Marietta Chapter SAR Announcement
The Marietta Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), will be holding their First Annual Washington’s Birthday Celebration Dinner on Sunday, February 3, 2008. The event will be held at the Marietta Legion Post 64 at Eighth and Wooster Streets at 1:00pm. Rosa Cummings, a recent past Ohio President of the Children of the American Revolution, will present a special program for youth attendees. Among other projects Ms. Cummings has worked on was the overseeing of the fundraising efforts that restored the Ohio Company Land Office at Campus Martius Museum.
The dinner is open to the public and all are invited to attend. The cost of the buffet dinner is $12 per adult, $5 per child (under 18). Reservations should be placed by January 28th by emailing your name and the number attending to Jean Yost or Roy Fluharty or by phoning Jean Yost at 740-678-8060. For more information, visit Mariettasar.org and just click on the “Washington’s Birthday Dinner” link. The Marietta Chapter SAR will be inducting approximately 25 new adult and youth members at this dinner. There will also be a special presentation for Elizabeth Cottle, a 50-year Marietta DAR member, for her contributions to genealogy and local history research.
The Marietta Chapter Sons of the American Revolution is developing an exciting new undertaking called the PATRIOTS and PIONEERS PROJECT to honor and perpetuate the memory of our rich local heritage. In October 2005 the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) formed a Marietta Chapter and received their charter. In the spring of 2007, the Marietta Chapter, after months of planning and discussion, voted to proceed with research on the Patriots of Washington County, Ohio who gave service during the American Revolution. This group has the goal of completing details on all of the Patriots with connections to Washington County for publication in a series of books.This series will be called, “Revolutionary War Patriots of Washington County, Ohio,” with a subtitle of Patriots who lived, died, had descendants in Washington County or were patriot ancestors of local SAR or DAR members.” Most books of this style include name, birth and death details, spouse, military unit or service, place of enlistment and rank, but little more. Some books also include lineage to members of SAR, DAR or CAR. The plan for this book however will include the information listed above, but will add much more detail of the actual life of the Patriot, incorporating historical facts from census, tax records, county and military histories as well as “family legacy stories.” These legacy stories often will not have a history book as a reference but will be the writings of the family, with data on parents, children and their families as they experienced pioneer life - the successes and hardship. All of this information will contain notations of source material used so future generations of researchers can trace this information to use in their own research. They would also like to include as many photos of the Patriot’s tombstone (immediate family and their descendants), home, monuments, portrait and copies of important documents as possible. All of this data will include GPS locations, cemetery inscription, stone condition, military markers, etc.
As the summer progressed, they then looked at ways to better collect accurate material and to enlist the help of other Patriotic and historical organizations as well as the public in this endeavor.
In the process, they have met several times with the officers of the Marietta Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). At the November 3, 2007 meeting of the DAR, the PATRIOTS AND PIONEERS PROJECT was presented to the full membership and received overwhelming support. Members suggested they could help in many ways, including special programming, event planning, state and national speakers and a good number of volunteers to assist. It should also be noted that their chapter library at 8th and Wooster Streets contains information on over 700 Patriot ancestors, many of which did not live, die or even pass through Marietta. However, with the criteria for inclusion, all are eligible for inclusion in this book series. The SAR also met with members of the Ebenezer Zane Chapter SAR of St. Clairsville, Ohio. This chapter has completed an excellent, informative series of four books on Revolutionary War Patriots buried in Eastern Ohio and the West Virginia Panhandle. That chapter is currently compiling basic data on Washington County Patriots for publication of a fifth book. The Zane Chapter books contain one page or less of strictly genealogical information. The Marietta Chapter’s project will greatly expand on the Zane Chapter series with more in-depth stories, photographs and descendancy information. Several other DAR, SAR, civic and historical groups have also assured their assistance on this Patriots project.
Early in the summer while reading an old copy of the “Tallow Light”, Washington County Historical Society Quarterly, I found reference to a booklet SPIRIT of 76′ PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO, with preamble dated January 1975, by Ralph L Schroeder, past WCHS President. In part, it read “the following role of Revolutionary War Patriots associated with Washington County, Ohio is preliminary…hopefully a refined…list may be issued by 1976.” This list of 606 men and women (people believed to have served in the Revolutionary cause) has been entered into the SAR database. However, until the data is proven on each person, they will be listed as pioneers, not Patriots. To this date no one has located the research documents used by the DAR and Historical Society in preparation of the list. A copy of this listing is included elsewhere following this article. If any of the readers knows the source of this information, please contact us.
In September, the Marietta Chapter SAR voted to start a website, http://www.mariettasar.com to post facts about the Patriots and Pioneers Project. This site includes a blog area that will enlist the public for help. The website to be up and fully functional sometime in January, 2007. For now, visit the website, bookmark it for future reference and check back frequently to track the progress.
At the SAR’s Washington’s Birthday Dinner on Sunday, February 3, 2008, the SAR plans to announce the book project, the new website and distribute a press release about the upcoming PATRIOTS AND PIONEERS HISTORY AND GENEALOGY CONFERENCE. They will also be announcing finalized plans for the upcoming 12 DAYS WITH THE PATRIOTS AND PIONEERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY project. That press release will give details of a Patriots and Pioneers History and Genealogy Conference at Washington State Community College scheduled for Saturday, March 29, 2007.
