American Genealogical Research Services

05/31/2026

From the Shores of England to the Swamps of Moore’s Creek

Born in England around 1742, George Newton crossed an ocean as a teenager and helped build both a community and a nation in the Carolina backcountry.

He left the old country with his brothers Isaac, Jacob, and Samuel in the 1750s, seeking land and opportunity. By 1762 he was already in New Hanover County, North Carolina. Soon after marrying Nancy Ann Moore, he claimed 200 acres on Thorn Branch — land he and Nancy had already settled and begun clearing. There, in the pine forests along Rockfish Creek, they helped establish Newton’s Crossroads, the tight-knit settlement that still carries their family name.

When the Revolution came, George stepped forward without hesitation. In February 1776, he marched with the New Hanover County militia to Moore’s Creek Bridge. There, standing behind the earthworks in the misty dawn, he helped deliver one of the first major Patriot victories of the war, turning back the British and their Highland Loyalist allies in a fierce, close-quarters fight. He later took the Oath of Allegiance to North Carolina in 1777 and continued serving in the militia while supplying provisions from his farm to support the cause.

George’s life was cut short in July 1782 at about age 40. He died suddenly leaving Nancy to raise their children and manage the estate. Though his time on earth was brief, he left behind a solid legacy — a thriving farm, a growing family, and the quiet courage of a man who answered the call when his new country needed him.
George Newton never sought glory. But like so many quiet patriots, he crossed an ocean, tamed raw land, answered the call to arms, and helped secure the liberty we enjoy today.

Drop a ❤️ if George’s journey moved you, or comment below with an ancestor you wish more people knew about.

05/30/2026

Forged in Red Clay and Revolution: The Life of Patriot John Lee

In the humid summer of 1739, along the red clay banks of Virginia’s Willis River in Goochland County, John Lee was born into a world of frontier hardship and opportunity.

The son of a blacksmith and a resourceful mother, John rose from modest beginnings to become a landowner, tavern keeper of the famed “Long Ordinary,” surveyor, and road overseer. He married, raised a large family, and built a prosperous life in Cumberland County before the winds of revolution swept through the colonies.

When war came, John answered the call. Commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Cumberland Militia, he guarded supply depots, led scouts along the rivers, seized Loyalist property, and defended Virginia’s coast. Later promoted to Captain, he served through the final years of the conflict, including operations with Lafayette, before helping secure the peace.

Widowed and remarried, John continued his public service as deputy sheriff, estate appraiser, and land developer. In his later years, he founded the town of Leesville on the Staunton River and left behind a remarkably detailed will that reveals a man of principle, faith, and meticulous fairness.

John Lee’s life — from colonial settler to Revolutionary officer to town founder — stands as a powerful example of the quiet strength and determination that built America.

His full story, along with other compelling patriot ancestor narratives, appears in the book: “Land Where My Father's Died: Untold Stories of My Father's Patriot Ancestors”

"Land Where My Fathers Died: Untold Stories of My Father's Patriot Ancestors" brings these real family stories to life with stunning full-color illustrations — a special commemorative feature for this first book in the series as America celebrates its 250th Anniversary in 2026.

Future books in the series will continue sharing these powerful Patriot ancestor stories.

Now Available
• Paperback – $47.99 (with beautiful full-color illustrations)
• Kindle – $8.99
• Direct from me – $45 (includes tax + shipping in continental U.S.)
Amazon Links:
→ Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H22H6XL4
→ Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX3B5556
Buy Direct: https://paypal.me/LeAnneMcCamey/45

If you love raw, personal American history that rarely makes it into textbooks, this book is for you. Perfect for passing down to the next generation as we celebrate 250 years of liberty.

What’s one story from your own family’s American past that inspires you? Drop it below — I’d love to hear! 👇

05/22/2026

From the Shadow of the Blue Ridge to the Bloodied Fields of Blackstock’s Farm 🇺🇸

In 1759, a boy named Thomas Dean was born in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. By seventeen, he was married and carving out a modest farmstead in the South Carolina backcountry with his young bride, Anne. They planted seeds in soil that promised plenty… but delivered only toil and war.

Thomas answered the call of liberty, mustering into the Spartanburg Regiment. He fought at Musgrove Mill, survived brutal partisan warfare, and likely gave his life on November 20, 1780, at the Battle of Blackstock’s Plantation — cut down in the smoke as Sumter’s “Gamecocks” clashed with Tarleton’s cavalry.

