Pioneers, Preachers, & Privateers

My ancestors weren’t homebodies. They immigrated to the U.S. when it was largely unexplored by Europeans and then kept on moving after they got here.

I sometimes joke that my family never met a radical idea they didn’t like. From socialism to abolitionism to many flavors of religious innovation, they tried it all.

Sure, most of my ancestors were farmers, but it’s always interesting to discover the ones who weren’t. From privateers to civil engineers, some did remarkable things.

What happened between the Pilgrims and the American Revolution? What else didn’t they teach us in school? Here are some answers to those questions.