What happened after the ink dried on the Declaration of Independence? For many of our ancestors, the Spirit of ’76 was immediately tested by the grueling reality of the New
York campaign and a desperate winter retreat across the Jerseys.

At our July monthly meeting, John Putnam will present “Sacred Honor, Frozen Feet: Finding Your Ancestors in the ‘Times That Try Men’s Souls.’”

This presentation explores the pivotal 14-month window from the spring of 1776 to the summer of 1777. John will trace the political courage required to sign a document of
“high treason” and the physical endurance of the Continental soldiers who saved the Revolution at Trenton and Princeton.

Designed specifically for genealogists, this talk goes beyond the history books to focus
on the records. John will discuss how to locate your Revolutionary ancestors in NARA
record groups, interpret pension narratives of the Ten Crucial Days, and find the hidden stories of those who risked their lives during the nation’s darkest hour.