Hopefully this series will help you prove whether your New York ancestor may have contributed to the royal cause or not! This book is alphabetically arranged by surname, with original sources cited for each entry. Read more