A Dollop Crossover | Ben Naddaff-Hafrey on Staten Island and the Revolutionary War

This work focuses on Staten Island’s role in the American Revolution, especially its Loyalist character, wartime occupation, and local experiences during the conflict. It is associated with Charles Edward Anthon’s historical notes, which were compiled from interviews and research on Staten Island and later published by the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences.

Phil Pappas’s book examines Staten Island’s distinctive position during the American Revolution. The island remained strongly Loyalist while British forces occupied it for most of the war, creating conflict with nearby Patriot communities. It explores local figures such as Colonel Christopher Billop, whose allegiance to the Crown shaped the island’s wartime experience. The narrative also addresses raids, prisoner exchanges, economic disruption, military abuses, and the island’s eventual shift in attitude toward the British. The book provides the historical foundation for the episode’s discussion of Staten Island as a frequently overlooked but strategically important Revolutionary-era community.