Free talk at NY State Military Museum on March 29 focuses on Tory raid on Ballston in 1780

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK (03/24/2025) (readMedia)-- The role of the Saratoga County town of Ballston during the American Revolution will be the subject of a free talk at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs on Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m.

Ballston town historian Rick Reynolds will present a documentary titled "America 250: The Ballston Connection."

While the Battle of Saratoga tends to eclipse other Revolutionary War struggles in the region, small local skirmishes and the role of local people played a part in the larger struggle as well.

The film will focus on the October 17, 1780, raid on Ballston lead by Loyalists Captains John Munro and William Fraser. Munro had been a judge in Albany County, which then included the area, and Fraser had owned land in the town prior to the war. The two men led 200 Loyalist Soldiers in an attack on their former neighbors.

Reynolds will tell the story of what led up to the raid and its resaults.

Reynolds, who has been the Ballston Town historian since 2004 is a retired social studies teacher at O'Rourke Middle School in Burnt Hills. He is the author of the book " From Wilderness to Community: The Burnt-Hills-Ballston Kake Central School District."

Reynolds was named the National American History Teacher of the Year by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2003.

He also maintains a YouTube channel focusing on Ballston History called Ballston-The Historian's Perspective.

The New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center is administered by the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs. It is located at 61 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs.