Episode 62 • My Ancestor Survived 1776: Peter Kern and the Pennsylvania Flying Camp

In this episode of Patriot Power Podcast, I share the deeply personal story that reshaped how I understand the American Revolution.

Peter Kern, my fifth great-grandfather, served in the Pennsylvania Flying Camp during the most dangerous year of the war, 1776. His service placed him in the chaos of the Battle of Long Island, the retreat north under George Washington, the desperate fighting at White Plains, and the collapse of Fort Washington, moments when the Revolution nearly ended before it truly began.

This is not a story of famous generals or easy victories. It is the story of ordinary men who endured defeat, retreat, hunger, uncertainty, and the constant threat of capture, then returned home to rebuild their communities when the fighting ended.

It is also the story of a family, the Kern brothers, who served in different ways through the Flying Camp and Pennsylvania militia, showing how the Revolution was carried by families and neighbors, not just armies.

Standing at Peter Kern’s grave and walking through the remains of his grist mill changed history from something I studied into something I inherited. This episode explores that transformation, and why remembering these quieter stories matters just as much as remembering the famous ones.

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