Volume 39 • No. 3 • September 2005 The

PublishedPIRIT byPIRIT the Descendants of the Signers of OF OFthe Declaration of Independence SS 98th Annual Congress’76’76 in Philadelphia

n Sunday July 3rd, we dedicated a bench in honor of the seven Signers WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE buried in Christ Church’s Burial President-General’s Message ...... 2 OGrounds and in their Church Yard. The bench Info for Spirit ...... 2 honors: Benjamin Franklin, Joseph Hewes, The Summer Meeting in Philadelphia ...... 3 Francis Hopkinson, Robert Morris, George Signers Restoration and Recognition Report ...... 4 Ross, Benjamin Rush, James Wilson. The October 2005 Meeting ...... 5 bench was placed The Signers from Pennsylvania ...... 6 near the gravesite of DSDI State Society News ...... 8 Benjamin Franklin. Attention Past Bell Tappers ...... 8 We had over 50 225th Siege of Charleston ...... 9 members, spouses Registrar-General’s Report ...... 10 and guests present. Future Meetings ...... Back Page Nina Hopkins came from Florida to On Monday the fourth, some of our members place the wreath, Nina attended the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of is descended from the Revolution (PSSR) luncheon along with the George Ross. Grace four Tappers and their parents. Our Junior Staller officiated and Members who symbolically tapped the Liberty President-General Bell this year were, Luther D. Shank IV and Independence Hall Thomas Heyward gave Douglas, Jessica and Kristy Scordino. We are a moving talk on the very proud of them and it was an honor for them dedication, and of the personal heroism of all of and their parents. the Signers of the Declaration. Rev. Timothy B. Safford, our honorary Chaplain from Christ The Normandy Bell was on exhibition in Church, accepted the bench and is looking for- Philadelphia for the holiday. The bell is a gift ward to having the pub- from the French Government to the lic use the bench to rest United States. The Bell is an exact repli- and reflect on the deeds ca of the Liberty Bell and was made of our Founding Fathers. with the use of lasers and designed Following the dedication without the crack so as to make the there was a private tour sound as near as possible to what it of the Burial Grounds by sounded like in 1776. The French a colonial dressed guide. Government built the Bell a year ago in In the evening we board- honor of the 60th anniversary of the ed The Spirit of Normandy Invasion in France. The bell Philadelphia cruise ship, will travel around the country after a for a dinner cruise on stay in Philadelphia. Our President- the Delaware River. General Thomas Heyward along with Everyone had a good The Liberty Bell the President of the PSSR and other dig- time. Fred Pyne our nitaries pulled the cord at the same time Registrar-General especially liked dancing to the that our Tappers tapped the Liberty Bell. The Latin music. sound was chilling and wonderful. Continued on page 3 Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence Officers, 2005-2006 ______Board of Governors President-General THOMAS GAILLARD HEYWARD, SR. P.O. Box 353, 31 Foreman Hill Road, Bluffton, SC 29910 2005-2006 First Vice-President DONALD CROSSET WARD 15 Wards Way, Boyertown, PA 19512 ______Second Vice-President TRUXTUN ENNAILS BRODHEAD 58 Oswegatchie Hills Road, Niantic, CT 06357 NEW HAMPSHIRE - Mrs. Kenneth S. Peterson MASSACHUSETTS - Ms. Marianne M. Brinker Chaplain-General MS. NINA HILL HOPKINS 3300 Binnacle Drive, #210, Naples, FL 34103 RHODE ISLAND - Blaine Hunting Worth Registrar-General REV. FREDERICK WALLACE PYNE 3137 Periwinkle Court, Adamstown, MD 21710 CONNECTICUT - Lindsay Downs Assistant-Registrar JAMES HERBERT ALEXANDER 7157 SE Reed College Place, Portland, OR 97202 NEW YORK - Melvin Philip Livingston Historian-General CARTER BRAXTON WORTH 200 E. 66th Street, New York, NY 10021 NEW JERSEY - Emery Livingston Flannery PENNSYLVANIA - Mrs. Grace Keiper Staller Assistant Historian EDWARD RIDLEY FINCH, JR., ESQ. 860 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021 DELAWARE - Luther Dreher Shank III Treasurer-General DANIEL HEYWARD McNAMARA 8507 Henrico Avenue, Richmond, VA 23229 MARYLAND - Mrs. Linda Coley Teare Assistant Treasurer ROBIN LEIGH RAWL 2528 Heyward Street, Columbia, SC 29205 VIRGINIA - Mrs. Page L. Warden NORTH CAROLINA - Janet Anderson McKean Secretary-General THORNTON CALEF LOCKWOOD 17 Duck Pond Road, Demarest, NJ 07627 SOUTH CAROLINA - Ms. Laura A. Heyward Assistant Secretary PHILIP ROBERT LIVINGSTON 77 Oak Knoll Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 GEORGIA - Mrs. Julie Burnet McLaurine Chancellor-General T. MICHAEL KENNEDY, ESQ. 100 Flintshire Way, Coppell, TX 75019 WASHINGTON, DC - Danielle E. M. Bielenstein

