Resisting Revolution: Loyalist Lectures at Johnson Hall

250th American Revolution Commemoration Event

Johnson Hall was a center of tension during the early days of the American Revolution in the spring of 1776.
CREDIT: NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

(JOHNSTOWN, NEW YORK) – On Friday, April 17, 2026 at 6 pm, Johnson Hall State Historic Site will explore the stories of Loyalist and British-allied civilians in the upper-Hudson and Mohawk Valleys during the American Revolution. Following an introduction by Johnson Hall Interpretive Programs Assistant Ian Mumpton, historians Anne Clothier and Tom Pettigrew will offer a pair of presentations on local Loyalists.

In picturing the Revolution, those who sided with the British Crown are often painted with a broad brush as wealthy elites, out of touch with the plight of poor Revolutionaries. In reality, their backgrounds and experiences varied widely across the economic, social, and political spectrums. When the violence of the Revolution came to upstate New York, many, including some of the most vulnerable people in society, chose to oppose it. These talks will highlight the stories of local people who risked their lives and livelihoods to resist.

This program is free and open to all, but due to limited space, pre-registration is required. Please call the historic site at 518-762-8712 to confirm your seat.

This event is part of a series commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution at New York state parks and historic sites and made possible by support from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the NYS 250th Commemoration Commission, and The Friends of Johnson Hall. For more events and information, visit https://parks.ny.gov/history/rev-war.

Johnson Hall is located at 139 Hall Avenue in Johnstown, NY. As the home of Sir William Johnson and Molly Brant, it served as a seat of trade and diplomacy on the borderlands of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee and British colonial holdings in North America. The Hall is open for guided tours Wednesday through Sunday from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October. For further information, please call (518) 762-8712, visit the site’s website or find Johnson Hall State Historic Site on Facebook.