General John Glover: Conflict & Community Series Celebrates Revolutionary War Hero
Sea chanteys, living history, and preservation efforts unite to honor Marblehead’s unsung Revolutionary War general on April 29
Conflict & Community Series Honors General John Glover
Essex Heritage and Salem Maritime National Historical Park invite the public to a memorable evening of music, history, and conversation as the Conflict & Community: Salem, Essex County, and the American Revolution lecture series continues. The next program, “General John Glover: Unsung Hero of the Revolution,” takes place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, Massachusetts. Admission is free and open to the public.
The evening will feature a rousing performance by Scurvy Fellows Indeed. Following the performance, presentations from three distinguished speakers will illuminate different dimensions of Glover’s remarkable life and legacy. The speakers include historian Robert Booth, living historian and reenactor Larry Sands, and scholar Nancy Lusignan Schultz.
Scurvy Fellows Indeed: Setting the Stage with Sea Chanteys
The program opens with a spirited performance by Scurvy Fellows Indeed, a Marblehead-based ensemble of 18th-century privateers. Their rollicking sea chanteys bring the sounds of the Revolutionary-era waterfront to life. The group comprises Larry Sands, Peter Franklin, Ken Harris, and David Goss. They perform the traditional maritime songs of the age of sail, with audience sing-alongs strongly encouraged.
Rooted in the same North Shore communities that produced John Glover and his famous Marblehead Regiment, Scurvy Fellows Indeed has performed at events across the region. Additionally, they have lent their voices to numerous heritage causes, including fundraising efforts for the preservation of General Glover’s historic farmhouse.
About the Presenters
Robert Booth: Marblehead Roots and Family Ties
Robert Booth is a preservation consultant, architectural historian, and author based in Gloucester whose books focus on maritime history. Last year he received the City of Gloucester Preservation Award for the restoration of his 1750s home. He has served as director-curator of the Manchester-by-the-Sea Museum and as an advisor to the Smithsonian on women’s history. Furthermore, he is the author of The Women of Marblehead, the only book-length examination of the role of women in a 19th-century town.
He is currently at work on a book about Marblehead from 1675 to 1740, tracing its evolution from a fishing village to a commercial seaport. Booth will explore how Glover’s Marblehead roots and family ties shaped his path to becoming a Revolutionary War hero.
Larry Sands: Bringing Battlefield Career to Life
Larry Sands is a retired banker and consultant who has been a Revolutionary War reenactor for more than 35 years. He serves as Captain of Glover’s Marblehead Regiment, an active reenactment unit that has participated in events from North Carolina to Quebec. Notably, Sands has personally rowed George Washington across the Delaware River during a reenactment, marched nine miles to Trenton, New Jersey, and fought in the streets of Trenton in commemoration of one of the Revolution’s most pivotal engagements.
He is also Chairman of the Fort Sewall Oversight Committee, charged with restoring and maintaining an historic 1644 fort in Marblehead. Recently, he helped raise $1.8 million to complete a significant restoration. Sands will bring Glover’s battlefield career to life with a lively overview of his major engagements and accomplishments.
Nancy Lusignan Schultz: Preserving General Glover’s Legacy
Nancy Lusignan Schultz, Ph.D., is Chair of the Swampscott Historical Commission and a leader in the ongoing effort to preserve the General John Glover farmhouse at 299 Salem Street in Swampscott. A professor emeritus of Salem State University, she is the author and editor of six published books and numerous academic articles.
She has been a visiting professor at Boston College and Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. Moreover, she has held fellowships through the National Endowment for the Humanities and Harvard University’s Center for the Study of World Religion. Her essays have appeared in national publications including The Chronicle of Higher Education, American Heritage Magazine, and Early American Life.
Schultz is a founder of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Society and the invited editor of the poetry volume of the Collected Works of Harriet Beecher Stowe to be published by Oxford University Press. She will share the latest news on the effort to preserve General Glover’s historic farmhouse.
Recognition for an Unsung Hero
“General John Glover is one of the great unsung figures of the American Revolution — a man whose extraordinary leadership at critical moments helped determine the outcome of the war,” said Annie Harris, CEO of Essex Heritage. “This program brings together some of the finest voices in living history and community preservation to give Glover the recognition he deserves. We’re thrilled to welcome audiences into this story in such an engaging and multifaceted way.”
“As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, stories like General John Glover’s remind us that the Revolution was shaped by the people and maritime communities of places like Essex County,” said Jennifer Hardin, Superintendent at Salem Maritime National Historical Park. “Through programs like this, we connect the public to that history and show how our coastal heritage continues to shape this region and its national significance.”
Part of America’s 250th Commemoration
The Conflict & Community series is presented as part of America’s 250th and Essex County Revolution 250. The series continues through November 2026 with programs on topics ranging from Atlantic maritime commerce to the experiences of Loyalists in Essex County. All programs are free and open to the public.
Event Details
What: “General John Glover: Unsung Hero of the Revolution” — Part of the Conflict & Community: Salem, Essex County, and the American Revolution lecture series
When: Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 6:30 PM
Where: Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA
Cost: Free
More Information:
https://essexheritage.org/rev250/events/conflict-and-community-salem-the-american-revolution-lecture-series/
About the Partner Organizations
About Essex Heritage
Essex Heritage is the non-profit organization that manages the Essex National Heritage Area and promotes the unique cultural and natural heritage of Essex County, Massachusetts. Through partnerships and educational initiatives, Essex Heritage works to preserve and enhance the historic, cultural, and natural resources of the region.
About Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Salem Maritime National Historical Park preserves and interprets New England’s maritime history. The buildings and landscapes on the waterfront of Salem, Massachusetts, illustrate global maritime connections from the Colonial period through the 19th century.
Media Contact:
Ryan Conary, Program and Event Manager
Essex Heritage
Phone: 603-686-2253
Email: ryanc@essexheritage.org
Photos and other information available upon request
