REGISTER OF THE CALIFORNIA SOCIETY
OF THE
SONS OF THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION
"The first body in inception, institution, and organization, to unite the descendants of Revolutionary patriots and perpetuate the memory of all those who took part in the American Revolution and maintained the Independence of the United States of America."
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
1901
OFFICERS OF 1901
President WILLIAM H. JORDAN
Senior Vice-President GEO. W. SPENCER
Junior Vice-President WILLIAM J. DUTTON
Secretary EDWIN BONNELL
Registrar A. S. HUBBARD
Treasurer CHARLES H. WARNER
Marshal BYRON MAUZY
Publication Committee
WILLIAM H. JORDAN, President
EDWIN BONNELL, Secretary
COL. A. S. HUBBARD, Registrar
Editor
WALTER S. BRANN
BOARD OF MANAGERS
J. W. FARRINGTON
WILLIAM M. BUNKER
GILES H. GRAY
WILLIAM H. JORDAN
WILLIAM J. DUTTON
A. S. HUBBARD
ALEX. C. EELLS
WALLACE ARSON
ROBERTS VANDERCOOK
GEO. W. SPENCER
EDWIN BONNELL
BYRON MAUZY
ERRATA
The following names were not inserted in alphabetical order in the biographies of members:—
Edward Mills Adams, George W. Brooks, Thomas Flint, Jr., Harvey D. Loveland, Bethuel M. Newcomb, Andrew J. Vining, James W. Ward, and Miles Standish. They are inserted before page 189. For the name Robert S. Sterns, page 154, read Robert S. Stearns.
THE SOCIETY OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is an hereditary, non-secret, patriotic organization composed of the lineal descendants of those colonists who took part, on the American side, in the Revolutionary War against England. Its purposes are " to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men who achieved American Independence, by the encouragement of historical research in relation to the Revolution, and the publication of its results; the preservation of documents and relics, and of the records of individual services of Revolutionary soldiers and patriots and the promotion of celebrations of all patriotic anniversaries; to carry out the injunction of Washington in his farewell address to the American people `to promote as an object of primary importance institutions for the diffusion of knowledge,' thus developing an enlightened public opinion and affording to young and old such advantages as shall develop in them the largest capacity for performing the duties of American citizens; to cherish, maintain, and extend the institutions of American freedom; to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing for all mankind the blessings of liberty."
Membership in the Society is limited to lineal adult male descendants of ancestors who participated in the Revolutionary War against the English, either in a military, naval, or civil capacity.
The Society is an organization within an organization. There is a National Society and within it and under its direction and control are the various State Societies. The National Society came into existence only after a number of State Societies had been organized. It is their creature. As the original thirteen States existed before our Federal Union was formed, so the various State Societies came into being before the formation of the National Society. It grew out of their desire for a more perfect union.
The Sons of Revolutionary Sires was the first of the modern State patriotic Societies. It was planned and instituted Oct. 22, 1875, at San Francisco, Cal., three thousand miles away from the scenes of the struggles for American independence. Composed exclusively of lineal descendants, from heroes and statesmen of the American Revolution, its constitution provided for "auxiliary" branches, coequal Societies and a national representative body. Copies of this constitution were sent out all over the United States, together with circulars and bulletins of its proceedings. This California Society is the pioneer of the modern hereditary, patriotic Society, and its influences lead to the formation of all of them.
Some of these constitutions, with the circulars and bulletins of the California Society, were sent, year by year, to residents of New York City. The California movement excited interest in the east, but California was a long way off and had never even been heard of at the time of the American Revolution, and there were those who felt that Societies of this class should not be formed in the east as the child of a Society in California.
In 1883, however, a few men in New York City met and organized an independent Society there, called "Sons of the Revolution." Thus the seed planted by California had sprouted at last in the metropolis. The new Society was small in membership, and at first intended to be purely local, but finally it also adopted a constitution, providing that Societies might be formed in other States, each of which should be an "auxiliary" branch. That expression "auxiliary branch," adopted from the California Society's Constitution, was an error of judgment, now at last confessed, but long persisted in. It was that word "auxiliary," and that alone, which led to the creation of two sets of Societies. A Society of Sons of the Revolution was organized in Philadelphia, in 1888, although refusing to be "auxiliary" to New York.
