Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution

10/16/2026

Join us for an enlightening evening with 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 on 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝟳𝗣𝗠 𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽.
Historian and author Thomas Maguire, nationally recognized as the premier scholar of Philadelphia-area Revolutionary War battles, will talk about how events in the area played a formative role in the creation of our country.

Register here: https://www.westgoshen.org/FormCenter/Park-Recreation-8/Presentation-with-Thomas-Maguire-81

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲
Tom McGuire is a native of the Philadelphia area whose history activities began in 1975-76 at the Valley Forge Historical Society Museum, a predecessor of the Museum of the American Revolution, and Valley Forge National Historical Park 1977-81. A graduate of Villanova University (B. A. 1979; M. A. 1985), he has been teaching history at Malvern Preparatory School since 1980 and has authored six books: The Surprise of Germantown [Thomas Publications, 1994]; Battle of Paoli [2000]; Brandywine Battlefield State Park Trail of History Guide [2001], The Philadelphia Campaign Volume I and Volume II [2006-07]; Stop the Revolution: America in the Summer of Independence and the Conference for Peace [2011]. Tom also researched for David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book John Adams and its sequel 1776. He was Vice President of the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund 1996-2002 and guest-curated the Chester County Historical Society’s “War Comes to Chester County 1777-78” exhibition in 1997. He served 2016-2020 on the Board of Educators of the Museum of the American Revolution. He has lived with his wife Susan in the Brandywine Valley since 1992.

10/12/2026

10/04/2026

249 years ago today, Washington and his troops marched into Germantown to force the British out of Germantown and then (hopefully) Philadelphia. The Continental Army was successful in surprising the British, but the resulting artillery fire alerted British Colonel Thomas Musgrave's 40th Regiment, who were camped in the fields surrounding Cliveden. Cut off from the main British line, Musgrave ordered his troops into the Main House and used it as a fortress during the battle.

On the Continental side, General Henry Knox suggested to Washington that their troops ‘reduce’ the house. They were ultimately unsuccessful; the thick stone walls protected the house from a cannon attack and fire, and American troops were unable to storm the house. After hours of intense fighting in and around Cliveden, Washington and his forces retreated to Montgomery County. 1,000 Continental soldiers lost their lives in the fight.

Painting of the Battle of Germantown, by an unknown British artist, c. 1780-1800

09/23/2026

A HOUSE WITH A HISTORY.
The Record Thu, Nov 08, 1900 ·Page 2
One of the most fascinating reminders of General George Washington's 1777 Whitemarsh encampment was the George Emlen House, later known as the Alman House, located near present-day Camp Hill in Montgomery County.

According to this 1900 article, the house served as Washington's headquarters from November 2 to December 11, 1777, during a critical stage of the Revolutionary War. The article notes that Washington first became aware there of the political intrigue known as the "Conway Cabal," an effort by some critics to undermine his leadership.

The piece also quotes a remarkable letter written from Whitemarsh on November 12, 1777, by French engineer Chevalier Du Portail, who was serving with the Continental Army. Du Portail observed that Americans seemed to pursue the Revolution with far less enthusiasm than supporters in Paris, writing that there was "a hundred times more enthusiasm for this revolution in any one coffee-house in Paris, than in all the thirteen provinces united."

Despite that criticism, Du Portail believed strongly in America's future, though he predicted it would be many years before the young nation could project power abroad.

The article closes with a charming detail about the house itself: an old wooden mantel, made from massive trees and still standing in 1900. The writer imagined Washington and his generals gathered around the fireplace during that fateful autumn, warming themselves and discussing the future of the American cause.

09/23/2026

The Maryland 400: Maryland's Soldiers at the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776 -
How a contingent of Maryland soldiers staved off the British at the Battle of Brooklyn, the first major battle of the Revolutionary War.

Join us tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM. all are welcome.
Bishop White Library
$15 per person. Follow the link below for tickets. -
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-maryland-400-marylands-soldiers-at-the-battle-of-brooklyn-in-1776-tickets-1984159164473?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/23/2026

On September 22, 1777, Henry Muhlenberg learned that the American army was camped in the Trappe area:

“Beginning last midnight the whole American army returned and encamped about a mile above our house because it was reported that the British were crossing the Schulkiel and coming out at our house and that the battle would take place in this neighborhood. Early in the morning Henrich Mühlenberg’s [his son, Henry Jr.] parents-in-law, together with wife, child, and maid, drove off for New Hannover with their wagon and horses. But they were not able to get through the army and had to make a detour. My son Henrich set out for Philadelphia and stayed behind with my wife to await what divine providence had decreed for us. The British did not cross the Schulkiel, and at two o’clock in the afternoon the American army broke camp and proceeded towards New Hannover, as far as my son Friedrich’s dwelling place. Accordingly the British have an open way to Philadelphia and can reach the city in a very short time. The wind is uncommonly cold and biting today. This, together with the equinoctial season and the other circumstances, has upset me. All day hungry and thirsty soldiers, etc. have been stopping in and calling on us.”

This excerpt is from “The Journals of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, Volume 3,” translated by Theodore G. Tappert and John W. Doberstein, 1958. This and additional volumes are available for research at Historic Trappe’s Center for Pennsylvania German Studies in the Dewees Tavern, and the original handwritten journals are preserved by the Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia.

09/22/2026

On September 21, 1907, Governor Samuel Pennypacker spoke at the unveiling of the Revolutionary War Monument erected by the borough of Phoenixville, PA. This monument marks the farthest inland point in Pennsylvania reached by the main British army, led by William Howe, during their 1777 campaign. Originally set between Nutt Rd. and Bridge St., it was relocated in 2022 to a public space on the side of Nutt Rd.
In 1777, the British camped in this area from September 21-23. Despite being spotted by American forces, the British managed to leave under the cover of darkness, crossing the Schuylkill River before Washington could respond.
In his speech Samuel states” The revolutionary war was brought to a successful conclusion not by the display of exceptional military skill or by brilliant successes upon fields of battle, but by the firmness and undaunted persistence of Washington, supported by a steadfast people.”

09/20/2026