*For all of the history geeks like me :)

The inspiration for this book came from me just browsing around ancestory.com. Starting over the summer, I have traced my mother's family tree to the 1200's, and have found that the revolutionary generation of my family is fascinating. At least five of my great-something grandfathers fought in the war, along with my 7th great-uncle, George Walton, having signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. 

Although the Mercy Painter from my family did not live in the time period of the Revolution, I mainly chose her because, honestly, her name was more interesting than Martha or Mary, which were the names of my great-something grandmothers who actually did live then.

A lot of this book is as close to the time period as I could get it, although some events or facts may be a little off. That is why they call is historical fiction, though.

Who is the real Mercy Painter?

Mercy Painter (neé Lamberton) was my ninth great-grandmother, and lived from 1641 to 1677. Born to Captain George and Margret Lamberton (neé Lewen), she had five sisters; Hope, Patience, Elizabeth, Hannah, Desire; and one brother, Deliverance. She married Shubal Painter and had three children; Thomas Painter, Rebecca Painter, and Margret Painter, who is my 8th great-grandmother. 

When and where does Mercy for the Patriots take place?

In the beginning of the story, Mercy is in Morristown, New Jersey, sometime in December 1779, often called America's worst winter, which is the only winter in recorded history when all harbors, bays, and rivers froze over. New York, in fact, the 1779 iced-over harbor has only happened once more, in the winter of 1820/1821.

Who is the Marquis de Lafayette?

Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier was known on the battlefield by his title: The Marquis de Lafayette. He left his home country of France to fight in the American Revolution 1777 at age nineteen. Congress soon promoted him to the rank of major general, and Lafayette fought his first battle at Brandywine, and was shot in the leg. Lafayette and General George Washington became very close, and regarded each other as father and son. 

After the war, he left for France in 1781 and was a major part of the French Revolution. He had to escape in fear of being executed, however, and spent over five years in Austria as a captive. He died in 1834 in France, with soil from Bunker Hill sprinkled over his grave by his son, George Washington Lafayette.

Who is Aunt Ford?

Aunt Ford is the strict interpretation of my typical 18th centuary woman. She is the real Theodosia Ford, who lived with her four children in the Ford Manor in Morristown, NJ. This manor was only five miles away from the ravine in which the army was camped, making it the perfect winter headquarters for General George Washington and his millitary "family".

As I don't want to spoil any more of the book, this list will be updated as more things happen. Thanks for reading, and I hope you vote and comment, because it means a lot!