Dear friends,

“Summer time and the living is easy”. So wrote my cousin Dubose Heyward when he penned the words to this famous song. Having spent most of his life in Charleston, he wrote “Porgy”, which became “Porgy and Bess”, which was a huge success.

Our Annual Congress was another great event. Meeting in Independence Hall is a spiritual affair. As a grandchild of one (or more) of the fifty-six patriots who actually founded this great nation, one can easily drift back in time and almost hear the voices of our ancestors as they debated the question of Independence. Membership in this society means that you are someone special.

As we enter our ninety-eight year, our society is poised for growth. Plans have been laid for a huge, very special cel- ebration at Williamsburg, VA in October of 2007. I do hope that you start to plan now to attend. Why not make it a family affair? Plan to bring all the children. They must know their heritage. They should learn it from you.

A new Scholarship Committee has been named. More information about this scholarship which is only available to DSDI members will be posted on our web-site later in the fall. The Committee on the By-Laws is busy refreshing the rules we govern by. The Grave-site Recognition Committee is also hard at work. Our records are now in order and in a new data base available to our officers who need that information. The new Editor of “The Spirit of ‘76” is up and running and on the job. And your ideas are always welcome.

I’m looking forward to an exciting meeting at Princeton in October. And, I sure would enjoy sharing that experience with you.

Sincerely yours, Info for Spirit

To send information to The Spirit of ’76 editor, Johnny Alexander: Thomas G. Heyward Phone – 503 393-2386 President-General Mail – PO Box 425, Salem, OR 97308-0425 Fax – 503 581-0152 Email – [email protected] 2 SUMMER MEETING in PHILADELPHIA

Annual Banquet speaker Ringing the Normandy bell. Paul Longthorpe and daughter Carolyn Franz Stephen Sitarski of the by steps to Bell Tower in Independence Hall. National Park Service Paul and Carolyn traveled the furthest to attend the Annual Meeting (from Seattle, Continued from page 1 Washington) and Paul was also the oldest member in attendance (age 86). In the evening we all met at Independence Park, for a private tour by Stephen Sitarski, who is the Chief of Interpretation and Visitors Services. Our 98th Annual Meeting was held in the historic LONG ROOM on Left to right: Joanie, Tom and Laura Heyward. the second floor of Independence Hall. The Declaration was read by William King III, from Richmond VA., who brought the words to life for all of us. Dinner was at the Omni Hotel, Stephen Sitarski was Left to right: Thorny Lockwood, Nina Hopkins our guest speaker and his topic was “Lesser Known and Lenora Lockwood. Stories of the Signers and Independence Hall” it was wonderful, and brought us closer to the world of our Sandy Stromberg with William Grandfathers. King who is the young college student who was attending his On Tuesday July 5th, the dedication of the plaque for first meeting. William gave the Philip Livingston was held in York, PA. There were great reading of The twelve in attendance, eight were direct descendants. Declaration of Independence at our meeting. They were Mel Livingston, Philip Livingston, Elaine Livingston, and Cynthia, Douglas, Kristy, Jessica Scordino, Edward Finch. Mel Livingston gave a moving account of the Don Ward flanked by two beautiful ladies. life and heroic deeds of Philip Livingston. Prospect Hill Cemetery catered a surprise lunch in our honor. There were two more dedications of DSDI on the 4th of July. One was in Litchfield, Connecticut. Herrick Jackson, a descendant of Oliver Wolcott, and his wife were on hand to place the wreath with Lindsay Downs our Governor in Connecticut, both men spoke on the life and service of Sandy Stromberg, Oliver Wolcott. The DAR hosted the celebration, as they do Past President- General and each year. Various dignitaries were on hand for the occasion, Thomas Heyward, many were dressed in colonial costume. There were about President-General sixty people at the gathering to honor Oliver Wolcott. at Annual Banquet Emily Bagwill, dedicated our DSDI plaque and placed a wreath on the grave of Mayor John Street, Jessica, Kristy, and Douglas William Ellery, in Newport, RI., she read an account of William Ellery’s life. Scordino and Luther Shank. Emily goes every year to the cemetery and is always the honored guest of the DAR, the American Legion and various groups, Emily is the only descendant in PENNSYLVANIAthe area, and has been faithful to her Signer. Respectfully submitted Grace Staller, DSDI Governor of PA 3 Signers Restoration and Recognition Project On July 3, 2005, we honored seven Signers at Christ Church with a pres- entation and dedication of a DSDI bench. The seven honored included:

