Farm Families and the American Revolution

This article examines family dynamics and mobilization for the American Revolution in the overlooked region of central Massachusetts. Results indicate that warfare and the farming culture frequently clashed. Some militiamen found that farming life failed to prepare them for wartime stresses and the rigors of camp life. Rugged individualism and military regimentation did not always mesh. Based on vital records, military service records, and family histories, the article also shows how birth order shaped military recruitment. Family responsibilities and a suffocating patriarchy sometimes impeded mobilization. Harvesting duties and family emergencies forced some to have to choose between one’s home and the patriot cause. The article also explores links between family ties and loyalism and the Revolution’s impact on patriarchy and inheritance patterns.