Summary of My Brother Sam

Back to School Special-

Until September 10th, my Chapter by Chapter Summary of My Brother Sam is Dead is just $2.00!!

This Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of the historical fiction novel: My Brother Sam is Dead- Includes classroom discussion ideas and sample questions for students. 

I walk you through each and every chapter of the novel pointing out what's important and why the authors included it in that chapter.

Example text:

Chapter 7: Summary and Analysis
The summer of 1776 has ended and Tim's family begins preparing for the winter months in Chapter Seven. The war is still distant and though no one is really desperate, provisions, like cloth and leather, are running short locally because the soldiers need them for clothing and shoes. Sam has sent two letters and Susannah plans on sending one back to him. Life disapproves but to Tim's delight is overruled and turns his attention to planning his annual cattle run to the Hudson River.

The cattle run to Verplancks is essential to Tim's family, as he explains: 

Tim: "The idea of our trip was to drive cattle to Verplancks Point where we could sell them, and then use the money to buy supplies we needed at the tavern and store." 

A cattle run across Westchester County was dangerous and Life, knew it: 

Life: "The woods are full of those cow-boys over there. They claim they're patriots gathering beef for the troops, but really they're nothing more than thieves. And we don't have our gun anymore." 

Despite the danger, Life doesn't have much of a choice but to take Tim with him, as he states: "There's nobody else to do it."

Bonus Material included free-

Background material on each of the families and individuals fictionalized by the authors in the novel. Tim Meeker, William Heron, John Read, Jerry Sanford, Tom Warrup, and many, many more. Find out who is real and who is fictional in the novel.

But you must hurry, this is a back to school offer that shouldn't be missed-

Until September 10th, my Chapter by Chapter Summary of My Brother Sam is Dead is just $2.00!!

Free Summary of the Historical Fiction Novel "My Brother Sam Is Dead"

My new free Summary of the Historical Fiction Novel "My Brother Sam Is Dead" and the topics that have been woven into the novel is available at EzineArticles.com

"My Brother Sam is Dead is a historical fiction novel told in the first person, through the eyes of ten year old Timothy Meeker. It recounts the hardships endured by Tim and his family during the Revolutionary War. When Tim's older brother Sam joins the rebel forces, it impacts the rest of his family who wish to remain neutral and/or avoid war with England. Tim's family is Anglican and thus loyal to the Church of England so a split with England would greatly affect them..."

Read more about  "My Brother Sam Is Dead"

Summary & Analysis of My Brother Sam is Dead

Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of the historical fiction novel: My Brother Sam is Dead- 

Includes classroom discussion ideas and sample questions for each and every chapter of the novel. 

Example text- 

Classroom Discussion
What do we learn about in Chapter 13?

We learn that General Putnam is focused on ending the disorderly behavior undermining both the safety and reputation of his army. Despite the efforts of both Tim and Susannah, it is clear that Putnam intends to see that Sam’s sentence is carried into effect. We also learn what the encampment looks like via Tim’s meeting with General Putnam.
What’s Important?

The importance of this chapter is the recognition that in 1778-79 Putnam and his officers were dealing with:

·        Desertions, which thinned their ranks.

·        Spies, who provided important information to the British.

·        Theft, which angered local farmers and residents.

Classroom Conversations:
There was disaffection and insubordination in the army within this time frame. Desertions were frequent, and spying by the Tories was almost openly practiced. To put a stop to these practices it was vitally necessary for General Putnam to see that these sentences were carried into effect.


Bonus Material-

Backgrounds on each of the families and individuals fictionalized by the authors in the novel. Tim Meeker, William Heron, John Read, Jerry Sanford, Tom Warrup, and many, many more. 

This Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of the historical fiction novel: My Brother Sam is Dead is the most complete summary & analysis of the novel that you will find anywhere.

My Brother Sam is Dead Facebook Page

My Brother Sam is Dead is now on Facebook. If you'd like to read daily posts on my research and ask me direct questions about the novel in a community format-

"Like" my My Brother Sam is Dead Facebook Page.

Lecture- 4,000 years of Native American Occupations in Redding

May 19, 2012 at 12pm
Redding, Connecticut's Community Center
Lonetown Road, Reddding CT

Redding Archaeology; Open Spaces and University Excavations

Over the last few years, Redding's open space and planning policies have led to the preservation and study of important archaeological sites. Several college and university archaeological field schools have brought hundreds of students from around the world to unearth Redding's illustrious past.

You are invited to attend a lecture describing Norwalk Community College's research in Redding. They have uncovered evidence of over 4,000 years of Native American occupations at Gallows Hill.

Lectures will be presented on Saturday afternoons at the Redding Community Center.

May 19, 2012 at 12pm
Redding, Connecticut's Community Center
Lonetown Road, Reddding CT


View the lecture details:
Redding Archaeology; Open Spaces and University Excavations

New Complete Brother Sam Guide Available

I have recently partnered with Fast Spring which allows me to share my materials in PDF and Word Document format.

The Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead is now available and in Word Document format to allow teachers to copy and paste the material into their own lesson plans if they wish to.

Follow this link: The Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead ($6.00 in Word Format)

This 163 page document was created to help parents and teachers better understand the topics woven into each chapter of the fictional history novel and provide them with the resources needed to effectively teach it in their classrooms.

 It includes chapter by chapter summary & analysis, background on the town of Redding, maps, real life events that were fictionalized in the novel, biographies of real life characters used in the novel... even lesson plans and self-grading tests for each chapter(test results can be emailed directly to you).

This is the most complete guide to the novel available. I grew up in Redding, Connecticut and my family has lived in Redding since 1862.

Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead Preview

Here is a preview of my latest e-book-The Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead

In Chapter Three- My Brother Sam is Dead Maps of Redding, Connecticut
You will find maps of Redding, Connecticut which help provide a visual of the locations in the novel.

You will see:

- Where Redding, Connecticut is located.

- Map of Redding that relates to My Brother Sam is Dead.

- Map of Westchester & Fairfield County that relates to My Brother Sam is Dead.

- Modern map of people and places related to My Brother Sam is Dead in Redding.

- Map of Westchester & Fairfield County with stars showing Tim and Life's cattle drive route to Verplancks Point.

- Map of Lower Fairfield County showing the route the British Troops took in April of 1777.

- Link to an Interactive Google Map of all the locations that relate to the novel.

My latest e-book-The Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead is available at Amazon.com. Kindle prime members can download it for free.

The Complete Guide to the Novel is now available in Word Format: My Brother Sam is Dead Guide

My Brother Sam is Dead E-book Preview

Here is a preview of my latest e-book-The Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead

From the Chapter-
Real Life vs. Events Fictionalized in My Brother Sam is Dead
This chapter points out real life people and events vs. My Brother Sam is Dead people and events. I do this using quotes that come directly from the novel; below the quotes are the historical facts these quotes are based on.



My Brother Sam is Dead Chapter Two:

Tim: "Redding was divided into two-parts: Redding Center and Redding Ridge"

In Real Life:

Redding was divided and the Ridge is as Tim describes it. The "empty field" he mentions still exists today, as does the Christ Church Episcopal. As described in length in the Chapters of this book, Redding had Presbyterians (Congregationalists) and Anglicans (Episcopalians). The Anglicans did settle heavily on Redding Ridge, but there were also Congregationalists among them.

In 1771 the Rev. John Beach writes:

"In Reading (Redding), my hearers are about 300. There is a meeting of Presbyterians about two and a half miles from our Church, in which the congregation is not so large as ours. In a manner, all…who live near the Church join with us."

In the present day, there are four sections that make up Redding: Georgetown, Redding Center, Redding Ridge, West Redding.


Tim: "Redding Ridge being a small place I knew everybody there - all the kids, and Tom Warrups and Ned, the Starr's black man."

In Real Life:

I'd call it a stretch to see Tom Warrup in church but it plays well in the story. Charles Burr Todd, author of Redding's only published history, described Tom as "a worthless, shiftless fellow, who lived chiefly by begging" Kind of rough but he did preface it with "except in war".