This movement of 1883 awoke fresh interest in the subject of patriotic Societies in the east, but the word "auxiliary" prevented gentlemen in New England and others of the original thirteen States from organizing Societies of their own. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and other States each supplied far more men for the American Revolution than New York. A natural pride prevented those States from being "auxiliary " to New York. For about five years, therefore, these two Societies in the east and the pioneer Society in California were all there were of these modern Societies.
In 1888 a few New Jersey members of the New York Society of the SONS OF THE REVOLUTION proposed to form a New Jersey Society. The New York Sons told them they would be recognized only as an "auxiliary" Society, and not otherwise, and, further, that they had better join either the New York or Philadelphia Society anyhow, and not have one of their own. These patriotic and enterprising Jersey-men then went to work. In the spring of 1889 they organized, by correspondence and personal visits, State Societies of Sons of the Revolution in New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, Arkansas, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The object was to organize a National Society—mark the name—of Sons of the Revolution, in which each State Society should be a coequal sister organization, and none of them "auxiliary" to any other. They never dreamed of forming a new organization. Their whole purpose was to bring sufficient influence to bear to induce New York to repeal the "auxiliary " article in her Constitution.
If, when the New Yorkers heard of this movement, they had promptly met and repealed the "auxiliary" article, there never would have been two sets of Societies. No one wanted two sets of Societies; no one thought of it. But what did the New Yorkers do ? —They actually met and adopted a new constitution, in which the "auxiliary" article was made longer, more explicit, and more binding, thus ignoring the patriotic sentiment and natural pride of every sister State, and declaring war upon any movement having for its object the equality of the different State Societies. By making all the other States "auxiliary " to New York, the annual election of national officers would have to be held in New York, and would always have been controlled by the local members.
A National Convention was called, to which every existing Society was invited, and delegates attended from thirteen out of the twenty, including the original one in California, with persons present from New York and Pennsylvania. The convention assembled in the historic "Long Room" of Fraunces' Tavern, where Washington, on the 3d day of December, 1783, had said farewell to his brother officers of the Revolutionary Army. The California Society had appointed as its delegates to this convention, the Honorable Hamilton Fish, of New York City, New York; Colonel A. S. Hubbard and Colonel David Wilder, both of San Francisco, California, and Major George Blight Halstead, of Elizabeth, New Jersey; and as alternates, General R. B. Hayes, of Ohio; the Honorable Charles H. Denison, of Maine, and Charles James Sing of William, of San Francisco, California. Major George Blight Halstead was the only delegate who was able to attend this convention.
Mr. McDowell, of New Jersey, called the meeting to order. After a permanent organization had been effected by the election of Mr. McDowell as chairman, and Lieutenant James C. Cresap, United States Navy, as secretary, remarks were made by several gentlemen present, all in favor of the organization of a National Society. Various influences and considerations suggested the necessity of such an organization to those present. To be sure, the various State Societies had come into existence for patriotic purposes. But these patriotic objects could be best furthered and carried out under a national organization. The ancestors, whose deeds were to be commemorated, did not belong to any special State or section of the country, but were claimed by the nation as a whole. A Congress, made up of delegates from all the Colonies, had drafted and promulgated the Declaration of Independence; an army composed of patriots from all the Colonies had carried out the sentiments of that Declaration and achieved American Independence, and a union of all the American Colonies, under a central government, had preserved the rights so secured. A motion was made to proceed with the organization of a National Society, and that a committee be appointed on constitution and by-laws, and to nominate permanent officers to consist of one delegate from each state. While this motion was being debated, the Pennsylvania delegates took the floor and urged that all the Societies should become "auxiliary " to New York. This was debated for a long time. Pennsylvania was asked if her society was "auxiliary " to New York. She replied, " No." The convention then refused point blank to agree to the "auxiliary " relation to New York. Not one State in that whole convention would agree to that proposition. The New Yorkers refused, for their part, to recognize the others as "sister " Societies, and both Pennsylvania and New York took no further part in the proceedings. The question, What shall be done? then arose. The convention was there, in actual session, acting in behalf of eighteen States, including the original Society in California. The delegates felt deeply the injustice of an attempt to impose an un-American style of organization upon a society which should be preeminently American in all its sentiments, objects, and framework, and especially to try to control, in this manner, a movement which New York had not even originated. After discussion, before adjournment, the convention organized as a National Society, taking the name of SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Our national organization thus began it existence with eighteen State Societies, while the Sons of the Revolution had only two ; and every one of the eighteen sons thereafter adopted the title SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
