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Telegraph
29-04-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Who Do You Think You Are? review: Mishal Husain uncovers a history of surgeons, scholars and soldiers
I don't like to make sweeping generalisations, but all Indian parents want their children to be doctors with an Oxbridge or Harvard degree. A lawyer, if the kid is a bit dim. The really rogue ones become dentists. So doctor's daughter Mishal Husain was delighted, in the latest episode of Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC One), when she discovered that her ancestors had excelled in both areas. Her great-great-grandfather turned out to have been surgeon to a maharajah despite being of mixed race, which meant that his job opportunities were supposed to be limited. The maharajah even took him for an audience with Prince Albert, grandson of Queen Victoria. Going back further, she learnt that a distant forefather had attended Harvard. Records showed that, at one point, Joseph Farley was thrown out of college for staging a protest about the food, but was later allowed to complete his studies. This came as a great relief to Husain, who said: 'I'm an Asian parent, so I'm very worried about a student not getting their degree.' Joseph graduated with honours and won a prize for his dissertation. 'This could be something that my boys try and emulate,' she mused. Husain had already delved into her family tree to write a book about her grandparents, but information about earlier generations had been harder to come by. The link to a maharajah had been bandied around but dismissed as a tall tale. Husain had assumed that one side of the family had roots in Ireland, because her grandmother was an Anglo-Indian named Mary Quinn, but instead she was able to trace them back to the United States. To its very founding, in fact. Her six times great-grandfather, Michael Farley, was an ally of George Washington and 'pretty much in the room where it happened'. One of Farley's sons, Jabez, fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Boston. There was an extraordinary moment at the end where Husain travelled to Ipswich, Massachusetts, and found a plaque in the library commemorating Farley and his four sons as 'soldiers of the Revolution'. Who Do You Think You Are? can be frustrating when the subject's ancestors come from peasant stock, because the historical records often don't go much further than certificates of births, deaths and marriages, with the occasional newspaper report thrown in about a great-uncle going to jail. Husain's distinguished family history came with ample documentation – Harvard has an extensive archive – and also some uncomfortable information: Joseph Farley left America to seek his fortune as a planter, on a sugar plantation which would have used indentured labour. 'That's not a very happy thing to find out,' Husain said. The programme began with the always-elegant Husain in the BBC newsroom – now rather out of date, because she quit in December for a new job at Bloomberg. On the Today programme, She was known for her sharp intellect and a coolness when approaching even the most incendiary topics. Here she was warmer, intrigued by every new discovery and bursting with pride by the end. She was only sad that her father, who died nine years ago, was not around to share the experience.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New USPS stamps commemorate historic Massachusetts' battles
Although the weekend's battle reenactments are over, people can still connect with the 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord through new commemorative stamps. The pane of 15 watercolor-painted 'forever' stamps, created by the United States Postal Service (USPS), depicts scenes of five battles that occurred during the American Revolution, the USPS recently explained on its website. This includes the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place in the early morning of April 19, 1775, when British troops marched 14 miles from Boston to Lexington's town green. By day's end, the fighting continued around 7 miles west of Concord and some 250 British and 95 colonists were killed or wounded. One stamp shows the North Bridge in Concord. Colonial militia from Concord faced British regulars and a brief fight resulted in what many refer to as 'the shot heard 'round the world,' according to the National Park Service website. 'The Battle of Lexington and Concord ignited outrage in Massachusetts,' the USPS statement reads. 'And showed the potential of citizen soldiers relying on local organizing and knowledge of their home terrain, to confront the highly trained and professional British military.' Some of the stamps honor the Battle of Bunker Hill, which was fought primarily on Breed's Hill in Charlestown. The painted stamps also depict the Battle of Trenton, which highlights George Washington and his oarsmen crossing the Delaware River from Pennsylvania into New Jersey. Scenes from the Battles of Saratoga were also created. This event took place in New York and resulted in America forming international allies. The stamps also show the Battle of Yorktown, which prompted the British to surrender and resulted in America gaining its independence. The stamps were designed by USPS's art director, Derry Noyes. Greg Harlin created the illustrations, and the photographs came from Jon Bilous, Richard Lewis, Tom Morris, Gregory J. Parker and Kevin Stewart. Customers can purchase the Forever Stamps for $10.95 through the Postal Store. Mass. casino winner: Jackpot prize won on slot machine Wednesday morning Hundreds of experts: US sliding toward authoritarianism America first? More like 'America last.' Mass. Gov. Healey slams Trump during MSNBC interview Terrorism concerns prompt travel advisory in this country GOP congressman asks audience 'Don't boo' after Elon Musk, DOGE remarks 12aa Read the original article on MassLive. Read the original article on MassLive. Read the original article on MassLive.