The Rev. John Beach does write that he has converted a good number of slaves in Newtown and Redding so it is plausible that Ned would attend church. Ned was the property of Redding Ridge resident, Seth Samuel Smith, and was killed by British soldiers during the 1777 raid of Danbury. Apparently, Ned was among a group of patriot defenders who stayed behind and opened fire on British troops from a house in Danbury owned by Major Daniel Starr. Starr’s house was set ablaze and all inside were killed.

There are no official accounts of Ned being beheaded before the house was put to flame. That resulted from an investigation after the raid had taken place, at the request of S. Samuel Smith. Mr. Smith was required to provide a report of Ned's death with witnesses in order to be compensated for his lost "property". It is in this petition that the accounts of Ned's decapitation surface and provide the view point and events that Tim witnesses in my brother Sam is dead.


Tim: "Church was practically the only time we ever saw some of the farmers from farther out in the parish - places like Umpawaug. They wanted to keep up with the news…"

In Real Life:

The colonists in rural locations, like Redding, Connecticut, relied heavily on "hear-say" for general topics, and when it came to issues of importance in most cases it was the opinions of their preachers and ministers that held the most weight.

Umpawaug still exists in present day Redding. It is said to have Native American origins and mean: "Land above the river." The Saugatuck River runs along the eastern border of the Umpawaug district.


Tim: "Her grandfather was Colonel Read, Her father was Colonel Read's son, Zalmon Read."

In Real Life:

Colonel Read was John Read #2. Captain of Redding's first militia organized in 1739, he was Major of the 4th Connecticut Regiment in 1753, Lieutenant Colonial of the 13th Connecticut Regiment in 1757 and in the same year appointed Colonel of the 4th Connecticut Regiment. He resigned his militia commission in the Revolution due to advanced age, but served as Justice of the Peace in cases of confiscated loyalist properties.

Zalmon Read was Captain of the 10th Company, 5th Connecticut Regiment in 1757, which marched to Canada and engaged in battles at St. Johns and Montreal during the French and Indian War. Capt. Zalmon also assembled and led Redding's militia to Weston to unsuccessfully challenge Tryon's British troops as they marched toward Danbury on April 26, 1777. Zalmon and his brother Hezekiah later converted to the Anglican faith; Zalmon moved to Bedford, New York after the Revolution, Hezekiah remained in Redding and was a major landholder.


Sam: "This is Tory Country. Father, Mr. Beach, the Lyons, the Couches - most of them in our church are Tories. And they think it's the same everywhere, but it isn't."

In Real Life:

Tories or loyalists did live in Redding and Southwestern Connecticut was considered Tory Country. However, if you review town records during the war they are filled with entries in support of the war not against the war and for this reason I'd consider Redding to be Patriot Country.

Several members of both Redding's militia's (East & West) comprised The 10th Company, 5th Connecticut Regiment, which joined other colonial militias for the Invasion of Canada in June/July 1775.

Redding's West Company militia assembled, marched and fought in the Battle of Long Island, the Battle of White Plains and the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776.

The first action of the town officials in regard to the war is found in the records of a town meeting held on April 2, 1777, when a committee was appointed "to hire a number of soldiers to serve in the Continental Army." It was also voted that the "sum or sums said committee promise to or do pay to those soldiers…be paid by town rates, and the Selectmen are ordered to and desired to make a rate to collect the money." In the same meeting a committee was also appointed "to take care of the families of those soldiers that are in service of their country."

For more examples of the real life people and historic events used in the historical fiction novel- My Brother Sam is Dead, download my e-book The Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead at Amazon.com

Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead E-book

Last night I posted my latest e-book in the Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead series.

Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead E-book

This e-book was created to help parents and teachers better understand the topics woven into each chapter of the fictional history novel, My Brother Sam is Dead, and provide them with the resources needed to effectively teach it in their classrooms.

I have broken out this e-book into two sections: Guide to MBSD and Teaching Resources.

In the Guide to MBSD section you will find:

Chapter One- Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of My Brother Sam is Dead

Chapter Two- Real Life vs. Events Fictionalized in My Brother Sam is Dead

Chapter Three- My Brother Sam is Dead Maps of Redding, Connecticut

Chapter Four- Short Summary of My Brother Sam is Dead & the Topics it covers

Chapter Five- Places you can Visit Related to My Brother Sam is Dead

Chapter Six- The Setting of the Novel- Redding, Connecticut

Chapter Seven- The Real People Fictionalized in the Novel

Chapter Eight- Why is My Brother Sam is Dead Censored by Some Watch Groups?

In the Teaching Resources section you will find:

Chapter One- Lesson Plans & Ideas
Lesson plans and examples of how others are using historical fiction novels in their classrooms.

Chapter Two- My Brother Sam is Dead Teaching Resources
Suggested reading materials, online resources and links to online, self-grading tests for each chapter of the book (test results can be emailed directly to you).

Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead E-book

Learn About Sam's Encampment!

Redding Archaeology; Open Spaces and University Excavations

Over the last few years, Redding's open space and planning policies have led to the preservation and study of important archaeological sites. Several college and university archaeological field schools have brought hundreds of students from around the world to unearth Redding's illustrious past.

This Saturday, you are invited to attend a lecture describing Western Connecticut State University's work at the 1778-79 Revolutionary War Middle Encampment. The same encampment "Sam" of My Brother Sam is Dead wintered at prior to his unfortunate execution.

This Lecture will be presented at 3pm on Saturday at the Redding Community Center. Under the leadership of Dr. Laurie Weinstein, Bethany Morrison, and Dr. Cosimo Sgarlata, the Limeklin/Wortleberry Road 1778-79 encampments have been surveyed, mapped and excavated over that past several years. This historic site was part of General Israel Putnam's army that camped here to protect Danbury, Long Island Sound and the Hudson River Valley from British invasion.

Students from WCSU have summered here since 2007 and this talk will discuss the background of the site's history, their research and methodological strategies, highlighted by slides from their field studies.

View the lecture schedule:
Redding Archaeology; Open Spaces and University Excavations

Redding's Open Space and Archaeology

March 24, 2012 at 3pm
Redding, Connecticut's Community Center
Lonetown Road, Reddding CT

Redding Archaeology; Open Spaces and University Excavations

Over the last few years, Redding's open space and planning policies have led to the preservation and study of important archaeological sites. Several college and university archaeological field schools have brought hundreds of students from around the world to unearth Redding's illustrious past.

You are invited to attend a lecture series describing Yale University's excavations in the 1800s industrial community of Poverty Hollow, Western Connecticut State University's work at the 1778-79 Revolutionary War Middle Encampment, and Norwalk Community College's research at the 4,000 years of Native American occupations at Gallows Hill.

Lectures will be presented on Saturday afternoons at the Redding Community Center.

View the lecture schedule:
Redding Archaeology; Open Spaces and University Excavations

My Brother Sam is Dead Topics

My Brother Sam is Dead is told in the first person by Tim Meeker. It recounts the hardships endured by Tim and his family during the Revolutionary War. When Tim's older brother Sam joins the rebel forces, it impacts the rest of his family who wish to remain neutral and/or avoid war with England. Tim's family is Anglican and thus loyal to the Church of England; a split with England would greatly affect them.

Tim Meeker is a metaphoric symbol of one third of the American population during the war. He portrays the American that is uncertain which side is right and does not wish to choose a side until forced to, sometimes referred to as a "fence-sitter". Sam and Life are examples of the other two thirds: the Rebel/Patriot and the Tory/Loyalist.

Through Tim Meeker we learn of the issues, the concerns and the conflicts of the rebellion on a personal level. Each chapter touches on a number of topics and issues that provide readers with a better understanding of the affects the American Revolution had on individuals, their families, their churches, their towns, their neighbors...in short, it allows readers to see the war from the position of those that lived through it. This is one of the greatest strengths of the novel; it quietly weaves all of the topics and issues of the early years of the American Revolution into a tragic story of a 10 year old boy’s role in a war he doesn't understand.