Now after twelve years the members of the National Society may well contemplate with pride its progress. It is composed of men of various political opinions; men in army and navy life; men eminent as statesmen, jurists, merchants, bankers, preachers, and in every honorable walk of life; all of the men who take pride in their descent from those Revolutionary sires, who, by the sacrifice of energy, wealth, and even life itself, founded this great Republic. Among its distinguished members are the President of the United States, William McKinley; the Vice-President of the United States, Theo. Roosevelt; the Commanding General of the Army, Nelson A. Miles; the Admiral of the Navy, George Dewey; Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, David J. Brewer; the United States Ambassador to France, Horace Porter; the late United States Ambassador to Spain, Stewart L. Woodford; ex-Vice-President Levi P. Morton; United States Senators, Chauncey M. Depew, John W. Daniel, Marcus A. Hanna, Henry C. Lodge, Orville H. Platt, and Redfield Proctor. Also Generals Simon B. Buckner, Frederick D. Grant, A. W. Greeley, Chas. King, Thos. M. Anderson, Wm. R. Shafter, J. C. Breckinridge, and Joseph Wheeler. On May 1, 1901, the organization consisted of thirty-nine different Societies in the United States and France, with the following membership:—
Arizona. 26
Arkansas 34
California 323
Colorado 110
Connecticut 993
Delaware 55
District of Columbia. 427
Florida 35
France 30
Hawaii 58
Illinois 522
Indiana 180
Iowa 149
Kansas 152
Kentucky 80
Louisiana 44
Maine 365
Maryland 180
Massachusetts . 1,400
Michigan 356
Minnesota 300
Missouri 114
Montana 27
Nebraska 79
New Hampshire . 280
New Jersey 408
New York 1,205
Ohio 425
Oregon 116
Pennsylvania . 314
Rhode Island . 255
South Dakota 20
Tennessee 81
Texas 36
Utah 57
Vermont 267
Virginia 60
Washington 119
Wisconsin 227
Total 9,909
The phenomenal growth and progress of the Society has been due to the fact that at the very beginning it was organized upon the broad American principle of one National Society, divided into coequal sister and State Societies, and the latter subdivided, to some extent, into local branches or chapters; and to the further fact that the Society was the only one that admitted no man to membership unless he was a lineal descendant of a patriot of the American Revolution. The wisdom of these provisions has been so apparent that the Sons of the Revolution have, since the events of 1889, repealed the "auxiliary" article in their constitution, and still later have abolished their long-cherished provision for admitting collateral descendants. Because of the strict requirements for membership, and the thorough Americanism of our organization, and the public spirit of our members, an exceedingly large number of men of high social position and national reputation have joined our Society in all parts of the country. Our application blank has been adopted by all the different Societies of Sons and Daughters of the Revolution.
MOVEMENTS TOWARD UNION.
Almost immediately after the adjournment of the first National Convention, the board of managers of the SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION took active measures looking to a union of the New York and Pennsylvania Societies of the Sons of the Revolution with our National Society. Committees were appointed, headed by John Lee Carroll of the Sons of the Revolution, and President General Horace Porter of the SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION; a basis of union was agreed upon, and the conference committee's report of December 22, 1892, was unanimously signed by every member of that committee. In accordance with that report, a joint meeting was held on February 16, 1893, in the city of New York, at which it was expected that the union of the two Societies would be perfected. To the surprise of the SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, at the last moment, the Sons of the Revolution refused to accept the report, and the plan of union failed.
The failure of the congresses of 1893 to bring about a union did not, however, put an end to the movement. The cordial relations existing between individual members, and individual State Societies of the two General Societies, gave evidence of the hearty sentiment still existing in favor of an amalgamation, and the belief entertained by the SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION that the action of the Sons of the Revolution, on February 16, 1893, did not represent the prevailing sentiment of that Society, led them to make another attempt at a union. At a meeting of the Sons of the Revolution, held in the city of Savannah, on the l0th of April, 1896, a resolution was passed inviting a conference for the purpose of effecting a union.
