Having both Patriot and Loyalist ancestors, I recently came across this gem of a book on Brian McConnell’s Loyalist History Blog and was immediately drawn into this mini-history – God Save the King! Loyalism in Ridgefield, Connecticut during the American Revolution 1765-1786 by Keith Marshall Jones III and published in 2025.

Two of my Loyalist families hail from Fairfield County, Connecticut – John Adams and Benjamin Burt. It so happens that Benjamin Burt lived in Ridgefield!

I also learned that John and Benjamin fought side by side during the war as both enlisted in the Queens Rangers.

Another “isn’t it a small world” detail that I discovered when I contacted the author to order this book is that he lived in the same town here in Arizona where I live until last year!

Contents

Chapter One . . . The Seeds of Loyalty
Chapter Two . . . The seeds of Conflicted Loyalties
Chapter Three . . . Taxing Loyalties
Chapter Four . . . Bonfire of the Loyalties
Chapter Five . . . Loyalism Turns Black and White
Chapter Six . . . The Dispirit of 1776
Chapter Seven . . . “The British are Coming!”
Chapter Eight . . . The Price of Loyalty
Chapter Nine . . . The Crown Takes Care of Its Own
Chapter Ten . . . Back to the Land
Appendix . . . Loyalist Profiles
Bibliography
End Notes
Index

In spite of my personal connection to Ridgefield through the Burt family, this book provides a fascinating glimpse into what life was like for small town families as the American Revolution approached and looks at the factors that provided the push-pull faced by each family.

Some members chose strong patriotism and supported American independence no matter the cost, others gave their full allegiance to the British crown, while those in the middle tried to remain as neutral as possible.

I also liked that the author gave a glimpse into the New Brunswick world of the Loyalists after they left America. Life there was hard. Not only was there political turmoil, but the new settlers faced financial hardships and “starting over” was given new meaning when it meant clearing land and building homes and businesses from scratch. Another shock was the bitterly cold Canadian weather. While some Loyalists stayed, others decided it was better to face some unwarm welcomes and return home.

Details for this history are taken from primary sources – town, county and state records – and also mention many patriots whose job it was to ferret out the Tories and determine how dangerous they might be to the American cause.

Anyone with Ridgefield colonial connections will find this book an interesting read. However, the same can be said for anyone with an interest in learning about daily life and wartime sentiments in towns with conflicted political opinions and what those on both sides faced during the Revolutionary War.

The Loyalist Profiles provide a short summary of each life, including what became of the person and family at the close of the war. My Benjamin Burt, for example, took his family to Canada in the Fall Fleet of 1783, but, sadly, died in 1785 in New Brunswick when he was still a young man in his 40s.

The Bibliography and End Notes provide a rich source of further resources for those interested in learning more about Loyalist history.

I highly recommend God Save the King! Loyalism in Ridgefield, Connecticut During the American Revolution 1765-1786.

As we celebrate America250 this year, it is important to remember that there were two sides in the American Revolution and many families and neighborhoods were deeply split by opposing opinions. This book tells that story.

“God Save the King!” can be ordered from Books on the Common in Ridgefield for $24.95 plus shipping.