Mary Ryan presents ‘Redcoats & Rebels’ April 10 in Jaffrey

On April 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Jaffrey Civic Center, the Jaffrey Historical Society will host “Redcoats & Rebels: New Hampshire and the American Revolution,” a history presentation given by Mary Ryan, currently the operations manager for Pursuit of History Weekends.

Few people know about Paul Revere’s first ride, which was to Portsmouth in December 1774 to warn the patriots that the British were coming to reinforce Fort William and Mary, five months before the Redcoats marched on Concord and Lexington. Nor do they know that two-thirds of the troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill were from New Hampshire. People may also be unaware that New Hampshire’s Provincial Congress adopted the first state constitution in January 1776, making no mention of royal authority and essentially declaring independence from Great Britain six months before anyone else. 

Following a Jaffrey Historical Society members-only potluck supper that begins at 5 p.m., the public is invited to attend this historical presentation that begins at 6:30 p.m. There is no admission charge. The talk will run for about 50 minutes, followed by a 10- to 15-minute question-and-answer period.

Adams was born and raised in New Hampshire, and her passion for history and storytelling led her to become a tour guide at various locations, including San Francisco, Boston and Glacier National Park. Currently, Adams serves as operations manager for Pursuit of History Weekends, where she coordinates specially curated experiences aimed at inspiring broader public engagement with history. She is also on staff at the New Hampshire Historical Society, where she has played a role in presenting the Granite State Stories programs for HTG in 2023 and 2024.

Adams narrates many of the society’s video productions, including virtual field trips for children, and delivers workshops for adult audiences on organizing cemetery tours and scavenger hunts. Additionally, she trains the society’s museum educators.

The Jaffrey Civic Center is at 40 Main St. in Jaffrey.