This action of the General Society of the Sons of the Revolution was followed by the congress of the National Society of the SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, at its meeting in the city of Richmond, April 30, 1896, which passed a resolution accepting the invitation of the Sons of the Revolution to this conference. The action of the two congresses in 1896, resulted in a correspondence conducted by the general officers of both Societies, but to no purpose, and the scheme for union was again postponed.
Matters remained in statu [status] quo until April 19, 1897, when the General Society, Sons of the Revolution, at its meeting in Philadelphia, adopted resolutions, appointing a committee of five to act with a like committee which they requested should be appointed by the National Society of the SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. The resolutions provided that "these two committees of five each shall constitute together the above-named joint committee of conference on basis of union, which shall consider the constitution and plan of union of 1893, and all proposed changes thereto, and come to an agreement, if possible, respecting a new general constitution, and a plan of union between the Societies. Each constituent committee of five shall report to its own general assembly the results of the conference, together with its own recommendations respecting them." They provided for an adjourned meeting of their assembly to be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 12, 1897, and requested the National Society of the SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION to appoint a similar committee and to hold a meeting of its congress in Cincinnati, Ohio, on October 12, 1897, at which time the reports of the joint committee should be received by the respective bodies. A committee was accordingly appointed by the National Society of the SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, and the joint committee, thus appointed, worked assiduously during the next few months, and when the two national bodies met in different rooms in the Grand Hotel in Cincinnati, October 12, 1897, the constituent committees presented to their respective national bodies and recommended a plan for union and a form of constitution for the new society, which was signed by all the members of the committee representing the SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, and by four of the five members of the committee representing the Sons of the Revolution. The convention of the SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, after a full discussion of the plan, adopted it by a rising and unanimous vote at their morning session. The Sons of the Revolution, after a vigorous discussion, which lasted all day, adopted the plan by a close vote, six of the general officers voting " no."
The plan adopted provided that it should be submitted to the various State Societies for approval and should go into effect when adopted by a majority of the Societies of each organization. Thirty-two of the State Societies of the SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION voted in favor of ratifying the plan. One rejected it; one did not take any action at all, and no reports were received from four. The Sons of the Revolution rejected the plan by the following vote. Seventeen against union, six in favor of it and two not voting. Accordingly, the proposed union failed for the third time to become effective.
GROWTH AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
The history of the SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION as a National Body, begins with the convention held at Fraunces' Tavern, in New York City, on April 30, 1889. By the constitution then adopted the National Society was to be made up of the presidents of the State Societies and delegates elected by such Societies.
CONGRESS OF 1890.—The first year of the Society's organization numerous meetings of the board of managers were held, and the work of instituting State Societies was taken up and prosecuted with such vigor that at the meeting of the first congress at Louisville, Ky., April 30, 1890, ten new State Societies had been organized, making a total of twenty-eight with a membership of twenty-five hundred. The constitution was revised, and after being engrossed was signed by all the delegates present. The session of this congress closed with a banquet, in honor of the delegates present, given by the Kentucky Society and presided over by Governor Buckner.
CONGRESS OF 1891.—On the 30th of April, 1891, the second annual congress of the National Society was held at Hartford, Conn. The attendance was large and the delegates were full of enthusiasm. Governor Buckley welcomed the delegates at the opening of the congress. Full and interesting reports were received from the State Societies and from the officers of the National Society. The question of unity with the Sons of the Revolution was considered and such steps taken as lead eventually to a conference of committees of both Societies looking to a union. At the close of the congress the Connecticut Society entertained the delegates with an elaborate banquet, at which many eloquent and patriotic addresses were made.
CONGRESS OF 1892.—The third annual congress met on April 30, 1892, in the Governor's room in the City Hall in New York City. The use of this room was secured to the Society by special permission of the city authorities; it was decorated appropriately for the occasion. Eighty-nine delegates were present, representing twenty-two States. The report showed thirty State Societies, with a membership aggregating three thousand five hundred and three. The reports of the officers and of the State Societies showed that the order was in a prosperous condition, and that its influence was not only increasing but that its methods were becoming better understood, and its records and those of its members were being perfected to a degree scarcely to have been expected when it was organized. The usual amount of routine business was transacted, and upon the adjournment of the convention a banquet was served at Delmonico's by the Empire State Society, at which the Honorable Chauncey M. Depew acted as toast-master.
