New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Fort Plain Museum

Battles of Stone Arabia, Klock’s Field Archeological Study Complete

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painting of Klock’s FieldOn October 19, 1780, Loyalists, Native Allies and British soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Johnson and Captain Joseph Brant began destroying farms in Stone Arabia, a village about a mile north of Fort Keyser, in what was then Tryon County (today, Palatine Township in Montgomery County).

Colonel John Brown, leading a force of New York and Massachusetts revolutionaries left Fort Paris in Stone Arabia in an attempt to attack what he believed was a smaller, isolated enemy force. [Read more…] about Battles of Stone Arabia, Klock’s Field Archeological Study Complete

1779 Sullivan-Clinton Campaign Against the Iroquois: Retribution or Genocide?

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1779 Sullivan-Clinton CampaignThe 1779 Sullivan-Clinton campaign against the Iroquois has been described as implementing a “scorched earth” policy for no useful purpose other than eradicating Indigenous People, a failed attempt to capture Fort Niagara, or a wild success that denied the enemies of American Revolution free access to Western New York.

Few campaigns of the American War for Independence have been more controversial than the Continental Army’s invasion of the Iroquois Confederacy in 1779. [Read more…] about 1779 Sullivan-Clinton Campaign Against the Iroquois: Retribution or Genocide?

Benedict Arnold Documentary Behind the Scenes Talk

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Benedict Arnold_Hero BetrayedThe Fort Plain Museum will host “Behind the Scenes – Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed,” a virtual program presented by James Kirby Martin and Thomas Mercer, set for Monday, April 11th.

Selections from the new documentary Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed will be shown. James Kirby Martin, executive producer of the film and author of the book upon which it is based will present the historical context and Tom Mercer producer and script writer will talk about the making of this ground breaking cinematic documentary. [Read more…] about Benedict Arnold Documentary Behind the Scenes Talk

Revolutionary War And The Presidency

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The CabinetThe Councils of Wars that were held by General Washington and his Officers set precedence with how President Washington interacted with his fellow political leaders and more specifically, his Cabinet. The US Constitution never established a presidential cabinet―the delegates to the Constitutional Convention explicitly rejected the idea. [Read more…] about Revolutionary War And The Presidency

A Free Black Man’s Revolutionary World: Jacob Francis, 1754-1836

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the revolutionary world bookWilliam L. Kidder’s book The Revolutionary World of a Free Black Man: Jacob Francis, 1754-1836 (Self-Published, 2021) tells the story of Jacob Francis of Amwell township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey who was indentured out by his free Black mother to the age of 21.

Five different men “owned his time” during his indenture and each provided a different experience for him. The last man lived in Salem, Massachusetts and Jacob lived there between 1768 and 1775 during the buildup to fighting in the American Revolution. [Read more…] about A Free Black Man’s Revolutionary World: Jacob Francis, 1754-1836

The Leadership of George Washington (Virtual Program)

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The Fort Plain Museum will host “America’s Matchless Man: The Leadership of George Washington,” a virtual celebration of George Washington’s birthday, on Monday, February 21st.

In this program, Professor Peter Henriques, author of First and Always: A New Portrait of George Washington (Univ. of Virginia Press, 2020) will examine the unique set of personality traits and variety of talents that enabled Washington to achieve success that would not have seemed possible given the obstacles he faced. [Read more…] about The Leadership of George Washington (Virtual Program)

Fort Plain Museum February Book Sale

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Fort Plain Museum book saleFor the entire month of February, the Fort Plain Museum Bookstore has been celebrating the George Washington’s birthday and Black History Month with an online book sale. Buyers can save 10% (members 15%) and get free shipping on book purchases that help support the museum. [Read more…] about Fort Plain Museum February Book Sale

Lafayette at Brandywine (Virtual Program)

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Lafayette at BrandywineAmerica’s international hero, the Marquis Lafayette, risked his life and spent his fortune in the fight for American independence from England. Without Lafayette and the assistance of France, America may not have been victorious during the American Revolution. The importance of the Battle of Brandywine, where Lafayette was wounded on September 11th, 1777, has not been recognized as a major turning point in America’s independence.

The Fort Plain Museum will host a virtual program based on the book Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of an American Hero, about Lafayette’s role in America’s fight for freedom and the historical importance of the Battle of Brandywine. The award winning author of the book Bruce E. Mowday will present the program, set for Monday, January 31st. [Read more…] about Lafayette at Brandywine (Virtual Program)

Historical Fiction Writer On The Dresden Bombing (Virtual Event)

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Surviving DresdenThe Fort Plain Museum will host “Mixing History and Fiction: Writing the Controversial Story of the 1945 Bombing of Dresden,” a virtual presentation with Fort Plain Museum’s Board of Trustees Member and Military Historian James Kirby Martin set for Thursday, January 27th.

James Kirby Martin, known for his writing on Revolutionary America, has produced his first co-authored historical novel, Surviving Dresden: A Novel about Life, Death, and Redemption in World War II (Permuted Press, 2021). [Read more…] about Historical Fiction Writer On The Dresden Bombing (Virtual Event)