At the Washington’s Birthday Dinner, the Marietta Chapter plans to induct over 25 new youth and adult members into our chapter. All area Patriotic, Historical and Genealogy groups are invited to attend the dinner. Reservations can be made by contacting the SAR. Cost of the dinner is $12.00 for adults, $5.00 for youths and will be held at the American Legion Post 64 in Marietta at 8th and Wooster Streets at 1:00pm.
The Marietta Chapter SAR will host a PATRIOTS AND PIONEERS HISTORY AND GENEALOGY CONFERENCE at Washington State Community College (WSCC) on Saturday, March 29, 2008. So far, the SAR, DAR, WCHS, Washington County Genealogical Society, Western Washington County Historical Society, Belpre Historical Society, Lower Muskingum Historical Society, Washington County Public Library, Sons of Union Veterans, Muskingum Valley Chamber of Commerce, Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau and some local veterans groups have already pledged their support.
The PATRIOTS AND PIONEERS HISTORY AND GENEALOGY CONFERENCE will be an all day event designed to promote family history activities in our region with an open invitation to all. The attendee would select five or six classes from a list about 20 subjects. Classes would have appeal to young and old, amateur to the advanced. Space is limited to 300 individuals and advance registration after the February announcement is requested to allow proper programming. Cost of the conference will be $40.00 per person for all conference events, but is $25.00 with paid reservations made by February 28, 2008 if you have a membership in any patriotic society, historical society or genealogical organization. Therefore, contact and join the local group of your choice today to take advantage of this discount rate. A list of subjects and programs at this Conference will be posted shortly at http://www.mariettasar.com.
Washington State Community College has reserved the entire Arts and Science Building for our use as well as the cafeteria for the Conference. The building is fully handicap accessible with an elevator to the second floor. Students will be on Spring Break and we will have full use of the parking lot next to the building. The Information Technology Director at WSCC will provide full access to three computer labs and give full support with power point projectors or any audio-visual equipment needed. The Graham Auditorium will seat 300, but most classroom presentations will seat 30 people or less.
The Patriots and Pioneers History and Genealogy Conference will be part of a larger event in the Spring of 2008. This SAR project is called, 12 DAYS WITH THE PATRIOTS AND PIONEERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY. Ernie Thode of the Washington County Public Library, History and Genealogy Branch, has worked with the SAR to develop a two page list of potential speakers for the conference. He is also a member of some Genealogy and History groups around the valley and he believes there will be great support for the program and plenty of help if all will come on board.
This 12-day program will be a mix of local history, tours, genealogy and military research to celebrate the founding of our county. There will be maps for driving tours available throughout the county. The ultimate goal of the project is to get lovers of history involved in events and stir the interest in history to a new generation of young people. With their assistance, it is also the goal to identify, catalogue and document patriots for the SAR’s book series.
Washington County Public Library Director, Justin Mayo, has worked with Ernie Thode and has agreed to allow extended hours at the History and Genealogy Branch for most of the days between March 28, the day before the WSCC Conference, and April 7, Marietta’s birthday. A list of the dates and times for these extended hours will be posted on the library’s website at Washington County Public Library, History & Genealogy Department.
Director of Campus Martius Museum and WCHS Trustee, Andy Verhoff, has worked up several proposals to allow special programs at the museum during this same 12-day period. The Marietta Chapter Sons of the American Revolution has entered into an agreement with the Ohio Historical Society to rent the Campus Martius Museum to make it available to the public free of cost during special hours from March 28 through April 6, 2008. Corporate sponsors obtained by the SAR will allow free admission from 5:00 to 8:00pm on weeknights and free admission for the entire day on both weekends. There will be candlelight tours of the Rufus Putnam House each night. Other events will take place during this time, again through corporate sponsorship. The SAR will sponsor a reception on Friday evening, March 28. Each of the other days at the Museum, the SAR has asked other patriotic, genealogical or historical groups to present special programs and speakers.
The Sons of the American Revolution is working with local youth groups, including the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H, Ely Chapman Educational Foundation, public library branches and area schools to provide additional educational opportunities for young people. Some of the scheduled programs include a Historical Scavenger Hunt and Hiking Tour of Marietta, special museum programs, educational material for merit badges and 4-H project work and written material for any parent or grandparent to share with their families.
The SAR has already secured pledges of monetary support from several corporations and private entities to ensure this project moves forward. They will be soliciting contributions to cover the cost of publishing and distributing over 32,000 tabloids to area residents and students, as well as regional historical, genealogical and patriot organizations. A large number of these events are already established heritage sites or programs throughout Washington County and are available on a daily, weekly or annual basis. However, with the partnership and cooperation of a great many organizations and individuals expending great time, talent and energy, we will conclude this exciting event with the WCHS Founders Day Dinner on April 7 and Belpre’s Founder’s Day Dinner on April 8. The SAR has received an abundance of encouragement for this large undertaking and wish to thank in advance all of those who wish to donate, assist and participate in this project. It cannot be done alone, but with the combined efforts of all of the aforementioned groups and individuals, the completion of this anticipated 10-year Patriots and Pioneers Project is truly possible!
For more information, contact the Marietta Chapter SAR:
Jean Yost, President, (740) 678-8060 email: jean.yost@gmail.com
Dick McAllister, Vice President, (304) 422-9679 email: rmcall01@aol.com
Scott Britton, Secretary, email: mariettablues@yahoo.com
