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A Tory in
A Free AHS Behind the Scenes RevWar Zoom Event
An English Tory in Old Town:
an Examination of the Journals of Nicholas Cresswell
An English Tory in Old Town:
an Examination of the Journals of Nicholas Cresswell
Ken Bancroft
Public Historian
Monday, March 9th
7 to 8 pm, via Zoom
No cost but Registration is required
Examination of the Journals of Nicholas Cresswell
Examination of the Journals of Nicholas Cresswell
In the early years of the American Revolution, a young Englishman was caught between his loyalty to the crown and his ambition in Virginia. The Journals of Nicholas Cresswell offer a unique primary source on life in the colonies on the eve of the Revolution from what could be described as a ‘Tory’ point of view. From 1774 through 1777 Cresswell witnessed and wrote about everything from the merchants, preachers, politicians, parades, parties, and the Committee of Safety in Old Town. Cresswell is both entertaining and informative and is an important addition to our revolutionary story.
Ken Bancroft pursued humanities and European studies through the Honors College at Portland State University, earning his Bachelor of History in 1998. After “paying the bills” in the music and then pharmaceutical industries, Ken returned to his roots, completing his Master’s in Public History from American Public University in 2025. His practicum, entitled “Reflections on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution in Loudoun County, Virginia: an Oral History Project with the Members of the Loudoun 250 Committee” created a primary source about the people and organizations involved in Loudoun’s commemoration of the Semiquincentennial from a local perspective.
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Working at the Historic Records and Deed Division at the Loudoun County Circuit Court, Ken co-authored an informational pamphlet Loudoun’s Revolutionary War Records and currently publishes and edits nicholascresswell.blog. He is actively researching and writing about Nicholas Cresswell for other online journals and public history displays.
This talk continues the Alexandria Historical Society 2026 America250 programming. We are presenting new perspectives on this defining event in the nation’s history, especially in our local area.
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