From loyalists to loyal citizens
Subtitle: the DePeyster family of New York
By: Valerie H. McKito
Series: Excelsior editions
Publisher: State University of New York Press
Published: 2015
Place of publication: Albany
Language: eng
Number of pages: 248
ISBN-13: 9781438458106; 9781438458120
Subjects: American loyalists; Biography; Upper class; Businessmen; History; Exiles
Description: "Challenges the traditional perception that Loyalists were ostracized as traitors to the United States, after the American Revolution. The DePeyster family of New York was one of the first families of New Amsterdam, ranking among the wealthiest of New York during the early days of the American Republic. The DePeysters were also unapologetic Loyalists, serving in the King's forces during the American Revolution. After the war, the four sons left the United States for Canada and Great Britain. Ten years later, one son, Frederick DePeyster, returned to New York, embraced his Loyalist past, and utilized his British connections to become a prominent and successful merchant. The DePeysters went on to become true patriots, zealously supporting US interests in the War of 1812. This book examines the forces at work in the lives of the DePeyster family and the decisions they made to navigate their way from loyal subjects of the British crown to loyal citizens of the United States. How this transformation occurred challenges many of the preconceived ideas we hold both about the Revolution and the formation of the American identity in the years following the war"--From publisher's website.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction: The disappearance of the loyalists; title: The DePeyster tradition; title: Canadian exile; title: Sibling relations; title: Building a fortune; title: Preparing the next generation; title: Continuing the tradition; title: Conclusion; title: Appendix A: DePeyster genealogy 1; title: Appendix B: DePeyster genealogy 2; title: Appendix C: DePeyster genealogy 3; title: Appendix D: DePeyster genealogy 4; title: Appendix E: DePeyster genealogy 5.