This is just one of the untold stories of ordinary patriots who sacrificed everything for the freedom we enjoy today.

"Land Where My Fathers Died: Untold Stories of My Father's Patriot Ancestors" brings these real family stories to life with stunning full-color illustrations — a special commemorative feature for this first book in the series as America approaches its 250th Anniversary in 2026.

Future books in the series will continue sharing these powerful Patriot ancestor stories (though without the full-color interior).

Now Available
• Paperback – $47.99 (with beautiful full-color illustrations)
• Kindle – $8.99
• Direct from me – $45 (includes tax + shipping in continental U.S.)
Amazon Links:
→ Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H22H6XL4
→ Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX3B5556
Buy Direct: https://paypal.me/LeAnneMcCamey/45

If you love raw, personal American history that rarely makes it into textbooks, this book is for you. Perfect for passing down to the next generation as we celebrate 250 years of liberty.

What’s one story from your own family’s American past that inspires you? Drop it below — I’d love to hear! 👇

05/18/2026

It’s Official — My Book is NOW LIVE on Amazon!

Land Where My Fathers Died
Untold Stories of My Father’s Patriot Ancestors

📖 Now Available:

Paperback – $47.99
Kindle – $8.99
Direct from Me (Signed Copies) – $45 (includes tax + shipping in continental U.S.)
Each signed copy comes with a personal signature, handwritten note.

Amazon Links:
→ Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H22H6XL4
→ Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX3B5556
Buy Direct (Signed Copy):
https://paypal.me/LeAnneMcCamey/45

If you enjoy American history, Patriot ancestor stories, or heartfelt family legacies, I would be truly grateful if you’d grab a copy and leave an honest review. Every review helps new readers discover these stories.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who supported me on this journey ❤️

Drop a 🔥 or comment “I’m in!” below if you plan to read it!

Land Where My Fathers Died: Untold Stories of My Father's Patriot Ancestors

05/13/2026

🎉 My Book is Officially Out!
Land Where My Fathers Died: Untold Stories of My Father’s Patriot Ancestors

After years of research, writing, and digging through old records, I’m incredibly excited to finally share this book with you.
This is not another dry history book. These are real stories of ordinary men and women — rebels, survivors, refugees, and everyday heroes — whose courage and determination helped shape early America and the principles we still hold dear today.

📖 Available now in Paperback and Kindle
Pricing:

• Amazon Paperback: $47.99 (with free shipping for Prime members)
Amazon links will be added as soon as they go live (should be within the next few days)

• Direct from Author (signed): $45.00 (includes tax + shipping within continental U.S.) PM me for purchase orders. Every direct sale helps support independent authors like me and comes with a personal signature, handwritten note.

If you love American history, family stories, Patriot ancestors, or tales of real courage and resilience, I’d be honored if you’d check it out and leave a review.

Drop a 🔥 or comment “I’m in!” below if you’re planning to grab a copy!

Thank you all for your support on this incredible journey ❤️

05/11/2026

Meet a True American Patriot: William M. McKemey (c. 1717–1805)

Born around 1717 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, to Ulster-Scots immigrants John and Margaret MaKemie, William grew up in a world shaped by faith, hard work, and fierce independence. As a young man he lost his father, then joined his brothers on the long journey down the Great Wagon Road to the raw frontier of the Shenandoah Valley.

There, in what would become Rockbridge County, Virginia, he married Ann McCown, raised six sons, and carved a life from the wilderness. He survived the brutal raids of the French and Indian War, serving as a militiaman and supplying the defense of Kerr’s Creek. Later, during the American Revolution, while his six sons marched off to fight for independence, William — then in his early sixties — continued serving on the home front: surveying and maintaining vital roads, supporting the militia, and holding the family farm together.

A respected landowner, community leader, and Presbyterian elder, William lived to see the nation his family helped build. When he wrote his will in 1805 at nearly 88 years old, he divided his land fairly among his sons with the same honesty and thoughtfulness that defined his life.

William M. McKemey was never famous. He was something better — a quiet, steadfast patriot who helped settle the frontier, defended it in two wars, and left a legacy of resilience that still runs in the blood of his descendants today.

We stand on the shoulders of men like him.

