In-person and Virtual Event

Speaker: Garry Finkell    

Topic: Hudson Valley Palatine Loyalists in the Revolutionary War

I examine the general topic of the existence of Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War. This is a subject that very few Americans are aware of. It has only been in the last couple of decades that there has been a serious examination of the topic in academic circles.

I then discuss the Loyalists from among the Palatine Germans, whose parents and grandparents settled in the Hudson River Valley of New York beginning in 1710 and continuing up to the war itself. I examine the reasons for their taking their position, including Lutheran theology and their lived experiences.

The aftermath of the war saw the exile of all Hudson Valley Loyalists, including the Palatines to Ontario, Canada. These exiles became the founders of English-speaking Canada, and I discuss their prominent position in Canadian history.

Throughout the presentation I include references to my Finckel ancestors who were among the Palatine Loyalists. I finish with a description of a trip that I took with my 3rd cousin, Donald Finkell to explore our part of Canada and to meet a 5th cousin, Paula Finkle who lives in Canada.

Garry Finkell Bio

Garry is from Albany, New York and joined Palatines to America (PalAm) in 2009. He is currently Vice-President of Palatines to America (PalAm), and he is a past president of the New York Chapter of PalAm. He maintained the YouTube channel for PalAm and the International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP), as well as the Facebook page for the New York Chapter.

Garry is one of the representatives of PalAm to the International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP).  In addition, Garry is a member of the Board of Directors of the IGGP.

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The leaders of this group are Ann Broihier and Bernard  Meisner. Contact: ggg@dallasgenealogy.org. Learn more about the German Genealogy Group

Meeting ID: 867 5887 1312, Passcode: 746188