{"id":9407,"date":"2015-01-16T16:21:24","date_gmt":"2015-01-16T16:21:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=9407"},"modified":"2015-01-16T16:21:24","modified_gmt":"2015-01-16T16:21:24","slug":"revolutionary-patriot-george-shell-fought-two-wars-simultaneously","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/revolutionary-patriot-george-shell-fought-two-wars-simultaneously.html","title":{"rendered":"Revolutionary Patriot George Shell Fought Two Wars Simultaneously"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Revolutionary War patriot George Shell died in 1818, newspapers in Maine, Massachusetts, and New York carried the news \u2013 but they each gave him a single-line obituary.<\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Weekly Eastern Argus (Portland, Maine), 25 August 1818, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"obituary<\/a>
Salem Gazette (Salem, Massachusetts), 18 August 1818, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"obituary<\/a>
Columbian (New York, New York), 15 August 1818, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, Revolutionary War veteran George Shell deserved much more; the man fought two wars simultaneously, as detailed in this longer obituary found in another old newspaper.<\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Albany Gazette (Albany, New York), 15 August 1818, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shell faithfully served in his local Albany, New York, regiment \u2013 against the wishes of his father, \u201cwho was attached to the royal cause.\u201d So Shell had to fight two wars simultaneously, against the British and his own family. Upon his return to Albany, Shell found himself abandoned and rejected by the family patriarch; George\u2019s father would never forgive him.<\/p>\n

However, Shell created a new family for himself in the capital city. He ran a local barber shop and kept the men of Albany looking clean, sharp, and dapper. His funeral drew a significant crowd upon his death, reflecting his service to the town and the esteem his fellow citizens had for him.<\/p>\n

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Thanks to GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>, we learn that no one\u2019s life story is truly one line. George Shell was a respected barber who stood up for his beliefs and fought for his country during its war for independence. While many simply fought the British army, George also bore the cross of a family who abandoned him because they supported the crown. Thanks to the preserved records of the Albany Gazette<\/em>, we know the depth of this veteran\u2019s sacrifice. We feel enriched and motivated to sacrifice for what we know is right.<\/p>\n

Sign up to GenealogyBank today and find your ancestors\u2019 stories!<\/p>\n

Note:<\/em><\/strong> FamilySearch International (FamilySearch.org<\/a>) and GenealogyBank are partnering to make over a billion records from historical obituaries searchable online. The tremendous undertaking will make a billion records from over 100 million U.S. newspaper obituaries readily searchable online. The newspapers are from all 50 states and cover the period 1730 to the present.\u00a0 Find out more at: https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/family-search\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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