Boston Globe
05-04-2025
- Boston Globe
In Vermont, a bid to save some waterlogged history
Moisture has been seeping into the monument since it was built in 1889, slowly filling voids and crevices in its walls and steadily weakening its masonry. If something isn't done to remove the water and reinforce parts that are already damaged, experts say, the monument will eventually collapse. State officials say they are committed to restoring the obelisk so that it will last another century — because of its historical significance commemorating a key Revolutionary War battle and because it is one of Vermont's most popular tourist destinations. But they also recently announced that a full restoration would cost Advertisement 'Historic preservation is important,' Orton said, 'but when it becomes a fool's errand we should hit the pause button.' Advertisement State officials are now trying to figure out a way to raise enough money to restore the monument without using tax revenue. They say it's still structurally sound and will be ready to receive visitors when it opens for the season in May, The state has spent about $1 million over the last few years to make the most urgent repairs and assess the damage from water. For a full restoration, officials said removing the trapped water alone would cost $10 million and another $30 million would be needed for repairs to strengthen the foundation and walls. Tearing down the monument, which officials said would be a logistical and safety nightmare, would cost about $20 million, they said. Among the arguments for restoring the monument is economics. The monument annually brings 40,000 visitors, and untold tourism dollars, to the Bennington area, according to James Duggan, the director of preservation for Vermont historic sites. The site's visitor logs show people from all 50 states and 34 countries have visited. But many say the most compelling reason is simply the history it represents. 'If we don't know our history, we don't know who we are or how we got here,' said Marylou Chicote, the monument's site administrator. The monument commemorates a pivotal victory over British forces in August of 1777, one that helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War in the favor of the Americans. The American forces were led by General John Stark, a native of New Hampshire, who was a hero at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Boston two years earlier. (The Bennington monument is similar to the Bunker Hill Monument but 85 feet taller.) Advertisement At Bennington, Stark led his charges into battle, telling them, 'There are your enemies, the Redcoats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow.' That famous quote adorns a statue of General Stark that stands at the foot of the monument. Stark's wife, Molly, who raised 11 children while her husband was off fighting, is as revered around here as much as the general. There's a statue of Molly Stark in nearby Wilmington. There's also a Molly Stark Elementary School in Bennington. The monument itself pervades local culture, appearing on signs of shops and businesses around Bennington, from an antique shop to a window cleaning company. 'The monument resonates deeply with Vermonters, and it's very important locally, to our region and our state,' said Laura Trieschmann, the state's historic preservation officer. She said she appreciates 'the same thoughts the naysayers have: How could it cost this much?' 'But,' she added, 'over the decades we have been reactive. We've only taken the repairs so far. Now we've looked at it for two and a half years, we know what needs to be done.' She said officials are exploring a combination of foundation and grant money, and fund-raising. Tax money is not in the mix, she said. 'The reaction we're getting is overwhelmingly positive,' she said. When construction of the monument was first mooted a century-and-a-half ago, Hiland Hall, a Bennington-born, former Vermont governor lobbied to build it so high that it would draw travelers passing through the area. Chicote said a sizable portion of visitors show up for that reason. On a recent spring-like day, Bruce and Susan Guarino, visiting Vermont from Mystic, Conn., were driving through Bennington when they spied the monument in the distance and drove to see it up up close. Advertisement They said learning about the history of the battle, and how it helped turn the tide in a war that gave birth to this country, was revelatory. They said they'd be willing to contribute money to restore the monument. 'There is no price tag for our history,' Susan Guarino said. 'We have an obligation to keep these important historic sites for future generations.' Kevin Cullen is a Globe reporter and columnist who roams New England. He can be reached at
Boston Globe
26-02-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Commonwealth Museum to host exhibit honoring Massachusetts' revolutionary history
The exhibition, titled 'Upon Such Ground: Massachusetts and the Birth of the Revolution,' will be held at the Commonwealth Museum, located inside the Massachusetts Archives building at 220 Morrissey Blvd, starting on March 17, and will feature dozens of original mid-to-late 18th-century artifacts from before and after the Revolutionary War. Many of the artifacts have rarely been displayed due to their delicate nature, and are typically stored in a climate-controlled vault, according to Debra O'Malley, director of communications for Galvin. Advertisement The exhibition will be unveiled after a reception celebrating the anniversary of Evacuation Day, which commemorates the British evacuation following the nearly yearlong Siege of Boston. It will open to the public the following day and remain on display until June 17, the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, one of the first major battles of the Revolutionary War. Key artifacts that will be featured in the exhibition include: Bunker Hill Drum: A drum purportedly used at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Buttrick Sword: The sword of Major John Buttrick, the officer who gave the order to fire on the British at Concord's North Bridge. Royal Proclamation of 1763: An original copy of the proclamation issued by King George III prohibiting western expansion beyond the Appalachian Mountains following the French and Indian War. Scholars often cite this as a contributing cause of the American Revolution. Watertown Treaty of 1776: A treaty signed between the Massachusetts Provincial Council and the Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Mi'kmaq tribes, establishing a military alliance. It is often cited as the first foreign treaty signed by the United States. Boston Massacre Trial Papers: Documents from the Supreme Judicial Court Archives related to the prosecution of British soldiers following the Boston Massacre. Paul Revere Bill: Paul Revere's bill for a series of rides for the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. Prince Hall Petition (1777): A legislative petition by Prince Hall, famed abolitionist and leader of Boston's free Black community, calling for the abolition of slavery. Letter to the Provincial Congress from John Hancock: A letter from Hancock, then-president of the Continental Congress, transmitting a list of appointments for general officers in the Continental Army. A Resolve Electing Massachusetts Delegates to the First Continental Congress: A document electing Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams, Robert Treat Paine, James Bowdoin and John Adams as representatives, to meet with other colonial committees in Philadelphia to consider measures to restore harmony with Great Britain. Two Discharges of African American Veterans Signed by George Washington. Paul Revere's Engraving Plate of the Occupation of Boston (1768). O'Malley said the exhibition's focus is on the role Massachusetts played in America's separation from Great Britain. Related : 'Without Massachusetts, there is no American Revolution—and potentially no United States,' O'Malley said. All artifacts will be available for viewing on March 18, the first day the exhibition will be open to the whole public. After that, select items will be available for viewing on a rotating basis only, for the sake of preserving the artifacts, O'Malley said. Nathan Metcalf can be reached at
