Welcome to the Official Website
for Keith Smith's book
Truth lies in the grave,
in the dark places where no new adventures live
but the living endlessly retell
stories of those who’ve gone before.
We are not gone if someone speaks our name.


About the Author
Keith Smith is a devoted student of history whose passion for genealogy has shaped the way he understands both the past and himself. For Keith, tracing family lines is far more than compiling names and dates—it is a journey of discovery into the lives, choices, and circumstances that came together to form his own story. He is deeply motivated to learn not only how he came to be, but also who helped make him who he is today.
Keith finds particular joy in uncovering unknown or long-forgotten individuals in his family tree. Each discovery offers a new window into the past, revealing people whose lives were shaped by their time, yet whose experiences still resonate. He is fascinated by what made these individuals unique—their struggles, ambitions, beliefs, and the quiet moments that defined them. Accuracy matters deeply to him, and he is committed to preserving his family’s history in a way that remains faithful to documented records and the broader historical narrative.
As he studies his ancestors, Keith strives to move beyond the written word. He seeks to understand who they were as people, not just as historical entries. This pursuit has taken him to places his family once lived, walked, and fought, allowing him to connect physically and emotionally with their world.
His interests are especially rooted in the colonial period and the American Revolution, eras that represent profound transformation, sacrifice, and purpose. Coupled with a deep appreciation for American military history, these passions fuel his ongoing research and writing. Through his work, Keith aims to honor the lives of those who came before him and ensure their stories are remembered with integrity, depth, and respect.
My Book



War tested his courage. Love gave him purpose.
Restless wanderlust first carried Thomas Elwell from the Virginia frontier into Lord
Dunmore’s War, but it was the fiery call of liberty that bound him to the American
Revolution. He survived starvation, disease, and the bitter cold of Valley Forge. He
fought through brutal combat, endured imprisonment by the British, and carried the
grief of losing his closest friend.
But amid the bloodshed, Thomas discovered something he never expected: hope. In
his darkest days, a courageous young woman named Elizabeth nursed him back to
strength, leaving him with a vision of life beyond the battlefield. Long after the war
ended, her memory would ignite a new kind of quest: one not for glory or vengeance,
but for love.
Told by his descendant, Keith Smith, An American Patriot: A Revolutionary War
Soldier’s Fight for Liberty and Love brings to life both the grit of America’s fight for
independence and the humanity that carried one soldier beyond the war.
"A well-researched, briskly paced historical novel that makes the most of the author’s unique family history. This well-executed debut novel would be a fine complement to Ken Burns’ recent (and excellent) documentary about the Revolutionary War."---Kirkus Reviews
Upcoming Events
OHSSAR Annual Meeting - Speaker
24 Apr 2026 - 26 Apr 2026
More Information Coming!
OGS Annual Conference - Vendor
29 Apr 2026 - 2 May 2026
More Information Coming!
Family Tree Magazine - Article
March/April 2026 Issue
