Revolution & Tragedy: The Life of Anne Ledyard, Colonel Ledyard’s Wife, By John Steward

John Steward is a writer and historian who has devoted years to researching the life and death of Colonel William Ledyard, the Battle of Groton Heights and Revolutionary War era Groton.  On September 16, Steward will join us to present a program on Groton during the American Revolution through the life and perspective of Colonel Ledyard’s wife, Anne Williams Ledyard.

“History has ignored Anne Ledyard,” says Steward, “and yet, she lived her entire married life in the throes of revolution, only to have her promising future as the wife of a wealthy merchant torn asunder when the British killed her husband, commander of the garrison on Fort Griswold, in the Battle of Groton Heights in 1781. Within months of Colonel Ledyard’s death, she also lost two daughters, one sixteen and the other nineteen years of age, and a two-year old son. She lived only nine years after Colonel Ledyard was killed, dying at 46 years old, with her beloved eight year old son dying of the same colonial disease alongside her.  No historian has ever considered her life, yet she suffered as much as anyone from the Battle of Groton Heights.” Steward will describe Anne’s married life and widowhood until her own tragic death nine years after the battle, and why she should be remembered.

Wednesday, September 16, 7:30 pm

Latham/Chester Store, 108 Main Street, Noank