Beyond the Legend: Jane McCrea, Indigenous Warriors, and Revolutionary War Narratives with Blake Grindon
In this episode of Historians & Their Histories, Dr. Blake Grindon examines the 1777 death of Jane McCrea during the British Saratoga campaign and how this event became a powerful propaganda tool in the American Revolution. Dr. Grindon discusses how McCrea’s story in which she was allegedly killed by Native warriors allied with the British spread rapidly through newspapers across the thirteen states and even reached parliamentary speeches in Britain and French newspapers. Dr. Grindon’s work also examines the military and diplomatic roles of diverse Native nations during the Revolution, challenging narratives that overlook Indigenous political sovereignty and agency during this period.
Dr. Grindon is the recipient of a fellowship from the New England Regional Fellowship Consortium, which is administered by the Massachusetts Historical Society.
To learn more about MHS fellowships and how to apply, please visit this page.
Episode Special Guest:
Dr. Blake Grindon is an independent historian based in Philadelphia. She is at work on a book about the death of Jane McCrea.
This episode uses materials from:
Colocate by Podington Bear (Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported)