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, JOSPEH HEWES, FRANCIS HOPKINSON, ROBERT MORRIS, GEORGE ROSS, BENJAMIN RUSH and JAMES WILSON.

Two SIGNERS were honored on July 4, 2005. SIGNER Oliver WOLCOTT was hon- ored in Connecticut. Connecticut Gov. Lindsay Downs and direct Descendant Herrick Jackson made the presentation. We appreciate the help of the DAR in the cele- bration. In Rhode Island, SIGNER William Ellery was honored by Emily Bagwill. We appreciate the Bench in Christ Church Cemetery help of the DAR, the American Legion and others in support of this celebration.

SIGNER Philip LIVINGSTON was honored on July 5, 2005 in York, Pennsylvania. Several attendees of the Annual Meeting stayed and made the trip to York to participate in the ceremony.

The next scheduled plaque placement will occur at the October meeting in Princeton, New Jersey, in honor of SIGNER John WITHERSPOON.

That will bring the number of plaques we have placed to 13. We are working on several more and hope to have more DSDI Governor of Connecticut Lindsay Downs with dedicated before the weather turns cold Herrick Jackson, descendant of Oliver Wolcott. for winter. If you would like more infor- mation about your SIGNER and his dedication, please contact Grace Staller. There is no set Grace Staller, Mel Livingston, Ed Finch, order for plaque placement since it depends upon the cemetery and their willingness to allow and Philip Livingston at Philip Livingston the plaques. (The Signer) Plaque Dedication Ceremony in Prospect Hill Cemetery, York, PA, We accept donations for this July 5th, 2005. project. Please make your check payable to D.S.D.I Inc. We have received donations from George Berger, Lindsay Downs, Edward Finch, Nina Hopkins, Dorothy Gray Moore, William Paca, Bill Ward and Anonymous. Thank you for your support.

The Newport Artillery Company in front of Grace Staller William Ellery’s grave. 1294 Robynwood Lane Emily “Lee” Bagwill, descendant of Signer William Ellery, at West Chester, PA 19380 the plaque dedication. 4 [email protected] October 2005 Meeting

October 7, 8, 9, 2005 2:45 PM Historical Society of Princeton bus tour of Nassau Inn/Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey historic Princeton. The tour will originate at the “Pettoranello Gardons/Community Park Agenda- Subject to Change North” parking lot.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2005 5:00 PM Sites include: Nassau Hall, the Graduate College, Einstein’s house, the Institute for 3:00 PM Board of Governors Meeting at the Advanced Study, Drumthwacket, Woodrow to Nassau Inn’s 2nd floor “Nassau” Meeting Wilson’s house’s, Princeton Battle 5:00 PM room for board members only. Monument, the Princeton Battlefield, and more. 5:30 PM SODS Meet, Cash Bar, Yankee Doodle Tap Room (1st floor of Nassau Inn, off main 6:00 PM Cocktails. Cash Bar at the Nassau Inn’s lobby); Cocktails [Board, members, guests]. “Princeton Room”

