GB XV, 2

Gardner’s Beacon TM is published by the Thomas Gardner Society, Inc. (TGSoc.org).

Best wishes for a wonderful 2026. As well, what happened in 2025?

As we end our 15^th and start the 16^th year, we remind ourselves that the 250^th of the U.S. has been in progress for a while, with activities in 2025 considering events from 1775. Several of our posts had a focus on early efforts of the Revolution such as Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Siege of Boston, and retrieval of cannons from Fort Ticonderoga by Col. Knox.

Links: Marriage of Thomas and Margaret; Historical genealogy.

Since our research interests cover history as well as family, the topics to cover are wide ranging, including technology as the basis for what and how we do things. As we roam the associated virtual spaces of our themes, we attempt to connect back to New England, Essex County and the families of Cape Ann and surrounds. For this, we use the theme of the “long reach of New England” with Bunker Hill West of DTLA as one of many examples.

In the following, we briefly sample activity by way of a few blog posts from 2025 using a quarterly view from the 4^th through the 1^st.

2025, 4^th Quarter

We have technology as a focus which is multi-faceted. A lot of the current attention seems to be on the computational side of things, in particular the three-year experience with GenAI/LLM where its boons and banes became known. In 2025, we saw more emphasis go to the idea of joining the virtual world of intelligence with robotics to establish physicality as a means to attain knowledge via experience where simulation has risen to a primary role. 

But the computer is not the only technology which needs attention for a balance. A case in point is a study about watersheds across the U.S. We had an early interest in rivers as a means to movement such as we see with the Ohio River. However, waterways were a hindrance to travel as well.

2025, 3^rd Quarter

In September, we got acquainted with General Nathanael Greene. Early in the Revolution, his focus was supply which was a difficult task. Later, he was appointed by General Washington to head the Continental Army. In that role, he launched the Southern Campaign that resulted in the defeat of Lord Cornwallis and provided an end to the conflict. Nathanael was born in Rhode Island into a Quaker family and will be featured over the next few years.

2025, 2^nd Quarter

While the 250^th may allow a look at the details of the Revolution which was of several years of duration, we must look back with care to families and their histories. The training ground for the officers of the Revolution was the French-Indian affair. After seeing a plaque in a park in Virginia, we have to look at the land of Lord Fairfax and its roles in the Revolution, besides giving us General Washington.

2025, 1^st Quarter This was the year of familiar names, such as Lexington & Concord, etc. Too, technology is posed to change the world, including how history and genealogy are handled, for the better or the worse.

Sponsor: Thomas Gardner Society, Inc.