My Brother Sam is Dead begins in April 1775 and ends in February 1779...a very volatile period of the American Revolution as it was not clear which side would win the war. Many were either still confused about the issues or unwilling to solidify a position on the issues. As the story unfolds the consequences of the war prove devastating to the Meeker family as the rebelliousness of Tim’s brother, Sam, and the pacifist position taken by Tim’s father, Life, result in the ironic deaths of both, symbolizing the atrocities and unfairness of war.

The novel highlights many of the problems and events that impacted towns like Redding, CT. Several of these topics are:

Trying to stay neutral while living in a town that everyone assumes is a loyalist settlement. Redding's Anglican church leader and its members preferred not to rebel from England. This was well known across the State and resulted in Redding Ridge being labeled as an area heavily settled with loyalists/tories.

Currency Issues-The Meeker's own a tavern/store, and keeping it running is hard work. Even prior to the Revolution, to make money, each year Tim's Father and brother Sam would travel to New York State to sell cattle they received from people who owed them money. During the war it becomes even more difficult as paper money and commissionary notes destroy local economies and businesses.

Sacrifices- Since Sam has sided with the rebels and wasn't there, Tim's responsibilities have increased ten-fold. Jobs Tim and Sam used to share all now fall on Tim's shoulders. Father (Life) takes Tim on his yearly cattle run to New York. They have to travel without a Brown Bess (musket/gun used for protection), which Sam had recently stolen. Life is captured on their return trip, leaving Tim to take care of his mother and himself for the rest of the novel. Tim is forced to grow up over night seeing he is now the man of the house, with his father in prison and Sam fighting with the patriots.

Committees of Safety- These committees were formed early in the war to disarm people who could potentially give aid to the British. Life is an Anglican and thus seen as a Loyalist/Tory, by the local Committee of Safety which comes to the Meeker Tavern to disarm him. When Life tells them his son has sided with the Patriots and taken his gun, they initially don't believe him and rough him up.

Cowboys and Skinners- Life is captured on their way back to Redding on their cattle run by cowboys. Cowboys and skinners were groups of raiders who harassed and plundered the rural districts of the boundary between American and British forces in Westchester County, New York. Westchester County, was the so-called "Neutral Ground" seeing the British were in the Bronx and the Americans in Peekskill, New York.

The British march though Redding and capture several Patriots there on their way to Danbury, CT to destroy the rebels/Patriot's provisions of war which were being stored there. The Patriot soldiers arrive in Redding in pursuit of the British and Sam is with them so he gets to see his mother and Tim again.

Winter Encampments- General Israel Putnam's division of the Continental Army encamped at Redding in the winter of 1778-1779 and Sam Meeker is a soldier in one of Putnam’s camps. One evening, Sam slips away from camp and returns home to spend time with his family. While they discuss the war and related topics, Sam hears commotion outside…Patriot soldiers are attempting to steal their cattle! When Sam intervenes he is out numbered and beaten. Back at camp he is falsely accused of and court-martialed for deserting camp and stealing cattle. General Putnam having long dealt with ill-equipped troops, deserters and traitors, feels he needs to set an example in order to maintain discipline amongst his army. Sam, unfortunately, becomes one of the two examples that winter, and is executed.

Hardships of War- Tim's Mother goes a little crazy due to the stress of losing her husband and son to a war she doesn't support. Tim lives to be very old. He had a wife, children, even grandchildren. But his mother never recovers from Life and Sam's deaths.


For more information, analysis and online quizzes:
The My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide is available via Amazon.com's Kindle edition.

The Complete Guide to the Novel is now available in Word Format: My Brother Sam is Dead Guide 

Or visit my website: http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/

Sleeping Lofts

Above is a sketch of a Sleeping Loft by Eric Sloane.

Tim and Sam sleep up in the loft of their parents home/tavern in the novel. Colonial homes did not have heating systems and there was very little insulation (if any). Because heat rises many homes used lofts as sleeping spaces during the Winter months.


For more information, analysis and online quizzes:
The My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide is available via Amazon.com's Kindle edition.

The Complete Guide to the Novel is now available in Word Format: My Brother Sam is Dead Guide 

Or visit my website: http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/

Chapter 1: Summary and Analysis w/ Video

Chapter 1: Summary and Analysis

The story begins in April of 1775. Sam Meeker returns home from college in uniform and full of excitement. "We've beaten the British in Massachusetts" are the first words out of his mouth. This comes as a surprise to his father, mother, brother, minister and other locals in the taproom of the Meeker's tavern; they are unaware of the rebellion brewing in Boston.

Timeline of what Sam is so excited about:

February 1, 1775: a provincial congress was held in Cambridge, Massachusetts during which John Hancock and Joseph Warren begin defensive preparations for a state of war.

February 9, 1775: the English Parliament declares Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion.

March 23, 1775: Patrick Henry delivers a speech in Virginia against British rule, stating, "Give me liberty or give me death!".

March 30, 1775: the New England Restraining Act is endorsed by King George the Third, requiring New England Colonies to trade exclusively with England and bans fishing in the North Atlantic.

April 14, 1775: Massachusetts Governor Thomas Gage is ordered to enforce the Coercive Acts and suppress "open rebellion" among the colonists by all necessary force.

April 18, 1775: Gage orders 700 British soldiers to Concord to destroy the colonists' weapons depot. That night Paul Revere makes his famous ride reaching Lexington around midnight to warn Sam Adams and John Hancock of the British plan.

April 19, 1775: 70 rebels face off against the British on Lexington Green. An unordered shot is fired and results in musket volleys and a bayonet charge which leaves 8 Americans dead and 10 injured. The British proceed to Concord, destroy the colonists' weapon depot, yet are surprised by the rebels on a bridge in Concord and suffer 14 casualties. They are continually attacked on their retreat back to Boston by the rebels and lose over 250 men.


News of these events spread like wildfire through the Colonies. Sam Meeker portrays one example of how this news was delivered and received.

After the initial shock of Sam's report, his father questions him about the specifics of the events in Boston.

Sam: "Well, the beginning was when the Lobsterbacks-"

Life: "By that I suppose you mean the soldiers of your King,"

Life's displeasure with Sam's use of Lobsterbacks to describe the British is our first indication of the Meeker family's allegiance to the King of England: they are Anglican Church members who regularly pray for the health of the King and Parliament.

View a History Channel Video about Lexington and Concord:




For an animated version of this battle, visit:
http://www.revolutionarywaranimated.com/LexingtonAnimation.html



For more information, analysis and online quizzes:
The My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide is available via Amazon.com's Kindle edition.

Or visit my website: http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/

My Brother Sam is Dead Parent Letter

Dear Parents:

We will soon be studying the Revolutionary War in 5th grade. During this time, your child will be reading a novel written by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier called My Brother Sam is Dead. I would like to share some information on this book with you.

Growing up and making sense of who you are and how you fit into the world around you is a big task for any teenager. Getting along with parents, brothers, sisters, and friends, and attempting to assume the responsibilities of adulthood while still obeying your parents are examples of the challenges of being a teenager. Put these familiar “growing pains” into the setting of a family torn by the American Revolution, and you have a firsthand view of Tim Meeker’s very troubled adolescence. It is during this time that Tim tries to understand conflict that raises the issue of loyalty within himself, his family, and his country.

My Brother Sam is Dead is a winner of many literary awards. Among these are: The Newberry Honor Book, Notable Children’s, National Book Award Nominee, and Horn Book Fanfare. This book is often recommended as part of a Social Studies curriculum while studying the American Revolution.

This book is historical fiction in genre, which has distinguishing features including: a setting in a time from the past; a re-creation of the spirit of an historical era; the use of fictional characters and, occasionally, a real historical parsonage; the use of invented dialogue that reflects the way people spoke at the time; and a plot based on the experiences and events of the period.

I have emphasized to my students that the language used by the characters in the book does reflect the era, but does not mean that we are condoning the use of it in our everyday speech. If you have any concerns or would like to read a copy of the book, please feel free to contact me at school at xxx-xxxx or email _____
Sincerely,





Parent Signature_________________________________________________



For more information, analysis and online quizzes:
The My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide is available via Amazon.com's Kindle edition.

