The Family in Exile: Loyalist Social Values after the Revolution
Arguments:Loyalists were loyal to the British King either because they were scared of what would have happen to them if they decided to follow American rules.
Main Points: Loyalists were British North American colonists who remained loyal to the King of England during and after the American Revolutionary. The author Ann Gorman Condon uses family personal letters to describe the loyalist families. The first letter was from Massachusetts, Boston, Loyalist Edward Winslow to his wife Mary. In 1784, he was in Halifax looking for a job and wrote to his wife. In the letter he talked about his feelings for her and fashionable ladies of Halifax. In addition to, in 1799, Beverley Robinson, heard that Nancy was lacking of confidence with her look. As a result, he decided to write her a letter. He explained in the letter that he loves her for who she is and not the appearance. Her last example was a 47 year old bachelor Jonathan Bliss, who married a young wife, Mary Worthngton. Both had showed that how much they loved each other. Beside that Bliss was happier because he was free from the loneliness life. Sadly after spending time together and their four children, Mary died when giving birth to their fifth child. Bliss would always remember her for making him the “happiest man” in New Brunswick. As a result, men, women, and the children in the Loyalist families showed their love and care to each other after the Revolution.
Evidence: Most of the loyalist marriages in the loyalist families have lasted very long during that time.
Assessment: Overall, It is fascinating story. Also, no matter how much struggle they faced during the Revolution, but they kept family relations close.