CONGRESS AND CONCLAVE OF 1893.—Early in 1893 the National Society received an invitation from Illinois State Society to hold its annual congress and the first Triennial Conclave of the general membership, at Chicago, on June 16 and 17 of that year. In order that the constitution should not be violated the board of managers, on April 30, held a pro forma session in New York City, at the office of Gen. Horace Porter, Pres. Gen., and then adjourned to meet at Chicago on the 16th of June. At this pro forma session certain constitutional amendments were proposed and referred to the special committee on revision of the constitution, appointed in 1892.
On the 16th of June, 1893, the adjourned session of the congress met in the Art Institute in the city of Chicago. There were present eighty-five members and a large number of compatriots from Illinois and other State Societies, as well as a number of Daughters of the American Revolution. Twenty-nine State Societies were represented. The reports of the various officers showed that the Society was in a prosperous condition and that its membership had increased to four thousand one hundred. After the election of officers for the ensuing year, the congress adjourned to become the guests of the Illinois Society at a banquet given at the Union League Club of Chicago, at which the Hon. Henry M. Shepard, President of the Illinois Society, presided and welcomed the congress to Chicago. Various other toasts were responded to by prominent members of the Society.
FIRST MEMORIAL CONCLAVE.—On the following day, a thousand or more of SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION assembled at the Music Hall on the Exposition Grounds to celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. The members of the congress were seated on the platform. Gen. Horace Porter presided and delivered the opening address, after which addresses were made by Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, of New York, and William Wirt Henry, of Virginia. Adjournment was then had to the Casino for lunch. In the afternoon a spirited meeting was held by the Daughters of the American Revolution in the Woman's Building. At this meeting, addresses were made by Gen. Porter, Hon. Henry M. Shepard, and also by several of the more prominent Daughters of the American Revolution, after which refreshments were served and the meeting adjourned.
CONGRESS OF 1894.—The fifth annual congress of the Society convened in the city of Washington on the 30th of April, 1894. Twenty-seven State Societies were represented. The report of the registrar-general showed that Societies had been organized in Iowa and Pennsylvania during the year, and that the membership of the Society had increased to four thousand five hundred and ninety-two. During the noon recess the delegates marched in a body to the White House, where they were received by President Cleveland in the East Room, each delegate being presented to the President by General Porter. In the evening the District of Columbia Society tendered a reception to the delegates and their ladies and others, in the parlors of the Arlington Hotel. General J. C. Breckinridge, president of the District of Columbia Society, welcomed the guests, and during the evening addresses were made by General Porter; Judge Whitehead, of New Jersey; Senator Hill, of Connecticut; Judge Good, of Virginia; Mr. Weeks, of Pennsylvania, and others.
CONGRESS OF 1895.—The sixth annual congress met in the Old South Meeting-house, in the city of Boston, on May 1895.
The California Society was represented by John W. Moore. It appeared from the reports of the general officers that several new societies had been formed and that the growth of the older societies had been greater than at any period before in the history of the society.
Twelve hundred new members had been added to the rolls. A committee on National Legislation was appointed to take charge of all business, both of the National and State Societies, requiring action in the United States Congress. It was also resolved to try to secure the publication in book form, by Congress, of the records of service, which were then being indexed at Washington, and also to request the various State Societies to take steps for the general observation of Flag day, June 14, in the several cities and municipalities within their respective jurisdictions.
In the evening the members of the congress were the guests of the Massachusetts Society at the Hotel Vendome. After a reception in the parlors of the hotel, two hundred and fifty Sons of the American Revolution marched to the dining hall and enjoyed a repast of marked excellence. The day following was devoted to an excursion to the battle-fields of Lexington and Concord.
CONGRESS OF 1896.—The seventh annual congress was held at the city of Richmond, Virginia, on April 30, 1896, President General Horace Porter presiding. The registrar-general's report showed a total membership of seven thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. Various routine business was transacted, and in the evening a banquet was tendered by the Virginia Society at the Hotel Jefferson, at which William Wirt Henry, president of the Virginia Society, presided.