Or visit my website: http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/

Love and Marriage During the American Revolution

Farmer's livestock was not the only object of the visiting soldier's desires while they were encamped in Redding CT during the Winter of 1778-79.

Below are some entries in the parish records that prove that "amid the horrors of war sly cupid found a chance to inflict his wounds". They are given as entered by the Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett:

Feb. 7, 1779. I joined together in marriage James Gibbons, a soldier in the army, and Ann Sullivan.

March 18, 1779. I joined together in marriage John Lines, a soldier in the army, and Mary Hendrick.

March 30, 1779. I joined together in marriage Daniel Evarts, a soldier in the army, and Mary Rowland.

April 15, 1779. I joined together in marriage Isaac Olmsted, a soldier in the army, and Mary Parsons.

April 28, 1779. I joined together in marriage Jesse Belknap, an artificer in the army, and Eunice Hall.

May 4, 1779. I joined together in marriage William Little, steward to Gen. Parsons, and Phebe Merchant.

May 23, 1779. I joined together in marriage Giles Gilbert, an artificer in the army, and Deborah Hall.

March 9, 1780. I joined together in marriage William Darrow, a soldier in the army, and Ruth Bartram.

William Heron

General Parsons, in a letter to George Washington, dated April 6, 1782:

"I forgot to mention the name of Mr. William Heron of Redding, who has for several years had opportunities of informing himself of the state of the enemy, their designs and intentions, with more certainty and precision than most men who have been employed.

He is a native of Ireland, a man of very large knowledge and a great share of natural sagacity, united with a sound judgment, but of as unmeaning a countenance as any person in my acquaintance. With this appearance he is as little suspected as any man can be.

An officer in the department of the Adjutant General is a countryman and a very intimate acquaintance of Mr. Heron, through which channel he has been able frequently to obtain important and very interesting intelligence. He has frequently brought me the most accurate descriptions of the posts occupied by the enemy, and more rational accounts of their numbers, strength and design than I have been able to obtain in any other way.

As to his character, I know him to be a consistent national Whig; he is always in the field in any alarm and has in every trial proved himself a man of bravery. He has a family and a considerable interest in the measures of the country. In opposition to this his enemies suggest that he carries on illicit trade with the enemy, but I have lived two years next door to him and am fully convinced he has never had a single article of any kind for sale during that time.

I know many persons of more exalted character are also accused; none more than Governor Trumbull, nor with less reason. I believe the Governor and Mr. Heron as clear of this business as I am, and I know myself to be totally free from every thing which has the least connection with that commerce."

When the army lay in Redding in the winter of 1778-9, General Parsons' headquarters were at Esquire Stephen Betts' tavern, on Redding Ridge, diagonally across the street from William Heron's modest dwelling.

It was then in all probability that the two men first met and formed those intimate relations which led Parsons later to recommend Heron to Washington (see letter above) as one of the most promising of their secret service emissaries.

Together during that winter the two men concocted a plot to outwit the British Commanders. To the Whigs Heron was to remain a Whig. To the Tories, then very numerous on Redding Ridge, he was to go privately and acquaint them with the fact that he was an emissary of the British Commander, and secretly acting as such. An occasion offered he was to slip down to the British camp in New York, see and hear all that Parsons and the patriot chief would wish to know, return and report. When he could not go himself, he was to send, his favorite messenger being it said, the gigantic Mohawk Tom Warrups. The way he gained the British lines was to ride to Fairfield, leave his horse with a Tory there, cross the sound to Huntington on Long Island, or an adjacent part, and thence make his way into the enemy's lines at New York.

For more on William Heron and other real people fictionalized in the historical fiction novel- My Brother Sam is Dead, visit my website: http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/

My Brother Sam is Dead Summary

My Brother Sam is Dead Short Summary & Topics

My Brother Sam is Dead is told in the first person by Tim Meeker. When Tim's older brother Sam joins the rebel forces, it impacts the rest of his family who wish to remain neutral and/or avoid war with England. Tim's family is Anglican and thus loyal to the Church of England; as a split with England would greatly affect them.
Tim Meeker is a metaphoric symbol of one third of the American population during the war. He portrays the American that is uncertain which side is right and does not wish to choose a side until forced to, sometimes referred to as a "fence-sitter". Sam and Life are examples of the other two thirds: the Rebel/Patriot and the Tory/Loyalist.

Through Tim Meeker we learn of the issues, the concerns and the conflicts of the rebellion on a personal level. Each chapter touches on a number of topics and issues that provide readers with a better understanding of the affects the American Revolution had on individuals, their families, their churches, their towns, their neighbors...in short, it allows readers to see the war from the position of those that lived through it. This is one of the greatest strengths of the novel; it quietly weaves all of the topics and issues of the early years of the American Revolution into a tragic story of a 10 year old boy’s role in a war he doesn't understand.

My Brother Sam is Dead begins in April 1775 and ends in February 1779...a very volatile period of the American Revolution as it was not clear which side would win the war. Many were either still confused about the issues or unwilling to solidify a position on the issues. As the story unfolds the consequences of the war prove devastating to the Meeker family as the rebelliousness of Tim’s brother, Sam, and the pacifist position taken by Tim’s father, Life, result in the ironic deaths of both, symbolizing the atrocities and unfairness of war.

The novel highlights many of the problems and events that impacted towns like Redding, CT. Several of these topics are:

* Trying to stay neutral while living in a town that everyone assumes is a loyalist settlement. Redding's Anglican Church leader and its members preferred not to rebel from England. This was well known across the State and resulted in Redding Ridge being labeled as an area heavily settled with loyalists/tories.

* Currency Issues-The Meeker's own a tavern/store, and keeping it running is hard work. Even prior to the Revolution, to make money, each year Tim's Father and brother Sam would travel to New York State to sell cattle they received from people who owed them money. During the war it becomes even more difficult as paper money and commissionary notes destroy local economies and businesses.

* Sacrifices- Since Sam has sided with the rebels and wasn't there, Tim's responsibilities have increased ten-fold. Jobs Tim and Sam used to share all now fall on Tim's shoulders. Father (Life) takes Tim on his yearly cattle run to New York. They have to travel without a Brown Bess (musket/gun used for protection), which Sam had recently stolen. Life is captured on their return trip, leaving Tim to take care of his mother and himself for the rest of the novel. Tim is forced to grow up over night seeing he is now the man of the house, with his father in prison and Sam fighting with the patriots.

* Committees of Safety- These committees were formed early in the war to disarm people who could potentially give aid to the British. Life is an Anglican and thus seen as a Loyalist/Tory, by the local Committee of Safety which comes to the Meeker Tavern to disarm him. When Life tells them his son has sided with the Patriots and taken his gun, they initially don't believe him and rough him up.

* Cowboys and Skinners- Life is captured on their way back to Redding on their cattle run by cowboys. Cowboys and skinners were groups of raiders who harassed and plundered the rural districts of the boundary between American and British forces in Westchester County, New York. Westchester County, was the so-called "Neutral Ground" seeing the British were in the Bronx and the Americans in Peekskill, New York.

* The British march though Redding and capture several Patriots there on their way to Danbury, CT to destroy the rebels/Patriot's provisions of war which were being stored there. The Patriot soldiers arrive in Redding in pursuit of the British and Sam is with them so he gets to see his mother and Tim again.

* Winter Encampments- General Israel Putnam's division of the Continental Army encamped at Redding in the winter of 1778-1779 and Sam Meeker is a soldier in one of Putnam’s camps. One evening, Sam slips away from camp and returns home to spend time with his family. While they discuss the war and related topics, Sam hears commotion outside…Patriot soldiers are attempting to steal their cattle! When Sam intervenes he is out numbered and beaten. Back at camp he is falsely accused of and court-martialed for deserting camp and stealing cattle. General Putnam having long dealt with ill-equipped troops, deserters and traitors, feels he needs to set an example in order to maintain discipline amongst his army. Sam, unfortunately, becomes one of the two examples that winter, and is executed.

* Hardships of War- Both Life and Sam Meeker die in the novel. Tim's Mother goes a little crazy due to the stress of losing her husband and son to a war she doesn't support. Tim survives the novel and lives to be very old. He had a wife, children, even grandchildren. But his mother never recovers from Life and Sam's deaths.


