British Soldiers’ Wives in the American Revolution: A Talk with Author Don Hagist

About this event

On Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 5:30pm, the Museum at the John Brown House will host author Don N. Hagist for British Soldiers’ Wives in the American Revolution, a talk based on his new book, Invisible Lives.

During the Revolutionary War, thousands of women followed their soldier husbands across the Atlantic, enduring the hardships of garrisons, sieges, and camp life in a foreign land. Though these women nursed the wounded, raised children, and performed vital labor in every theater of the conflict, their individual stories have been largely lost to history. Combining meticulous archival research with deeply human storytelling, Hagist draws on court-martial proceedings, muster rolls, newspaper notices, and rare surviving letters to reconstruct their lived experiences—revealing a portrait of remarkable resourcefulness and resilience.

Don N. Hagist is the managing editor of the Journal of the American Revolution and an expert on the British Army during the American Revolution. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including Noble Volunteers: The British Soldiers Who Fought the American Revolution and The Revolution’s Last Men.

Doors open at 4:30 pm for a reception and book signing. General admission costs $10 per person, $5 for RIHS members; a combo book-admission ticket is also available. Registration is requested as seating is limited. Guests can register here .

From Rhode Island Historical Society