For King Or Country: Major Philip Van Cortlandt 1739-1814 A Memoir - Paperback

by Stephen Le Vine (Author)

War had been raging between the American Patriots and the British Army since the opening battles of Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775. The 13 colonies in North America were at war with Great Britain.

The Americans (Rebels) demanded independence and release from the severe restrictions imposed by the British government, as well as a reduction of the high taxes imposed on the colonies.

This book offers a new perspective on a neglected aspect of the American Revolution - the fate of Loyalists who took up arms for their King and how they coped with defeat and, in some cases, exile.

Major Philip Van Cortlandt and his immediate family are the focus of our story. He came from a wealthy and educated background, with ancestors who were the founding fathers of New York. We examine the pressure and challenging decisions they faced during these turbulent times. Driven by his conscience and circumstances, Philip joined the New Jersey Volunteers, who were part of the Loyalists' Provincial Corps, which fought for the King.

Like many other citizens, he fought against his fellow countrymen and cousins. Because of his actions, he lost his home and lands in New Jersey and New York and the right to live in America.

Many loyalists of the Crown found their families had become divided, with some never reconciling with their loved ones. Philip, with his wife and many children, had to find a new life in a foreign land. This is his story.