For more information, analysis and online quizzes:
The My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide is available via Amazon.com's Kindle edition.

Or visit my website: http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/

George Washington's Concerns in the Winter of 1779

From September 20 to November 28, 1778 George Washington, his generals and army of 13,000 were located in or around Fredericksburg, (the towns of Pawling and Patterson, New York) with the John Kane house serving as headquarters. From here emanated George Washington’s strategy of “observing and containing” the British in New York City.

Washington's plan involved placing troops in somewhat of a crescent formation above the British in New York City from the Hudson River to Redding, Connecticut. From these locations they could support the important fortress of West Point, intimidate the plundering Cowboys and Skinners of Westchester County, and cover the action along the coastal towns on Long Island Sound. It was a sound plan and very well thought out, however, it was what he did not count on that caused him great concern during the Winter of 1779:

The lack of clothing available for his troops and difficulty getting food to the encampments due to poor weather and the resultant roadway conditions.

George Washington to Deputy Clothier Gen. George Measam , January 8, 1779

"It has been represented to me that the troops of Connecticut are in great want of Shirts, Stockings and Shoes. This leads me to inquire of you whether they have not received their proportion of these Articles in common with the rest of the Army. The troops in general have obtained orders for a Shirt and pair of Stockings per man and a pair of Shoes to each that wanted. If the Connecticut Troops have not been furnished … you will on receiving proper Returns for that purpose supply them in conformity to this Rule."


George Washington to the Board of War, January 9, 1779

"Sir: I have the honor. of yours of the 7th. instant. As there is not probably a sufficiency of Mittens for the whole Army, a partial distribution would occasion uneasiness among those who were not supplied. Instead therefore of a general delivery, I should think it better to have them lodged with the Clothiers attending the Army to be delivered out occasionally to detachments going upon a duty that will expose them to the inclemency of the Weather."

Food was also an Issue


The journals of private Joseph Plumb Martin (stationed with the 8th Connecticut in Parsons' middle camp) shows the desperate lack of food and poor weather conditions endured by the troops throughout January:

"We settled in our winter quarters at the commencement of the new year and went on in our old Continental Line of starving and freezing. We now and then got a little bad bread and salt beef (I believe chiefly horse-beef for it was generally thought to be such at the time). The month of January was very stormy, a good deal of snow fell, and in such weather it was mere chance if we got anything at all to eat."

Given the conditions, it is difficult to blame the soldiers that took matters into their own hands and ventured out of camp in search of provisions. The citizens of Redding, did not see things this way, those who initially felt quite honored by the selection of their town for the army's winter quarters, soon grew tired of soldiers looting their livestock. The soldiers position was that they were the one's fighting the country's battles and plundering the neighboring farms was within their rights as men of war. To them a well-stocked poultry yard, a pen of fat porkers or field of healthy heifers offered irresistible cuisine when compared to the horse-beef they were being offered back at camp. After a time, however, the wary farmers foiled the looters by storing their livestock over night in the cellars of their houses and in other secure places.

This was an issue throughout the war and the letter below shows that George Washington was aware of it. It also highlights why looting was difficult to stop, as looters could claim they had confiscated the provisions because they were in danger of being sold to the British.

To Major General Israel Putnam, From George Washington, Philadelphia, December 26, 1778.

"I have not a Copy of your instructions with me, but if my memory serves me, I was as full in my directions respecting the conduct of Officers who shall be sent upon the lines as I possibly can be. The Officer must determine from all circumstances, whether Cattle or any species of provision found near the lines are in danger of falling into the hands of the Enemy, or are carried there with an intent to supply them. If it is thought necessary to bring them off, they must be reported and disposed of as directed by your instructions.

I was very particular upon that Head, because I know that great Acts of Injustice have been committed by Officers, under pretence that provision and other kinds of property were intended for the Use of the Enemy. I would recommend the bringing off as much Forage as possible but I would not advise the destruction of what we cannot remove. I think your plan of sending out a large party under the command of a Field Officer and making detachments from thence, a good one; and if you and General McDougall can agree upon a cooperation of your parties I think many advantages will result from the measure. You may agree upon the mode of effecting this, between yourselves."

Best Education E-books Featuring History

I am very proud and happy to announce that my e-book:

Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of My Brother Sam is Dead (Brent M. Colley's Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead)

Is currently the #4 selling paid e-book on Amazon Kindle's Best Sellers in Education History List.


Thank you to all who have promoted it and helped me get this far. If you have read this e-book and it has been helpful- please consider writing a positive review for me. That would really help my efforts and get these e-books in front of more teachers and parents.

I created these e-books because I have seen children react positively to this novel and learn a great deal from it. I think that it is important that teachers and parents understand the topics that are woven into each chapter so that they can help their students and children get all they can out of it.

The impact of a historical novel on students cannot be minimized. If students respond positively to a good historical novel, they might:

a. be motivated to research the novelist's use of historical data.
b. they might begin to discern the novelist's biases and
c. they might decide to search for historical data to support or contradict the point of view expressed by the author.

or

d. find history interesting.

Why is My Brother Sam is Dead Challenged?

My Brother Sam is Dead is usually challenged by individuals who have not personally read the novel. If they read it, they’d realize that the authors have woven important topics into each of the novels chapters and they’d embrace it as the magnificent teaching tool it truly is.

But that's not the answer you have visited this page for, is it? You want to know how and why the novel earned a top 10 listing on the American Way's most challenged book list in 1996.

The book is challenged because it:

A). Contains profanity: In reaction to being smack in the head by Tim Meeker as she tries to wrestle a letter away from him, Betsy Read shouts "You Little Bastard!"

B). Contains excessive violence: While observing the British army Tim Meeker experiences the horrific beheading of a slave.

C). Mentions alcohol consumption: The Meeker's own a Tavern.

D). Contains unpatriotic views of the American Revolution: The Meeker's are Anglican's.

In response to these challenges let me point out that:

A). The book contains profanity because the authors are trying to provide us with a realistic portrayal of life during the American Revolution. There were conflicting opinions and there were heated discussions, during which, people actually (gasp) swore at each other.

B). The violence Tim experiences is in response to the British troops being fired at. Four individuals take "pot-shots" at the British Troops as they march by. The British respond by rushing the house, subduing the individuals and locking them in the basement. In the process one resists and is decapitated. The British then set the house on fire. This scene is historically correct. It happened; it occurred in Danbury not Redding, but it did happen. The point the authors were making here is that War is Cruel and People Die. While I admit that the beheading is a bit excessive for a children's novel it is not worth censoring the entire novel over it.

C). Mentioning alcohol consumption is no reason to censor a novel as important as My Brother Sam is Dead. The Meeker's own and operate a Tavern. And alcohol consumption by all, young and old, within that time period, is also historically correct.

D). Contains unpatriotic views of the American Revolution. This one is my personal favorite. When Susannah Meeker states: "Bah, patriotism. Your patriotism has got my husband in prison and one of my children out there in the rain and muck shooting people and likely to be dead any minute, and my business is half ruined. Go sell your patriotism elsewhere, I've had enough of it." she has had it. It's a response anyone of us would have if we were placed in the same position.

Susannah Meeker has:

1. lost her husband to the war
2. she's working 24/7 and being paid in currency that is literally worthless unless the Patriot win the war
3. she is Anglican and doesn't want to be in this war to begin with
4. she fears for her eldest son's life and knows that her youngest son is being deprived of his childhood as he tries to help her keep their business afloat.

The topics covered in this book are important and well represented historically speaking. Christopher Collier was Connecticut's State Historian for a very long time; he knew the issues, the localities, the facts. James Lincoln Collier wrote children’s stories; he knew how to write in a way that captivated the attention of young people. Between the two of them they were very talented. What I love most about My Brother Sam is Dead is its realism. I was born and raised in Redding, Connecticut. I know its history well, and can tell you the Collier brothers wove an amazing tale here and it should be embraced not censored.