6:00 PM Dedication of “signer” John Witherspoon’s 7:30 PM Banquet (Black tie, Period Dress or Kilt), DSDI Memorial plaque at his nearby Nassau Inn’s “Princeton Room.” Pick up your gravesite in The Princeton Cemetery (two name tag, and the table seating chart is on a walking blocks Nassau Inn). Meet at Nassau table just as you enter. Inn lobby entrance and walk to cemetery [Board, members, and guests]. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2005

Evening Dinner on your own. Breakfast Breakfast on your own.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2005 10:00 AM Church Service at the majestic Princeton University’s Chapel. Breakfast Breakfast on your own. The Nassau Inn: Ten East Palmer Square, Princeton, NJ 9:15 AM General Meeting of the Society in Princeton 08542 - (609) 921-7500 to University’s historic Nassau Hall. 10:30 AM Completed in 1756, Nassau Hall (across the The Nassau Inn is holding at least 10 rooms for our street from the Nassau Inn on the Princeton Society at the rate of $169.00 (plus $14 for parking and University campus) was the largest academic other applicable taxes). Please make your reservations structure in the thirteen colonies. In 1783 directly with the Nassau Inn, using a guaranteed Credit the Hall served as Capital of the United Card. Deadline (cut-off-date) for reservations at this States for six months and the Continental historic and quality Inn, located in downtown Princeton, Congress met in this very room. NJ and directly across from Princeton University, has been set by them at September 6, 2005. Reservations 11:00 AM Tour of Historic “Morven,” a national received after that date can be accepted on a space historic landmark. Built in the 1750’s by available basis only, and the group rate may not apply. Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Tours of 10 that last about Other overnight accomodations in Princeton area (ask 45 minutes each. $4 per each. We will drive for your usual favorite discount) : 3 there by car caravan ⁄4 mile from the Nassau Inn lobby entrance beginning at 10:45 AM. AmerSuites, 3565 Route 1 South, Princeton (609) 720-0200 12:00 PM Lunch on your own in downtown Princeton. Hyatt Regency Princeton, 102 Carnegie Center Blvd, Princeton University campus tours to Princeton (609) 987-1234 originating at Frist Campus Center are Princeton Courtyard by Marriott, 3815 US Route 1, scheduled throughout the day beginning at Princeton (609) 716-9100 2:30 PM, 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM Radisson Hotel Princeton, 4355 Route 1 South, daily. Princeton (609) 452-2400 Staybridge Suites, 4375 US Route 1 South, Princeton 2:00 PM Princeton vs. Colgate University football (609) 951-0009 game at Princeton University’s Wade Stadium. 5 THE SIGNERS FROM PENNSYLVANIA The National Parks Service has assembled a collection of short biographies at this website: http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/declaration/bioa.htm. The three signers below are arranged alphabetically. There were a total of nine signers from Pennsylvania. The other six will appear over the next 2 years.

