The Bastard

Phillipe Charboneau is the illegitimate son of an English duke. When he travels from France to England to claim his inheritance, he incurs the wrath of his father's family, and is forced to flee to America. He changes his name to Philip Kent and becomes involved in the events leading to the American Revolution. 

The Bastard is based on the historical novel, The Bastard, written by John Jakes, published in 1974, which is the first book in a series known as The Kent Family Chronicles or The American Bicentennial Series. The novel mixes fictional characters with historical events or people, to tell the story of the United States of America in the time period leading up to the American Revolution. See also The Rebels and The Seekers.