From Revolutionary to Reactionary – Story of an American Patriot

This narrative follows the life of Eldad Corbett, my paternal 4x great-grandfather. While multiple records confirm his service in the Massachusetts Militia during the American Revolution, he later emerged as a reactionary, firmly opposing the concept of perpetual rebellion. Born in 1752 in Mendon, Massachusetts, Eldad was the grandfather of my 3x great-grandmother, Tamar Denny, wife of Corbet Pickering. Documentation from the History of Rowe … Continue reading From Revolutionary to Reactionary – Story of an American Patriot

D. M. DeBackerApril 1, 20261 Comment

Dobbs

Reconstruction Recall

For years, I’ve been trying to unravel the mystery surrounding my mother’s great-grandfather’s civil rights status at the close of the Civil War. I believed I had finally solved it: Was he among the thousands denied property and civil rights due to specific criteria? These categories included former Confederate civil and military officers above a certain rank, individuals who had abandoned U.S. government or military … Continue reading Reconstruction Recall

D. M. DeBackerOctober 20, 2025December 4, 2025Leave a comment

Gathering More Leaves

PART X – CHAPTER 3

The book, “Pickering Genealogy,” provides detailed information on ten generations of Pickerings, but my direct lineage extends only to the third generation covered in the book. After that, my branch left Salem. Benjamin’s son, Edward Pickering (6x great-grandfather) was born in November 1701 in Salem and died in Mendon, Massachusetts. In 1724, he married Hannah Bancroft in Lynn, Massachusetts, and shortly after that, he relocated … Continue reading PART X – CHAPTER 3

D. M. DeBackerJune 13, 2025June 14, 2025Leave a comment

History

Ten Patriots

I have updated this article to include a guide specifying in which episode of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution on PBS my ancestor participated in the listed event. See at the very bottom of this article for section on the key events for each episode. I have revised my previous list of ancestors who served during the American Revolutionary War. It now contains ten individuals: … Continue reading Ten Patriots

D. M. DeBackerApril 13, 2025April 3, 20261 Comment

Family

Massachusetts Ancestors with Wikipedia Articles

Growing up, I had no idea I had Colonial American ancestors on both my parents’ sides. My mother’s colonial ancestors settled in the South, from the Carolinas to Georgia. My father’s ancestors were YANKEES! These are all ancestors of my father who settled either in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Plymouth Colony, the Rhode Island Plantation Colony, or they are the ancestor of ancestors who … Continue reading Massachusetts Ancestors with Wikipedia Articles

D. M. DeBackerDecember 2, 2024December 2, 20242 Comments

Gathering Leaves

"And who's to say where the harvest shall stop"

Tag: american-revolution