New England Citizen Soldiers of the Revolutionary War

A historian goes beyond the famous faces to tell the stories of ordinary citizens who served as militiamen and mariners during the American Revolution.

Americans know Paul Revere and General George Washington—but lesser known are those unsung heroes or citizen soldiers who first enlisted with local militias before being assigned to units of the Continental Line and sent away to fight in states and regions far removed from their homes and families.

In New England, these also included men of the sea who signed aboard privateers or became part of the Mariner brigades that became indispensable in navigating waterways and ferrying troops into position. New England Citizen Soldiers is also the larger story of their struggle to maintain their loyalty and their ties to their home states, property, and family. Historian Robert Geake uncovers the untold story of ordinary citizens who became united in the cause for freedom.