Connecticut Patriot's Sacrifice Highlights America 250 Program in Lafayette

As communities across the nation commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the story of one Revolutionary War soldier reminds us that the fight for independence came at a tremendous personal cost for thousands of ordinary American families.

One such Patriot was Jonathan Smith, an ancestor of Acalanes Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) member Alyce T.

Born on March 16, 1742, in Suffield, Connecticut, Jonathan Smith married Bethia Doolittle, and together they were raising five young children when he left home to serve his country as a private in the 5th Connecticut Regiment.

On October 4, 1777, Smith fought in the Battle of Germantown, one of General George Washington's most ambitious efforts to defeat the British after they captured Philadelphia. Washington launched a bold pre-dawn attack, but dense fog, smoke, and confusion caused American units to become separated. In the chaos, some Patriot troops mistakenly fired on one another, contributing to the breakdown of the assault. Although the battle ended in defeat, Washington's willingness to take the offensive impressed both Americans and potential French allies and demonstrated that the Continental Army remained determined to continue the fight.

The battle came at a heavy price. Nearly 1,000 American soldiers were killed, wounded, captured, or reported missing. Jonathan Smith was among those listed as missing in action. He never returned home.

Four months later, on February 1, 1778, Bethia gave birth to the couple's sixth child, a son who would never know his father. She never remarried, raising all six children on her own while preserving Jonathan's legacy.

"Stories like Jonathan Smith's remind us that the American Revolution was shaped not only by famous leaders such as George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, but also by ordinary families whose sacrifices made independence possible," said Terry Lucido, Regent of the Acalanes Chapter, NSDAR.

Jonathan and Bethia Smith's story is one of many family histories that bring the Revolutionary era to life and illustrate how the Declaration of Independence affected people far beyond Philadelphia.

Those stories are the focus of a free public presentation by historian Emily Sneff, author of the award-winning book When the Declaration of Independence Was News, on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center.

Drawing on years of research, Sneff will explore how news of the Declaration spread across the colonies in 1776 and how ordinary Americans experienced the Revolution in their own communities.

The program is presented by the Acalanes Chapter, NSDAR, in partnership with the Lafayette Historical Society, Orinda Historical Society, Moraga Historical Society, and The Commonwealth Club as part of the nationwide America 250commemoration.

The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are requested: eventbrite.com/e/author-event-when-the-declaration-of-independence-was-news-by-emily-sneff-tickets-1988023389474?aff=oddtdtcreator