Rev War Forensic Institute

10/23/2025

We LOVE sharing our work with our stakeholders and genetic relatives of the Camden Fourteen!

A new project participant who actually matches both of the subjects we're working with right now just sent us some of his own research about his Revolutionary War ancestor Henry Bray from North Carolina.

Colonial research is tedious and time consuming so this sharing of information between enthusiasts is why we turn on the lights every morning and grab our first cup of coffee. It's our passion!

10/22/2025

Thanks to Garden & Gun Magazine for the story on our work with the Camden Fourteen!

In Camden, South Carolina, archaeologists are tackling some of America’s oldest cold cases

10/16/2025

"Their participation was 100% voluntary. I don't think there is anything I've found in the course of human storytelling that is more profound than an individual not giving in to fear, and then, holding on through the entire endeavor until it is seen to its conclusion. That requires wherewithal and that requires also a common purpose that says again and again in our own history, 'we are all in this together.'" - Tom Hanks

We're often asked why we chose to excavate and rebury 14 Revolutionary War combatants, and then make the decision to study their DNA.

It's because it was the right thing to do.

Relic hunters disturbing their battlefield burials to retrieve musket balls and buttons, and erosion leaving their bones sticking out of the ground was less than what these heroes deserved.

The words Tom Hanks recently shared with an audience screening the new PBS documentary on the Revolution reflect exactly why we want to remember them.

These men stood until the bloodbath at Camden was over. No one made them do it. They followed an inner call to throw off tyranny.

We do this work to tell their stories and to give them the honor they are due.

10/15/2025

Thanks to all of you who commented on the We Are The Mighty article on our Battle of Camden DNA research. Due to technical difficulties, the article share has been taken down, but you can still find the link for it in the comment below.

10/10/2025

Our team has been on location at the this week chasing down elusive Pumphrey, Griffith, and Ridgely family connections for our fallen soldier Camden 9B. Thanks board of advisors member Owen Lourie for sneaking the photo!

10/09/2025

The RWFI team is hunkered down this week at the Maryland State Archives seeking elusive maiden names and family connections between common ancestors for our Camden fallen soldier 9B.

Thanks to Board of Advisors member, Owen Lourie of MSA for sneaking the photo!

10/01/2025

We're often asked about the British Highlander who was discovered during the excavation and preservation of the remains of 14 Battle of Camden combatants. Board of Advisors member, James Legg recently penned this update on his 2024 reburial. We hope that new DNA extractions for this subject will yield his genetic profile and allow us to add his name to his headstone.

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09/28/2025

For those of you in Maryland who have written in to help with our research!

Team FHD is headed to the Maryland State Archives! We're closing in on our first Camden combatant's identity and will be digging deep for the proof documents for our reveal later this winter.

Due to the many people who have written to us asking how they can help with research, we're opening up our work sessions to incorporate experienced archival researchers who want to assist.

Here is the link for joining us on this work session, or other research gatherings, as well as our upcoming genealogy hackathon next month. Click the "Volunteer' button!

https://revwarforensicinstitute.org/join/

09/08/2025

Welcome, CBS Saturday Morning viewers! If you have colonial Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, or Delaware ancestry, please go straight to our Join page and click the blue JOIN button to participate in our once in a lifetime investigation to name the Camden fallen.

There are several ways to support the Rev War Forensic Institute and its programs. We welcome your DNA samples for our Battle of Camden fallen soldiers’ investigation, as well as historical research volunteers and funding assistance with our work.

09/06/2025

In case you missed our story live this morning, here is Bradley Blackburn’s feature about our project studying the DNA of the Camden 14.

09/05/2025

Check out our CBS Saturday Morning story tomorrow!