On Tuesday, October 21st, you and your family are invited to the New Jersey State Library for a riveting conversation on genealogy, history, and the research which has led us to these marvelous discoveries. This conversation will be held virtually from 12pm to 1pm on Zoom. If you are interested in attending, admission is free, but advanced registration will be required. For those planning on attending the webinar, please be sure to enroll by registering here: Register – Zoom. This event was organized by Andrew Dauphinee, Instruction and Outreach Librarian and Regina Fitzpatrick, Genealogy Librarian with the New Jersey State Library.
Over the course of the afternoon, guests will have the opportunity to hear about two soldiers of the American Revolution, Oliver Cromwell and Benjamin Flinn. One of these gentlemen was a runaway teenage apprentice from Middlesex county, while the other was a freed mixed-race man from Burlington County. Although these two men’s lives differed on the surface, history would prove that the two were more alike than one might expect.
Cromwell and Flinn were both members of the Continental Line, as well as well-respected members of their community. The way in which these two gentlemen’s lives coalesced serves as a testament to how this fledging nation came together at one of its most pivotal moments, ultimately leading the American soldiers to victory in the Revolutionary War. Through the use of documentation, affidavits, and newspaper interviews, this event will give you the chance to better get to know these men and their lived experiences. Beyond that, however, you will have the opportunity to leverage these sorts of resources to dive deeper into the history of your own family and discover new insights regarding those who came before you.
This event is hosted by the New Jersey State Library, a destination for researchers all throughout the Garden State. Amongst its expansive catalogue of information and literature, the New Jersey State Library has amassed a particularly impressive collection of genealogical tools to help clients get connected to the past. Whether you’re looking to learn more about a particular era in history or searching for answers regarding your own family, there’s no shortage of opportunity to dive deep into historical resources. Beyond their genealogical efforts, the NJSL also offers a number of resources and educational opportunities for any kind of learner. Whether you’re interested in science, history, the arts, or more, you’re certain to find what you’re looking for at the NJSL. To read more about the NJSL as well as upcoming events, please visit their website, linked here: NJSL – Home.
If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about all the New Jersey State Library has to offer, please contact the NJSL team at 609-278-2640 for further details. This event will be here before you know it, so be sure to register now for this revolutionary conversation.