HACKENSACK — Bergen250, the Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs, and the County of Bergen invite the public to attend the 2026 American Revolutionary War Roundtable Series on Wednesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. at the Bergen County Administration Building Learning Center, 4th floor, 1 Bergen County Plaza.
The program, “A Revolutionary Revelation: The Complex Story of Peggy Shippen Arnold,” will examine the life of Margaret “Peggy” Shippen Arnold, the wife of Revolutionary War general Benedict Arnold.
Historian Char Weigel will present research drawn from primary sources that explores Shippen Arnold’s role in the events surrounding her husband’s infamous defection. Often portrayed in history either as an innocent bystander or the mastermind behind the plot, Shippen Arnold emerges in Weigel’s work as a more complex and nuanced figure.
The lecture will also explore her travels through Bergen County and a later controversy sparked by Aaron Burr’s memoir.
Weigel frequently publishes and presents on new research related to Benedict Arnold’s treason and Revolutionary War history in the lower Hudson Valley. She serves as vice president of special projects for Revolutionary Westchester 250 and is on the board of the Friends of the Odell Rochambeau Museum.
For those unable to attend, the lecture will be recorded and later published on the County of Bergen’s official YouTube channel.
About Bergen250
Bergen250 is Bergen County’s initiative to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, highlighting the county’s role in the nation’s founding through lectures, events, and community programming. For more information, visit bergen250.com.