CONGRESS OF 1897.—The eighth annual congress was held October 30, 1897, at Cleveland, Ohio. Edward S. Barrett, vice-president general, presided. The reports showed that the number of State Societies had increased to thirty-six, with one Society in Hawaii, and that the total membership of the order had increased to eight thousand nine hundred and ninety-six. In the evening the Western Reserve Society banqueted the delegates at the Hollenden Hotel. At this banquet James M. Richardson, president of the Ohio Society, presided. On the following day the Daughters of the American Revolution tendered the delegates a reception at the Colonial Club.
CONGRESS OF 1898.—The ninth annual congress of the Society was held in Lafayette's rooms, adjoining Washington's headquarters, at Morristown, N. J., on the 30th of April, 1898. The reports showed an average annual increase in the membership of the Society, after deducting losses by death and otherwise, during the nine years of its existence, of one thousand and twenty, and a total membership of nine thousand one hundred and forty-one.
At the close of the congress the delegates were entertained at a banquet given by the New Jersey Society.
CONGRESS OF 1899.—Detroit, Michigan, was the meeting-place of the tenth annual congress. The delegates assembled on May 1 and 2, 1899, in Philharmonic Hall, Vice-President-General Franklin Murphy presiding. A message of congratulation was cabled to compatriot George Dewey. The official reports showed that the membership of the order had increased to nine thousand six hundred and ninety. April 30 being Sunday, an evening church service was held, at which Chaplain Rev. Rufus W. Clark preached a sermon. On Monday afternoon Louisa St. Claire Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, tendered the delegates a reception at the Hotel Cadillic. On Tuesday evening a banquet was given at the Russel House, at which Thos. W. Palmer presided, and toasts were responded to by prominent members of the order present.
CONGRESS OF 1900.—The eleventh annual congress met at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in New York City, April 30 and May 1, 1900. President General Murphy presided. The reports of the various general officers were read, from which it appeared that the past year had been a generally prosperous one with all of the State Societies. A steady gain in membership had been made, the total active membership of the Society now being nine thousand six hundred and seventy-one. At this meeting California was represented by John W. Moore, S. C. Mastick, T. W. Hubbard, C. C. Upham and Norris K. Davis. Several amendments to the constitution were adopted. A banner for the Society was provided for. In the evening a banquet was given in the ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria, at which Hon. Walter J. Logan acted as toast-master. Many patriotic and enthusiastic speeches were made by prominent and distinguished members present.
CONGRESS OF 1901.—The twelfth annual congress was held. at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on April 30 and May 1, 1901. President-General Breckenridge presided. The California. Society was represented by J. W. Farrington, William J. Dutton, Norris K. Davis, and Captain James E. McMary. From the reports of the general officers, it appeared that the State Societies had enjoyed great prosperity during the year, and that they had accomplished much good, patriotic work. The registrar-general's report showed that the total active membership of the Society was nine thousand nine hundred and nine, enrolled in thirty-nine State Societies; that during the year Maryland had printed a large quarto volume of muster rolls, and that some lists had been published by South Carolina. The National Flag Committee reported that they had secured the passage in six States of laws preventing the desecration of the national flag by using it for advertising purposes, and that such laws now existed in eighteen States.
The convention also determined to recommend that the Congress of the United States cause to be erected in Washington,. D. C., such a memorial to the heroes of the Revolution as would give fitting recognition to the deeds of valor and self-sacrifice which characterized the early struggles of our ancestors to achieve independence and establish our republic. A resolution was also adopted providing that the board of managers shall proceed with the publication of the register without any expense to the national society.
During the afternoon of May 1, 1901, literary exercises were held in Carnegie Music Hall, at which addresses were delivered by prominent members. In the evening, the delegates were the guests of the Pennsylvania Society at a banquet given in their honor in the ballroom of the Hotel Schenley.
Within the compass of this work it is possible to give but a brief account of the proceedings of the annual congresses of the Society. What the Society has accomplished can best be shown by the following extract from the address of President-General Horace Porter at the annual congress in Boston May 1, 1895:
"This Society has made so much progress throughout its existence that you may pardon me for alluding to some of the salient objects which have been accomplished.
