In the area of Associators, numerous investigations, discussions and debates have arisen over the years. Since its inception, Associators has been the subject of interest not only at an academic level, but also in society in general. Its impact has been such that it has permeated different aspects of daily life, from culture, politics, economy, to technology. In this article, we will thoroughly explore the importance of Associators, its implications and its influence in today's world. From its origins to the present, we will analyze its evolution and its role in contemporary society.
The term "Non-Associators" was applied to American colonists who refused to support and sign "military association" charters. They were not affiliated with associators, or would choose instead, to pay a fine and suffer possible retaliation. During the American Revolutionary War, some associator units were said to operate more like, or were in fact loose-knit criminal gangs, taking advantage of the disruption of warfare.
Many Loyalist irregulars who fought with the British in the American Revolutionary War were "associators". These units were sometimes commissioned by the commander in chief but could also be commissioned by the commander of a garrison or a royal colonial governor. They received no pay, and often no uniforms; they were usually issued provisions, but relied on labor or looting to earn money. Loyalist Associators often served in mixed-race units, composed of whites, escaped slaves, and even American Indians.
Perhaps one of the most famous Loyalist associators was Colonel Tye, a former slave and leader of the infamous "Black Brigade". He was the first known black officer in North American military history.
^ abNewland, Samuel J. The Pennsylvania Militia: Defending the Commonwealth and the nation, 1669-1870, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs (2002), pp. 36-45
^James J. Gigantino, The American Revolution in New Jersey: Where the Battlefront Meets the Home Front Rivergate Regionals Collection. Rutgers, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2015. p. 73, 81, 83, 202, 206.
Farrelly, Maura Jane. Papist Patriots: The Making of an American Catholic Identity. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012.
Newland, Samuel J. The Pennsylvania Militia: Defending the Commonwealth and the nation, 1669-1870. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs, 2002.
Ryan, William R. The World of Thomas Jeremiah: Charles Town on the Eve of the American Revolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010.