My Brother Sam is Dead is a winner of many literary awards. Among these are: The Newberry Honor Book, Notable Children’s, National Book Award Nominee, and Horn Book Fanfare. This book is often recommended as part of a Social Studies curriculum while studying the American Revolution.


Have a look at these Banned and Challenged Classics and you'll realize that the censors aren't always correct.

I suggest you read the book and use my online resources to better understand the topics woven into the novel.


For more notes and background information on the historical fiction novel- My Brother Sam is Dead, visit my online resources or purchase an e-book.

What is a Brown Bess?

The musket Sam Meeker takes from his father in my brother Sam is dead, was a Brown Bess "Long Land" musket with a 46" barrel length, .75 barrel caliber, and bayonet length of 16"-17". A skilled soldier could fire three shots per minute with a musket of this type.

Brown Bess is a nickname of unknown origin for the British Army's Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. This musket was used in the era of the expansion of the British Empire and acquired a symbolic importance which was at least as significant as its physical importance. It was in use for over a hundred years with a good number of incremental changes in its design. The earliest version was the Long Land Pattern of 1722, 62 inches long (without bayonet) with a 46 inch barrel. It was later found that shortening the barrel did not lessen its accuracy and made handling the musket easier. This resulted in the Militia (or Marine) Pattern of 1756 and the Short Land Pattern of 1768, both of which had a 42 inch (1,067 mm) barrel. Other versions included the India Pattern, New Land Pattern Musket, and Sea Service Musket.

As most male citizens of the American Colonies were required by law to own a musket for militia duty, the Long Land Pattern was a common firearm in use by both sides at the commencement of the American Revolution.

Accuracy of the Brown Bess was, as with most other muskets, poor. The effective range is often quoted as 80-100 yards but it was more likely about 50 yards. The combination of the large diameter of the bullet, the heavy weight of its lead construction and its unstable aerodynamic shape (a round ball marred by hand casting) contributed to its low effective range. Though the large projectile could inflict a great deal of damage when it did hit its target, military tactics of the period stressed mass volleys and bayonet charges, instead of individual sniping due to the inaccuracy of these muskets. The great length of the weapon, 62 inches long, with a bayonet of 16 to 17 inches, was advantageous because it allowed longer reach in bayonet engagements, especially against horsemen. By forming a rectangle or square with men facing outward with their bayonets, horsemen could not ride through them.

Why call it a Brown Bess?

Early usage of the term "Brown Bess" appears in an April 1771 issue of the Connecticut Courant, which noted "...but if you are afraid of the sea, take Brown Bess on your shoulder and march." This familiar use must indicate widespread use of the term by that time. The 1785 Dictionary of Vulgar Tongue, a contemporary work which defined vernacular and slang terms, contained this entry: "Brown Bess: A soldier's firelock. To hug Brown Bess; to carry a firelock, or serve as a private soldier."

Popular explanations of the use of the word "Brown" include that it was a reference to either the color of the walnut stocks or to the characteristic brown color that was produced by russeting, an early form of metal treatment. Others argue that mass-produced weapons of the time were coated in brown varnish on metal parts as a rust preventative and on wood as a sealer (or in the case of unscrupulous contractors, to disguise inferior or non-regulation types of wood). However, the Oxford English Dictionary notes that "browning" was only introduced in the early 19th century, well after the term had come into general ushttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gife.

Similarly, the word "Bess" is commonly held to either derive from the word arquebus or blunderbuss (predecessors of the musket) or to be a refhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giference to Elizabeth I of England, considered unlikely as she died more than a century before the introduction of the weapon. More plausible is that the term Brown Bess could have been derived from the German words "brawn buss" or "braun buss", meaning "strong gun" or "brown gun"; King George I who commissioned its use was from Germany.

See how it worked...

This is a great photo exhibit of how these guns worked. Be sure to check out the videos at the bottom of the page: http://science.howstuffworks.com/flintlock2.htm

For more notes and background information on the historical fiction novel- My Brother Sam is Dead, visit my online resources or purchase an e-book.

My Brother Sam is Dead Chapter 14: Summary and Analysis

Below is an example of the type of summary and analysis you will find in my e-books.


Chapter 14: Summary and Analysis

On Saturday, February 13th, Colonel Read came up from the encampment to let Tim and Susannah know that General Putnam had refused their plea for clemency. The unfairness of war is voiced by both Tim and Colonel Read as it is a very important theme in the novel.

Tim is too emotional to sit through the church service for Sam and the others, his Mother is too depressed to even attend.

Susannah: "I'm not going, they can murder who they like, church who they like, but I'm not going. For me the war is over."

The tavern is closed and as far as Susannah is concerned it can remain that way. Tim, feeling angry and bitter, sharpens his father's bayonet with the intention of heading to the encampment to free Sam.

Susannah: "Going to get yourself killed, son?"

Tim: "I'm going to save my brother"

Susannah: "No, you're going to get yourself killed. Well you might as well. Let's have it all done with at once. How does that old line go? Men must fight and women must weep, but you'll get no more tears from me. I've done my weeping for this war."

As they have done in Chapter 13, the Collier brothers paint a picture of the encampment at Redding via Tim's narrative. Tim's comments about the lack of trees, the lines of huts, the muddy road, the corrals, etc… are written for more than dramatic effect. In real-life there were not many trees left in the encampments of Redding during the winter of 1778-79, there were lines of huts, muddy roads, wagons and cannons, officer's quarters. They even place the prisoners in the correct location. The 1778-79 guardhouse was not located within the encampment, but on a road in close proximity to General Putnam's headquarters. So we are given a glimpse of the winter encampment through Tim's eyes and entertained by the well orchestrated climatic representation of Tim sneaking around the encampment, stalking guards and dodging bullets as a bonus really.


Tim narrating: "I began to slip down the steep hillside from stump to boulder…I stopped and I stared. I couldn't see anybody moving around…I glanced at the guard…he didn't move for several moments…and I suddenly realized that he was asleep. I took the bayonet out of my belt and clutched it tight in my hand. If Sam could killed people, so could I…I stood up and charged…the guard stirred. I drove my feet faster…"Halt." He shouted. He swept the musket up, the bayonet pointing straight at me, twenty feet away…"Sam" I shouted, and "Sam" again as loud as I could. The guard lunged at me. I lifted the bayonet and threw it in the air. It flashed in the moonlight, spinning lazily over and over and fell into the stockade. Then I turned and began racing as fast as I could across the snow for the safety of the boulders on the hillside. I had gone only three paces when the musket went off with a terrific roar…I dashed onto the slope, and then began staggering upward, zigzagging from boulder to boulder to keep protection at my back. Behind me there was shouting and running and the sound of a horse being wheeled around…I reached the trees at the top of the ridge and flung myself flat. They'd never get me now…I rolled over and looked down…I stared into the stockade. There was no action there, no people moving at all. Lying in the center of that square of snow, something shiny glistened in the moonlight. And I knew it had all been a waste. The prisoners weren't in the stockade anymore."

Tim has a bullet wound to show for his efforts at the encampment, but nothing severe. The following day is Sam's execution and Tim attends knowing Sam would want somebody there, Susannah refuses to go. Tim's narration of the executions is straight forward; he simply tells us what happened. A sad, abrupt ending; a fate many soldiers suffered during the War of Independence.

Sam's execution at the hands of his own troops is symbolic of the atrocities of war, it is also an accurate portrayal of actions that needed to be taken by Generals like Israel Putnam in the early stages of the American Revolution. The more horrific these executions were, the less likely the soldiers who viewed them would be to disobey their Generals orders later.

What do we learn about in Chapter 14?

In Chapter 14 we get a sense of the frustration and anger Susannah has at this point in the war:

A. She has lost her husband, who passively resisted the rebellion
B. She’s about to lose her eldest son, who has actively participated in the rebellion.
C. She’s watching her youngest son sharpen his father's bayonet with the intention of heading to the encampment to likely get his self killed.

