I liked how Mr. Davidson listed all of them in alphabetical order at the beginning of the book. It’s nice to know all your characters up front. Next, he gives an introduction to these refugees of “The First American Civil War” by first historically explaining the world’s plight of refugees.

The actual tale begins in Wilton, Connecticut in 1740 with the Stephen Betts and Ruth Brimsmade family who later move to Redding, Connecticut after the birth of one of the main characters in this story; Hepzibeth Betts. She married John Lyon, a native of Redding on 20 Sept. 1761 in Wilton. John’s parents were Nathan Lyon and Abigail Malloy.

I enjoyed the author’s description of weather conditions, countryside scenery, and the various goods available that the population depended on to live. The family genealogy is very well written and I found the entire book very easy to read. I like that in any book.

Redding, Connecticut was largely Loyalist and Mr. Davidson describes this very clearly by explaining all the political structures that formed before and during the American Revolution. At first there were 142 committed signers of Loyalty in Redding.

The Adobe Reader format and clarity made this e-book very easy to read. I had no trouble downloading it and having the choice of print/read size was a pleasure.

Knowing a little about the history of Redding, Connecticut by research done on Loyalist, Isaac Bunnell of Redding who later settled the Kingston/Sussex area of New Brunswick, Canada, I know Mr. Davidson is very accurate in his historical accounts and descriptions. He obviously did a lot of research into church records.

Like many Loyalists, John Lyon leaves his family and ends up in New York as a refugee, driven from his home, that later was confiscated and sold off. And like many, his wife and children had to endure the hardships and abuse from the rebels at home. And like many families, they were split between loyalty or rebellion which caused much stress.

Mr. Davidson’s Military outline and campaigns are very accurate and to the point. I hate it when an author gets too detailed and verbose. This story is none of that. Thank you Stephen. The information on rebel and Loyalist and British prisons and prison ships is a very important part of the American Revolution that is overlooked. The author tells this story very well.

The individual accounts of various Loyalists and their encounters made my reading very interesting. I did not get bogged down in any long drawn out stories. The account of “Black Friday” 19 May 1780 is very interesting and familiar to me as I also recorded that event in one of my early Loyalist books. I was amused to see that my Loyalist ancestor, Benjamin Bonnell and this authors ancestor served in the same attack at New London/Fort Griswold, Connecticut on 6 Sept. 1781. The world is truly a small place. His accuracy was very well, and complete with detail.

Details were also very precise in the Great Exodus of 1783 from New York at the end of the war. I found the ship lists, names, places and accounts very exact. The description of the hostile wilderness and tough life and carving out their new homes in New Brunswick was everything that I found during my research. Land grants, laws to protect the poor and geographic locations and conditions were extremely accurate. Sighting other well-known authors and historians like Rev. W.O. Raymond, adds credibility to this fine book.

I think the timeline, as the Annotated Union Passenger List near the end of the book is very helpful in recapping events and helping to draw a good picture. I enjoyed the “Story Behind This Story” commentary was very nostalgic, as I too had no idea of my loyalist ancestors until 1981 when doing research at the Fredericton, New Brunswick archives.

For the Lyons, ending their lives in Kingston, New Brunswick was the end of an era, a loyalist era. An adventure across two countries and over 800 miles of love, happiness, tragedy, fleeing desperation, threats, loss, and rebirth.

I enjoyed this book very much because it is well written, and so familiar to me. Plus Stephen Davidson tells this story very clearly and accurately. I would recommend buying this ebook because it is a must for any Loyalist hunter, and for those who should be educated in Loyalist studies.

Reviewed 10 July 2007 by,
Paul J. Bunnell, UE, Author
45 Crosby St., Milford, NH 03055
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