" This Society secured from Congress a law under which the records of service in the Revolution in the Executive Departments in Washington have been indexed and placed in a fireproof building in the Smithsonian Institute. That is the very basis upon which we found the membership of this Society, the thorough search of these records giving the assurance that the credentials are ample for every compatriot that enters this organization.
" It has secured from Congress a law authorizing officers of the regular army and navy, who are members, to wear the badge of this Society on ceremonial occasions. That has a deeper significance than you may suppose. In France and other European countries the laws do not authorize any one to wear publicly any decoration or badge unless it is in some way authorized by the person's government, and we think that under this law, this Society will be the only one entitled to wear publicly its badge.
" Some time ago we secured from the New Hampshire Legislature the construction and public dedication of the statue of that grand old hero, General John Stark.
" It was this Society which originated the beautiful custom of Flag Day, setting aside June 14 as the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as our national ensign for such celebrations.
" It obtained from the New York Legislature the passage of a law forbidding the display of foreign flags upon public buildings unless the official representatives of a foreign power are guests of a city or the state; and the governor, who promptly signed that law, is a member of this order.
" Its members promoted the construction and took the place of honor in the dedication of the great monument to the heroes of Bennington.
" In 1893 it took the most prominent part in the centennial celebration of the laying of the corner-stone of the National Capitol, Sept. 18, 1893, when William Wirt Henry, the grandson of the great Patrick Henry, was selected from this Society as the orator of the day.
" It has stimulated interest in the American Revolution by more than two hundred public celebrations of anniversaries of important events.
" It has preserved, as a permanent historical monument, the headquarters of Jonathan Trumbull, old Brother Jonathan, in Connecticut.
"It has initiated the movement to which we must give the entire credit to our honored Massachusetts Society, of the plan of marking the graves of the patriots of the American Revolution with bronze and iron markers.
" It has advocated the passage of a law by Congress forbidding the desecration of the national flag for advertising purposes, and has promoted the general display of flags on public schools.
"It has promoted historical research, by offering to each of a large number of American colleges, for annual competition by the students, a large and handsome silver medal for the best essay upon `The Principles Fought for in the War of the American Revolution,' also to schools a silver medal and a bronze medal to certain scholars.
"It has saved, by means of a law that has been passed by the New York Legislature, the desecration of the old historic building, known as the City Hall, in New York City.
"It has built an expensive monument at Dobbs' Ferry, to commemorate the spot where Washington and Rochambeau planned the Yorktown campaign.
"It has presented national flags, portraits of Washington and prize medals to large numbers of schools and academies in different parts of the country.
" It has contributed, by the energetic efforts of its members, to the appointment of April 19 as Patriots' Day in Massachusetts in the place of the old Fast Day.
" It has secured appropriations from the Legislature of Maryland and private individuals for a splendid monument in Baltimore, to the men of the American Revolution.
" These are only some of the steps which have been taken by this Society."
From the various annual reports of the register-generals, various other work that the Society had accomplished, appears. Through the Society's efforts the government has compiled from the musters and pay rolls and records found in the various departments, and so indexed as to render them readily accessible, the records of nearly 350,000 Revolutionary soldiers. These records have been supplemented by copies of additional rolls in the possession of original states. It is proposed to print these as soon as the search for lost rolls is completed. This work has been done by the Record and Pension office of the War Department, and. that office will promptly and gladly give, upon application, the record of any individual soldier found there.
State officials have discovered many most valuable records, supposed to be irretrievably lost. In the New York State archives at Albany, original rolls have been discovered, containing many thousand names, which go to show that that colony furnished upwards of 43, 500 soldiers for service in the Revolution. The names of these soldiers have been printed in a volume issued by the state comptroller. Many rolls have been discovered in Maryland, and Massachusetts is, at the present time, publishing a record in detail of the service of each and every one of her Revolutionary soldiers. This Society's archives, which are in the registrar-general's office, are of very great genealogical and historical importance. They contain over 12,000 application papers, filed since this Society was founded. In these papers are recorded the names of more than 50,000 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, of more than 20,000 of the active participants in the Revolutionary War, from whom the members of this Society claim descent. Here, too, the deeds of those soldiers and patriots are told in a more complete and graphic manner than in the muster-rolls or pay-rolls. The result is that many whose deeds of bravery and daring were almost forgotten, now live in the active memory of their descendants in this great American patriotic organization.
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.