As our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of our independence, many Americans are showing an increased interest in honoring those ancestors who fought to gain our liberty.
We strongly believe that every citizen should make the conscious effort to remember and honor those who struggled to secure the freedoms that we enjoy today. Our patriot ancestors, and the sacrifices they made for us, must never be forgotten. One way to honor these ancestors is to join a hereditary society. There are several hereditary societies in the U.S. which promote educational, historical and patriotic activities. The following are some of the most respected organizations which focus on patriot ancestors of the American Revolution, listed in the order of their founding: 1783 Society of the Cincinnati The Society of the Cincinnati is the nation's oldest patriotic organization, founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution. Their mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence and to foster fellowship among its members. Hereditary members are qualified male descendants of commissioned officers who served in the Continental Army or Navy and their French counterparts who had either served until the end of the war or had resigned with honor after a minimum of three years' service. Most constituent societies limit hereditary membership to one current member for each eligible officer. 1876 Sons of the Revolution The Sons of the Revolution was founded in 1876 by John Austin Stevens. He was a patriotic historian who descended from Ebenezer Stevens, who did not meet all of the strict requirements for membership in the Society of Cincinnati at that time. The society founders wished to broaden participation in preserving American Heritage of the Revolutionary War on the eve of the centennial of the Declaration of Independence. The society’s mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence, and to foster fellowship amongst its members. Members are male lineal descendants of a military, naval or marine officer or enlisted person, who was in military service, or who otherwise actually assisted in the establishment of American Independence by services rendered during the War of the Revolution. Both Senior and Junior (under eighteen years) memberships are available. 1889 Sons of the American Revolution Founded in 1889, the SAR is a congressionally chartered male lineage society with sixteen U.S. Presidents and more than two-dozen Medal of Honor recipient Compatriots on their member rolls. Members are devoted to serving their communities, supporting educational outreach initiatives, and generally promote American patriotism. Members are male lineal descendants of an ancestor who, in the cause of American Independence, rendered service in the period between 19 April 1775 and 26 November 1783. Membership requires documented, acceptable evidence. 1890 Daughters of the American Revolution The DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. Members are female lineal descendants of an ancestor who helped contribute to securing the independence of the United States of America. Any adult woman who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible to join. 1896 Founders and Patriots of America Founded in 1896, members trace their ancestry back to those first colonists and who have forefathers in the same male ancestral line who served in the American Revolution. Today, as in the past, it is comprised of a wide range of individuals, all linked by a common heritage and dedicated to American ideals. Members are descendants of an ancestor who settled in any of the U.S. colonies prior to May 13, 1657 and who adhered as patriots to the cause of the American Revolution between 1775 and 1783. 1907 Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence The Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence was founded in 1907 “to strengthen in American life the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, and to perpetuate the memory of those men who, in signing that Declaration, mutually pledged their Lives, their Fortunes, and their Sacred Honor in the cause of Liberty.” Members are direct lineal descendants of the men who inscribed their names upon the first page of the history of the United States of America should form an association devoted to the promotion of the ideas expressed in the Declaration.
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Although many would argue that the American Revolution began in earnest with the Boston Massacre in March of 1770, blood was spilled two months earlier at Golden Hill in New York City.
Massachusetts born Isaac Sears was approaching his fortieth birthday. He was a successful merchant living in New York City, and an outspoken opponent of the taxes and trade restraints being imposed by the British. During the Stamp Act troubles Sears became an original member of the Sons of Liberty in New York, and a year later formed a Committee of Correspondence to coordinate resistance against the British. The establishment considered Sears one of the most active leaders and agitators of the rebellion. Not one to hide his political position, it is said that Sears issued an open death threat to anyone violating the non-importation agreement. Although it never came to such, he and the Sons of Liberty actively protested British rule, both publicly and through clandestine acts of intimidation. The group raised Liberty Poles, and posted numerous broadsides, all the while encouraging townspeople to assemble and vent their anger against the British government. In what would later, with some dramatic flair, be called the ‘Battle of Golden Hill’, on January 19, 1770 Sears took it upon himself to prevent several British soldiers from posting broadsides near the East River seaport. It is said that Sears seized the soldier posting the broadside by the neck and demanded to know what business he had to put up ‘Libels against the inhabitants’. Sears and his men took the soldiers hostage, and forced them to march towards the Mayor’s office. As the crowd grew, one of the soldiers broke away and sounded the alarm for reinforcements. In the most contemporary report of the fighting, the New York Gazette reported “a considerable number of had gathered in front of the Mayor’s, when about twenty Soldiers with Cutlasses and Bayonets from the lower Barracks made their Appearance”. The soldiers were greatly outnumbered and quickly surrounded, but nevertheless tried to rescue their comrades being held captive in the mayor’s office. The soldiers drew their weapons and demanded the release of the soldiers held in custody. Some of the British drew their swords and tried to enter the house by force. Upon seeing the British soldiers draw their weapons, the townsmen quickly retreated and armed themselves. Despite attempts by local officials to defuse the crowd, violence ensued. In the fighting, several soldiers received bruises and one suffered a “bad cut on the shoulder”. A citizen was wounded in the face and had “two of his Teeth broke by a Stroke of a Bayonet”. Another was stabbed and later died of his wounds. Although the claim that one man died in the skirmish has been questioned by some historians, in addition to the above report from the New York Gazette, a letter dated 22 January was published in the St. James Chronicle which claimed that “One sailor got run through the body who has since died, &c.” In either case, it now it had become clear to most that personal sacrifice and bloodshed would be the price of liberty. Six weeks later more violence would erupt on the streets of Boston. On May 16, 1771, in what some consider a major catalyst of the Revolutionary War, Royal Governor William Tryon led more than 1,000 British troops in the violent quelling of a taxpayer rebellion in Alamance County, North Carolina.