🕊️ Honoring our Scotch-Irish pioneer ancestors

05/08/2026

📖 Coming Soon – Stories that built America
In the turbulent currents of history, ordinary people are often swept into extraordinary roles.

This book tells the true stories of three remarkable men whose lives helped shape early America:
A 15-year-old Jacobite rebel captured at the Battle of Preston and sent in chains to Virginia… who rose to become a prosperous planter.

A settler who rowed through the night to warn Jamestown and helped save the colony from annihilation during the 1622 Powhatan uprising.

A French Huguenot refugee, captured in battle, who escaped and later surveyed the dividing line between Virginia and North Carolina — a border that still exists today.

These are not tales of kings and generals, but of resilience, courage, and quiet determination. Men and women like them forged the fundamental character of America — the spirit that would later fuel the fight for independence and the birth of a republic built on liberty and self-reliance.

If you love real history, underdog stories, and the hidden roots of American identity, this book is for you.

Who’s excited to read these stories? Drop a 🔥 or comment below!
More updates, cover reveal, and release date coming very soon.

05/06/2026

After years of research and many late nights, my book "Land Where My Fathers Died: Untold Stories of My Father’s Patriot Ancestors" is almost ready!
This is a labor of love honoring the real men and women — immigrants, farmers, militia members — who helped build America.
Here’s a first look at the cover and some interior pages.
Would love to hear what you think!
Launching very soon — I’ll keep you posted! 🇺🇸📖

05/05/2026

From Rebel Prisoner to Virginia Patriarch: The Incredible Journey of George Marjoribanks

In the early 1700s, a young Scottish boy named George Marjoribanks was born into hardship on the windswept shores of East Lothian. Orphaned by famine, raised in the shadow of betrayal and broken dreams, he joined the Jacobite Rising of 1715 at just 15 years old. Captured at the Battle of Preston, tried for treason, and sentenced to be transported across the ocean in chains aboard the Elizabeth and Anne, George’s story could have ended in tragedy.
But it didn’t.

He survived the hellish voyage, stepped onto the wharves of Yorktown, Virginia in 1716, and — through grit, resilience, and a rare act of mercy — built a new life. He anglicized his name to Marchbanks, married Ann Echols, patented 400 acres in Amelia County, and became a respected to***co planter and father to at least ten children.

From Jacobite rebel to American patriarch, George’s life is a powerful testament to the unbreakable spirit of our immigrant ancestors and the complex path that helped forge this nation.
His story — along with many other untold tales of courage, survival, and quiet patriotism — is featured in the upcoming book:
📖 Land Where My Fathers Died: Untold Stories of My Father’s Patriot Ancestors
Coming in 2026

If you love real American history, family sagas, and stories that remind us where we came from… this book is for you.
Who else has a rebel, a survivor, or a quiet hero hiding in their family tree? Drop their name or a short story below — I’d love to hear!

04/30/2026

🕯️ Meet Ursula Marchbanks Dean — one of the quiet heroines of the American Revolution.

Born in the backwoods of Virginia around 1728, Ursula grew up in a world of woodsmoke, spinning wheels, and relentless hard work. She buried her father as a child, married into uncertainty during the French and Indian War, and raised a family on the Carolina frontier while the colonies hurtled toward revolution.

She managed her household through British foraging parties, runaway inflation, and heartbreaking loss. While her husband Charles served in the Guilford militia, Ursula held the home together. She heard the thunder of cannons at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse just miles away. She mourned sons lost to war and imprisonment. And she carried on — through widowhood, migration, and old age — weaving cloth, tending gardens, and passing down stories of Scottish exiles and American grit.
Hers is a story of quiet, unbreakable endurance.

Ursula’s life — along with many other remarkable Patriot ancestors — comes alive in the upcoming book:
Land Where My Fathers Died: Untold Stories of My Father’s Patriot Ancestors
(Coming 2026)

These aren’t the famous generals and signers you read about in textbooks. These are the farmers, millers, mothers, and militia men who actually built this country with plow, prayer, and perseverance.
If you love deep family history, Revolutionary War stories from the Southern backcountry, or tales of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, this book is for you.

Drop a ❤️ or comment “URSULA” below if you’d like to hear more of her story as we get closer to release. I’ll be sharing more ancestors in the coming months.
Can’t wait to share this journey with you.