Local College Professor Writes Book on New Hampshire's Role in American Revolution for Semiquincentennial

HOLLIS, NH—New Hampshire historian and college president William Fahey has published a fascinating study of New Hampshire’s decisive role in the American Revolution. While teaching a summer course to students at Thomas More College, Fahey discovered several neglected documents written over a century ago by the Sons of the American Revolution. Fahey and his students delighted in reading these essays, which were originally given as speeches on historical occasions. Edited now in six groundbreaking essays, these constitute a complete history of New Hampshire and the American Revolution.

“New Hampshire is one of the oldest American colonies and one of the tiniest,” said Fahey “But its small size obscures the mighty importance of its role in the American War of Independence. New Hampshire was one of the first colonies to assert control over its own militia and seize gunpowder from imperial control.” Readers will be surprised at what they discover. “Many people never learned—even here in the New Hampshire—that we sent more men to Bunker Hill than any other colony, we created the first state constitution, and declared independence months before the rest of America. The Granite State provided heroes and generals in every major military campaign and cast the decisive votes for the ratification of the America’s federal constitution.”

The book is filled with over 150 illustrations, advice on how to study the American Revolution—especially New Hampshire’s role—tips on building good history library, how to become more involved in local history and reenactment, and key documents that every Granite Stater should know.

Fahey’s New Hampshire and Independence is available in paperback and hardback from The History Press / Arcadia Publishing and other bookseller.

William Fahey lives in Hollis with his wife and family. He is the President of Thomas More College of Liberal Arts (Merrimack), where he has taught History and Humanities for over thirty years. He was educated in the United States and Scotland, and has pursued advanced studies in military history. Fahey is an active member of several organizations dedicated to supporting the commemoration and study of early America, including the Sons of the American Revolution and the New Hampshire Historical Society. In 2024 he was appointed the Historian of the New Hampshire Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.