Between 1765 and 1771, farmers in particular became increasingly frustrated at their perceived rife corruption among wealthy government officials. Burdensome taxes and high fees were being imposed on the farmers, many of whom were already suffering from economic hardship. The farmers believed that sheriffs and local court officials were corrupt, and worked outside the law for their own personal gain. Despite public protests, petitioning the General Assembly for relief, and the filing of multiple suits in the courts, little was done to address the farmers concerns, and anger grew. In September 1769, Herman Husband enflamed public opinion with his pamphlet “An Impartial Relation of the First and Causes of the Recent Differences in Public Affairs”. His words resonated with those who felt betrayed by their government; “Are you not sensible, Brethren that we have too long groaned in Secret under the Weight of these crushing Mischiefs? How long will ye in this servile Manner subject yourselves to Slavery? Now shew yourselves to be Freemen, and for once assert your Liberty and maintain your Rights…”. In early 1770 the tipping point was reached. The North Carolina legislature had authorized £5,000 for the building of an "Edifice" to house the Governor, however Tryon argued successfully that the sum was not substantial enough for his plans, and building it "in the plainest manner" would cost no less than £10,000. Extra taxation was levied to fund the project, further enraging the citizenry. When the Governor moved into the lavish building, dubbed “Tryon’s Palace”, resistance began to boil. One organizer, William Butler, was quoted as saying "We are determined not to pay the Tax for the next three years, for the Edifice or Governor's House, nor will we pay for it”. In the ensuing weeks, one gang stormed the house the corrupt official Edmund Fanning and dragged him by his feet down the steps. The home of another official was raided and his belongings thrown out the windows. The movement to regulate government over-reach and corruption reached a zenith in 1771 when more than 2,000 members of the ‘Regulator Movement’ took up arms against colonial officials in Alamance County. Hoping that this show of force would intimidate the government into offering concessions, the group marched to a spot west of Hillsborough and set up camp. Governor William Tryon reacted by mustering more than 1,000 troops and marching them from New Bern to address the growing rebellion in the west, arriving at Hillsborough on 9 May 1771. Within a week his troops were camped but six miles from the protesters, setting the stage was set for the Battle of Alamance. The ‘Regulators’ remained disorganized, with little military leadership and few supplies, and in light of the large number of protesters were not anticipating of an attack. In the early morning of the sixteenth, Tryon formed two lines of troops and divided his artillery between the wings and the center of the first line. He then sent his aide-de-camp to the protesters with a proclamation: "Alamance Camp, Thursday, May 16, 1771. To Those Who Style Themselves "Regulators": In reply to your petition of yesterday, I am to acquaint you that I have ever been attentive to the interests of your County and to every individual residing therein. I lament the fatal necessity to which you have now reduced me by withdrawing yourselves from the mercy of the crown and from the laws of your country. To require you who are now assembled as Regulators, to quietly lay down your arms, to surrender up your leaders, to the laws of your country and rest on the leniency of the Government. By accepting these terms within one hour from the delivery of this dispatch, you will prevent an effusion of blood, as you are at this time in a state of rebellion against your King, your country, and your laws. William Tryon". The protesters underestimated the severity of the situation and ignored Tryon’s warning to turn over their leaders. Two men did try to negotiate a peace, one of them being Robert Thompson. Thompson was detained as a prisoner, and in a moment of anger, Tryon took a musket from a militiaman and personally shot Thompson dead. Tryon sent an officer to say that unless the protesters promptly disbanded he would open fire upon them. A pitched battle quickly ensued, with some witnesses claiming shouts by the protesters of "Fire and be damned". Lacking sufficient ammunition the ‘Regulators’ resistance quickly faded and the battle ended. In the aftermath, Gov. Tryon reported nine dead and 61 wounded among the militia., however some historians estimate his actual losses as high as 27 killed. Both sides counted nine dead among the protesters, with several dozen wounded. Tryon took 13 prisoners. One of them, James Few, was summarily executed at camp. Twelve of the protesters were found guilty of treason; six were pardoned and six were executed later in Hillsborough. Tryon's militia troops traveled through the territory, forcing sympathizers to sign loyalty oaths and destroying the properties of the most active of the ‘Regulators’. Tryon left North Carolina on 30 June 1771, taking on the governorship of New York. Josiah Martin succeeded as Governor and unsuccessfully attempted to implement reforms; the problems left by Tryon being apparently too much to overcome. Less than a week after the battles of Lexington and Concord, Martin’s home was attacked and he was forced to take refuge on board the sloop-of-war HMS Cruizer, never to reestablish himself in office. |
Michael WoodHistorical milestones in our fight for liberty 1765-1783 Archives
February 2022
CategoriesCover image courtesy of
Jnn13 [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)] |