A patriot son, a loyalist father, and siblings scattered by war. Discover the Tilghman family’s story of division during the Revolution.
The Revolutionary War was a civil war that caused divisions even within families.
One of Maryland’s favorite sons, Lieutenant Colonel Tench Tilghman, came from a politically divided household. His father was arrested for being a loyalist; his next oldest brother joined the East India Company to avoid getting caught up in the war; and a younger brother ran away to the Royal Navy.
In her course, Dr. Sheets will share insights from Tilghman family letters — including several written by the sisters — to reveal how political loyalties shaped relationships, choices, and family dynamics. Would the Tilghman family bonds survive these political rifts? And why do Americans today often overlook the Revolutionary War as a civil war?
Attend this course and find out!
What to expect:
Gen. George Washington’s longest-serving aide, Lt. Col. Tench Tilghman, came from a loyalist family on the Eastern Shore. Learn how the Tilghmans navigated divided loyalties during the Revolutionary War and gain a fresh perspective on both the Revolutionary War and a prominent Eastern Shore family.
Friday | Oct 23 | 1:30 – 3pm | HYBRID (choose to attend in person, via Zoom or wait for a recording)| $30