But the truly important content in Chapter 14 is Tim’s first person account of the executions. Sam's character takes the place of John Smith’s execution in the novel. Which are very close to the real-life events that occurred that day:


“The soldier that was to be shot for desertion was but a youth of sixteen or seventeen years of age. The Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett, who was pastor of the Congregational Church in Redding for a period of fifty years, officiated as chaplain to the encampment during that winter, and was present at the execution. He interceded with General Putnam to defer the execution of Smith until Washington could be consulted- for reason the offender was a youth; but the commander assured him that a reprieve could not be granted.

John Smith was described as "extremely weak and fainting" as he was led by Poor's Brigade Chaplain, the Rev. Dr. Evans, approximately 200 yards from the gallows to the place he was to be shot.

Putnam gave the order and three balls were shot through his breast: he fell on his face, but immediately turned over on his back; a soldier then advanced, and putting the muzzle of his gun near the convulsive body of the youth, discharged its contents into his forehead. The body was then placed in a coffin; the final discharge had been fired so near to the body that it had set the boy's clothing on fire, and continued burning while each and every soldier present was ordered to march past the coffin and observe Smith's mangled remains; an officer with a drawn sword stood by to ensure they complied.”

Classroom Conversations:

1. It is important to help the students understand why Sam was killed. There was disaffection and insubordination in the army in 1777 & 1778. Desertions were frequent, and spying was almost openly practiced. To put a stop to these practices it was vitally necessary to the safety of the army, to see that these sentences were carried into effect. These executions were a warning to the other soldiers; it showed them what would happen if they disobeyed orders and it was very effective.

Sam's death is another ironic twist in the story: A father and son's loyalty to their beliefs results in death at the hands of their own troops. Life died on a British ship and Sam is executed by American soldiers.


To purchase or borrow my e-books visit Amazon.com's Kindle bookshelf.

Fact vs. Fiction in My Brother Sam is Dead

Executions at Gallows Hill
(John Smith is the real life example Sam Meeker's death portrays)

Putnam was no stranger to deserters and spies. Nothing had so much annoyed Putnam and his officers during the campaigns of the preceding summer on the Hudson than the desertions which had thinned his ranks, and the Tory spies, who frequented his camps, and forthwith conveyed the information thus gathered to the enemy. To put a stop to this it had been determined that the next offender of either sort (deserter or spy) captured should suffer death as an example.

The opportunity to implement this determination soon arrived. Scouts from Putnam's outposts in Westchester County captured a man lurking within their lines, and as he could give no satisfactory account of himself, he was at once hauled over the borders and into the presence of the Commander-in-Chief. In answer to the commanders queries, the prisoner said that his name was Jones, that he was a Welshman by birth, and had settled in Ridgefield a few years before the war commenced; that he had never faltered in his allegiance to the King, and that at the outbreak of the hostilities he had fled to the British army, and had been made a butcher in the camp; a few weeks before, he had been sent into Westchester County to buy beef for the army, and was in the process of carrying out those orders at the present. He was remanded to the guard house, court-martialed and at once ordered for trial. Putnam had his first example.

On Feb. 4, 1779, Edward Jones was tried at a General Court Martial for going to and serving the enemy, and coming out as a spy. He was found guilty of each and every charge exhibited against him, and according to Law and the Usage's of Nations was sentenced to suffer Death: "The General approves the sentence and orders it to be put in execution between the hours of ten and eleven A.M. by hanging him by the neck till he be dead."

Two days after another General Court Martial was held for a similar offense: on Feb. 6, 1779, John Smith of the 1st Connecticut Regiment was tried at a General Court Martial for desertion and attempting to go to the enemy, found guilty, and further persisting in saying that he will go to the enemy if ever he has an opportunity. "The General approves the sentence and orders that it be put in execution between the hours of ten and twelve A.M. for him to be shot to death"

General Putnam having two prisoners under the sentence of death determined to execute them both at once, or as he expressed it, "to make a double job of it," and at the same time make the spectacle as terrible and impressive as the circumstances demanded.

The scene which took place at the execution of these men on February 16 was described as shocking and bloody, it occurred on a lofty hill (known to this day as Gallows Hill) dominating the valley between the three camps. The instrument of Edward Jones' death was erected approximately twenty feet from the ground atop the hill's highest pinnacle. Jones was ordered to ascend the ladder, with the rope around his neck and attached to the cross beam of the gallows. When he had reached the top rung General Putnam ordered him to jump from the ladder.

'No General Putnam,' said Jones, 'I am innocent of the crime laid to my charge; I shall not do it.'

Putnam drawing his sword, compelled the hangmen at sword's point, that his orders be obeyed and if Jones would not jump, that the ladder be over-turned to complete the act. It was and he perished.

The soldier that was to be shot for desertion was but a youth of sixteen or seventeen years of age. The Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett, who was pastor of the Congregational Church in Redding for a period of fifty years, officiated as chaplain to the encampment during that winter, and was present at the execution. He interceded with General Putnam to defer the execution of Smith until Washington could be consulted- for reason the offender was a youth; but the commander assured him that a reprieve could not be granted.

John Smith was described as "extremely weak and fainting" as he was led by Poor's Brigade Chaplain, the Rev. Dr. Evans, approximately 200 yards from the gallows to the place he was to be shot. Putnam gave the order and three balls were shot through his breast: he fell on his face, but immediately turned over on his back; a soldier then advanced, and putting the muzzle of his gun near the convulsive body of the youth, discharged its contents into his forehead. The body was then placed in a coffin; the final discharge had been fired so near to the body that it had set the boy's clothing on fire, and continued burning while each and every soldier present was ordered to march past the coffin and observe Smith's mangled remains; an officer with a drawn sword stood by to ensure they complied.

It was indeed a grisly scene, and many have questioned the accuracy of the accounts published about it because it seems almost too ghastly. But it should be said that: boldness, firmness, promptness, decisiveness- were the chief elements of General Israel Putnam's character, and at this particular crisis all were needed. There was disaffection and insubordination in the army, as has been noted. Desertions were frequent, and spying by the Tories was almost openly practiced. To put a stop to these practices it was vitally necessary to the safety of the army, to see that these sentences were carried into effect.


From more examples of factual events that take place in the novel, visit:
http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/my-brother-sam-is-dead_notes.htm

or download my Everything You Wanted to Know about My Brother Sam is Dead e-book at Amazon.com.

My Brother Sam is Dead Social Media Links

In an effort to highlight the resources now available for My Brother Sam is Dead, I've opened up accounts at Facebook and Twitter.


My Brother Sam is Dead on Facebook (direct wall link)

My Brother Sam is Dead on Twitter (direct link)

Both these accounts were opened for interaction and questions. Look forward to meeting the fans of this amazing historical fiction novel.

My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide

Recently I released my second e-book to help students, teachers and parents better understand the historical fiction novel- My Brother Sam is Dead.

The My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide is available via Amazon.com's Kindle edition. It is more extensive (67 pages) than any other guide available and the information in it is based on 14 years of research. I grew up in Redding, Connecticut and was surrounded by all that Tim Meeker speaks of in this book. There was so much I could have explored, but I was only 12 years old and never made those connections. So what this examination of My Brother Sam is Dead really is, is an opportunity to prevent children of the current generation from missing out on all this great history. I put a lot of effort into this book for that very reason.

If you purchase or borrow this My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide at Amazon.com you will find in it:

Chapter One:
About the Book My Brother Sam is Dead

My Brother Sam is Dead is told in the first person by 10 year old Tim Meeker of Redding Ridge. It recounts the hardships endured by Tim and his family during the early stages of the Revolutionary War.

When Tim's older brother Sam returns home from Yale College in New Haven to announce he’s joining the rebel forces, it greatly impacts the rest of his family who wish to remain neutral and/or avoid a rebellious war with England. Tim's family is Anglican and thus loyal to the Church of England; a split with England would greatly affect them...


Chapter Two:
Setting of the Book My Brother Sam is Dead

Redding, Connecticut is located in Southwest Connecticut. Its size is 31.5 square miles, about five miles from north to south, roughly seven miles from east to west. It encompasses 4.9% of Fairfield County.

I also provide background information on Redding before and after the Revolutionary War.


Chapter Three:
Real Life vs. Events Fictionalized in My Brother Sam is Dead

The intent here is to point out real life vs. My Brother Sam is Dead events that relate to Redding, Connecticut. The quotes come directly from the novel; below the quotes are the historical facts these quotes are based on.


