No other online source has the depth of coverage of colonial newspapers that you can find in GenealogyBank’s Historical Newspaper Archives.
This is your go-to source for documenting the lives and stories of your Revolutionary War ancestors. You can read about the battles they fought in and follow them day by day.
![A montage of newspaper articles about the American Revolutionary War](https://blog.genealogybank.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/montage-0402-2018-revolutionary-war-articles.png)
Digging into the old newspapers, I have found thousands of articles about these dedicated soldiers. Beginning today through July 4th I am writing a series of articles featuring different Revolutionary War soldiers. I will post them on our Facebook page and also give details here on our Blog page.
Let’s remember and honor our Revolutionary War veteran ancestors.
![An obituary for Amos Barnes, New Hampshire Gazette newspaper article 12 January 1841](https://blog.genealogybank.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/new-hampshire-gazette-newspaper-0112-1841-amos-barnes-obituary.png)
When Amos Barnes died in 1840 newspapers remembered him – giving the details of his life, his family and his service to the nation in a detailed obituary:
- He died 6 December 1840 in Conway, New Hampshire
- He had served as a lieutenant and was a Revolutionary War pensioner
- He was 83 years old
- His funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Wides, based on Job 7:16
- He was born in Groton, Massachusetts, the youngest of 11 children
- His father died in the French & Indian War
- At age 6 the family moved to Concord, New Hampshire
- At age 18 he enlisted in the Army
- He marched to Mystic, Connecticut
- June 1775 – he was in the Battle of Bunker Hill
- He marched to New York; then to Canada; then to Mont Independence
- December 1776 – he was with George Washington in Newtown, Pennsylvania
- December 1776 – Battle of Trenton
- His enlistment over, with an honorable discharge, he returned home to Concord, New Hampshire
- Re-enlisted January 1778, serving with George Washington in Valley Forge
- Served as Orderly Sergeant for the next two years
- June 1778 – Battle of Monmouth
- Winter 1779 – Valley Forge
- 1779-1780 – Sullivan campaign
- January 1780 – discharged, returned to Concord, New Hampshire
- November 1787 – moved to Conway, New Hampshire
- 17 July 1790 – married Polly Eastman, “second daughter of the late Richard Eastman, Esq. who, with several children, still survive…”
- Described as “a very intelligent, industrious and honest man through life”
- Served in “the last war [War of 1812], in defence of free trade and sailor’s rights”
- He was a Jeffersonian Republican, “a firm supporter of Gen. Jackson and Mr. Van Buren”
- He voted in the last election
- Late in life “with intense anxiety and fervent prayer” he turned to a deeper faith in Christ
Compact and filled with the details of his life, his obituary – like all veterans’ obituaries – makes us pause and remember his life and his service to our country.
Don’t wait for your hero ancestor’s story to be told – post his story in the comments below.
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