Chapter Four:
Places you can visit related to My Brother Sam is Dead

Redding Ridge:
This is where the Meeker's lived. Be sure to explore the Christ Church cemetery, you'll be amazed at how many characters from the book are buried here.

Across the street from the Church looking North are the fields Tim runs across when he attempts to steal back his Father's Brown Bess from Sam.


Chapter Five:
The Characters in the Novel My Brother Sam is Dead

Read all about the characters in the book and learn about the real life people the characters are based on.


Chapter Six:
Why has My Brother Sam is Dead been Challenged or Censored in the Past?

Learn why the novel earned a top 10 listing on the American Way's most challenged book list in 1996.


The 67 page My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide is available via Amazon.com's Kindle edition.

Suggested Reading List: My Brother Sam is Dead

Suggested Reading

My Brother Sam is Dead Related

1. Brother Sam and All That
by Christopher Collier with an essay by James Lincoln Collier.
Historical Context and Literary Analysis of the Novels of James and Christopher Collier.
1999 Clearwater Press, ISBN 0-9667657-0-2

2. Westchester County During the American Revolution, 1775-1783
by Otto Hufeland

3. Rebels and Redcoats: The American Revolution Through the Eyes of Those Who Fought and Lived It
by George F. Scheer and Hugh F. Rankin

American Revolution

1. The Whites of Their Eyes
by Paul Lockhart.
Bunker Hill, the First American Army and the Emergence of George Washington.
Harper, New York, 2011.

2. Washington’s Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring
by Alexander Rose.
Rose unfolds the story of a Long Island-based spy ring of idealists and misfits who kept George Washington informed of what was going on in enemy-occupied New York.
Bantam; 1st Edition (April 25, 2006)

3. George Washington, Spymaster
Thomas B. Allen.
How the Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary War
National Geographic Children's Books (January 9, 2007)

4. The Bridge Not Taken: Benedict Arnold Outwitted
by Damon Greenleaf Douglas
Best account of the 1777 British Raid on Danbury written to date. Amazing resource that includes primary source documents, maps.
Westport Historical Society, 2002, ISBN 0-96487-592-6

5. Don Troiani's Soldiers of the American Revolution
by Don Troiani and James L. Kochan
From Bunker Hill to Yorktown, from Washington to Cornwallis, from the Minute Men to the Black Watch, these pages are packed with scenes of grand action and great characters, recreated in the vivid blues and reds that defined the Revolutionary era.
Stackpole Books (January 3, 2007)

6. Yankee Doodle Boy (Joseph Plumb Martin)
by George F. Scheer
A young soldier’s adventures in the American Revolution told by himself.
Holiday House/New York, 1995, ISBN 0-8234-1176-1

Historical Fiction books covering topics related to the American Revolution

1. Guns for General Washington
by Seymour Reit
This book tells the story of Henry Knox’s daring mission to cross 300 miles of forest bring 183 cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to George Washington’s army in Boston. This is a significant event in the early part of the Revolutionary War, a mission which many thought was impossible. This book tells the story from the perspective of Knox’s 19 year old brother Will.

2. The Secret Soldier: The Story Of Deborah Sampson
by Ann McGovern (Author), Harold Goodwin (Illustrator), Katherine Thompson (Author)
When "Robert Shurtliff" enlists as a common soldier in the Continental army, no one suspects there is anything unusual about him. The new soldier serves bravely for a year and a half. It is not until "he" is hospitalized with fever that his secret is discovered. Private Shurtliff is really a woman - 23 year-old Deborah Sampson!

3. Toliver's Secret
by Esther Wood Brady (Author)
A timid girl is asked to help the Patriots by delivering a secret message.

4. Patriots: Young Adult Historical Fiction Novel about the Battle of Bunker Hill
by Gregory T. Edgar
2nd Place Winner of the 2010 Premier Book Award in the category of Young Adult Fiction. Three teenage boys - two Americans and one British – learn that war is not the glorious adventure they thought it would be, and that their enemies are human beings after all.


For more check out my collection of My Brother Sam is Dead e-books at Amazon.com's Kindle. You can read them for free with a Prime account.

Vocabulary Used in My Brother Sam is Dead

My Brother Sam is Dead Vocabulary-


Period Slang: Used in Camp or in the Field

Adjutant: an officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer.

Beetle-Headed: Dull, Stupid.

Brown Bess: A soldier's fire-lock (musket). "To hug Brown Bess" is to carry a fire-lock, or serve as a private soldier.

Chicken-Hearted: Fearful, cowardly.

Cur: A cut or curtailed dog, disabled from chasing game. Figuratively used to signify a surly fellow.

English Burgundy: Porter (wine).

Flip: Small beer, brandy, and sugar.

Fusillade: A discharge from a number of firearms, fired simultaneously or in rapid succession. A rapid outburst or barrage: a fusillade of insults.

Gill: One gill is equal to 1/2 cup of liquid. Soldiers were allowed a gill of Rum per day when on fatigue, and at no other time.

Grog: Rum and water. "Groggy" or "Groggified" is to be drunk.

Ground Arms: To stack firearms on the ground.

Hook: To steal. "My shirt was worn so I headed out of camp to hook one."

Huzza: Said to have been originally the cry of the huzzars or Hungarian light horse; but now the national shout of the English, both civil and military; to give three cheers being to huzza thrice.

Jack Tar: A sailor.

Lobster(Back): A British soldier, from the color of his clothes (Red).

Loggerhead: A blockhead or stupid fellow, also a double-headed, or bar-shot of iron.

Neck Weed: Hemp. Used as rope in the time period.

Pottage: A thick soup. Rod: A measurement of width, 16.5 feet is a rod.

Sallied: Usually means to breakout or depart.

Scaly: Mean, sordid.

Surly: Unfriendly, crabby, grumpy. Used to describe someone of that nature: "Major Williams was a surly fellow."

Sutler: A sutler or victualer is a civilian who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters.

Tattoo: A beat of the drum, or signal for soldiers to go to their quarters, and a direction to the *sutlers to close the tap. * A sutler or victualer is a civilian who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters.

Trainband: Local Militia. Volunteer soldiers formed to protect townships.

Vanguard: The foremost position in an army or fleet advancing into battle.

Period Slang: Used in Everyday Life

Anvil: A heavy steel faced iron block.

Breeches: Trousers ending above the knee.

Ciphering: Transforming a message into secret code via math.
18-21-14 = R-U-N

Cholera: An acute infectious disease of the small intestine, caused by the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae.

Commissary Notes: A Commissary is a store or market for military personnel, so a Commissary Note is a certificate given in lieu of currency for use in the store.

Drover: One that drives cattle or sheep to market.

Forage: The act of looking or searching for food or provisions.

Fusillade: A rapid outburst or barrage: a fusillade of insults.

Hardtack: A hard biscuit or bread made with only flour and water.

Hogshead: Any of various units of volume or capacity ranging from 63 to 140 gallons.

Hundredweight: 100 pounds.

Jerked Beef: Long slices or strips of beef dried in the sun or near a fire.

Johnny Cake: Cornmeal bread usually shaped into a flat cake and baked or fried on a griddle.

Leggings: Tight, form-fitting trousers that extend from the waist to the ankles.

Loft: Unpartitioned room overlooking another room.

Pallet: 1. A fire shovel; 2. A bed of straw

Papist: A Roman Catholic

Plowshare: The cutting blade of a plow.

Populace: The general public; the masses. A population.

Pound: Unit of money- equivalent to twenty shillings sterling

Powder Horn: Where you kept your gun powder

Scrip: A piece of paper representing or acknowledging value, such as a receipt or certificate, given in lieu of currency.

Seining: To catch or fish with a net.

Sloth: Aversion to work or exertion; laziness.

Shilling: A coin worth one twentieth of a pound.

Thatch: A house roof made with a plant material (such as straw).


For more check out my collection of My Brother Sam is Dead e-books at Amazon.com's Kindle. You can read them for free with a Prime account.