George Clymer Benjamin Franklin Clymer was orphaned in 1740, only a year after Franklin was born in 1706 at Boston. He was his birth in Philadelphia. A wealthy uncle reared the tenth son of a soap- and candle-maker. He and informally educated him and advanced him received some formal education but was princi- from clerk to a full-fledged partner in his mer- pally self-taught. After serving an apprentice- cantile firm, which on his death he bequeathed ship to his father between the ages of 10 and to his ward. Later, Clymer merged operations 12, he went to work for his half-brother James, with the Merediths, prominent businessmen, a printer. In 1721 the latter founded the New and cemented the relationship by marrying his senior partner’s daughter. England Courant, the fourth newspaper in the Colonies. Benjamin secretly contributed to it 14 essays, his first published writings. Motivated at least partly by the impact of British economic restrictions on his business, Clymer early adopted the Revolutionary cause and was In 1723, because of dissension with his half-brother, Franklin moved to one of the first to recommend independence. He attended patriotic Philadelphia. He spent only a year there, and then sailed to London for meetings, served on the Pennsylvania council of safety, and in 1773 two more years. Back in Philadelphia, he rose rapidly in the printing headed a committee that forced the resignation of Philadelphia tea con- industry. He published The Pennsylvania Gazette (1730-48), which had signees appointed by Britain under the Tea Act. Inevitably, in light of his been founded by another man in 1728, but his most successful venture economic background, he channeled his energies into financial matters. was annual Poor Richard’s Almanac (1733-58). It won a popularity in the In 1775-76 he acted as one of the first two Continental treasurers, even Colonies second only to the Bible, and its fame eventually spread to personally underwriting the war by exchanging all his own specie for Europe. Continental currency. Meantime, in 1730 Franklin had taken a common-law wife, who was to In the Continental Congress (1776-77 and 1780-82) the quiet and unas- bear him a son and a daughter, as was another woman out of wedlock. suming Clymer rarely spoke in debate but made his mark in committee By 1748 he had achieved financial independence and gained recogni- efforts, especially those pertaining to commerce, finance, and military tion for his philanthropy and the stimulus he provided to such worthwhile affairs. During and between his two congressional tours, he also served civic causes as libraries, educational institutions, and hospitals. on a series of commissions that conducted important field investigations. Energetic and tireless, he also found time to pursue his deep interest in In December 1776, when Congress fled from Philadelphia to Baltimore, science, as well as enter politics. he and fellow signers George Walton and Robert Morris remained Franklin served as clerk (1736-51) and member (1751-64) of the colo- behind to carry on congressional business. Within a year, after their vic- nial legislature, and as deputy postmaster of Philadelphia (1737-53) and tory at the Battle of Brandywine, Pa. (Sept. 11, 1777), British troops deputy postmaster general of the Colonies (1753-74). In addition, he advancing on Philadelphia detoured for the purpose of vandalizing represented Pennsylvania at the Albany Congress (1754), called to unite Clymer’s home in Chester County, about 25 miles outside the city, while the Colonies during the French and Indian War. The congress adopted his wife and children hid nearby in the woods. his “Plan of Union,” but the colonial assemblies rejected it because it encroached on their powers. After a brief retirement following his last tour in the Continental Congress, Clymer was reelected in the years 1784-88 to the During the years 1757-62 and 1764-75, Franklin resided in England, Pennsylvania legislature, where he had also served part time in 1780-82 originally in the capacity of agent for Pennsylvania and later for Georgia, while still in Congress. As a State legislator, he advocated reform of the New Jersey, and Massachusetts. During the latter period, which coincid- penal code, opposed capital punishment, and represented Pennsylvania ed with the growth of colonial unrest, he under went a political metamor- in the Constitutional Convention (1787). The next phase of his career phosis. Until then a contented Englishman in outlook, primarily con- consisted of service as a U.S. Representative in the First Congress cerned with Pennsylvania provincial politics, he distrusted popular move- (1789-91), followed by appointment as collector of excise taxes on alco- ments and saw little purpose to be served in carrying principle to holic beverages in Pennsylvania (1791-94). In 1795-96 he sat on a extremes. Until the issue of parliamentary taxation undermined the old Presidential commission that negotiated a treaty with the Indians in alliances, he led the conservative Quaker party in its attack on the Georgia. Anglican proprietary party and its Presbyterian frontier cohorts. His pur- pose throughout the years at London in fact had been displacement of During his retirement, Clymer advanced various community projects, the Penn family administration by royal authority—the conversion of the including the Philadelphia Agricultural Society, the Philadelphia Academy province from a proprietary to a royal colony. of Fine Arts, and the Philadelphia Bank. At the age of 73, in 1813, he died at Summerseat, an estate a few miles outside Philadelphia at It was during the Stamp Act crisis that Franklin evolved from leader of a Morrisville that he had purchased and moved to in 1806. His grave is in shattered provincial party’s faction to celebrated spokesman at London the Friends Meeting House Cemetery at Trenton, N.J. for American rights. Although as agent for Pennsylvania he opposed by every conceivable persuasive means enactment of the bill in 1765, he did not at first realize the depth of colonial hostility. He regarded pas- 6 contracted with his firm to import arms and ammunition; and he was SIGNERS, CONTINUED elected to the Pennsylvania council of safety (1775-76), the committee of correspondence, the provincial assembly (1775-76), the State legisla- sage as unavoidable and preferred to submit to it while actually working ture (1776-78), and the Continental Congress (1775-78). In the latter for its repeal. His nomination of a friend and political ally as stamp dis- body, on July 1, 1776, he voted against independence, which he per- tributor in Pennsylvania, coupled with his apparent acceptance of the sonally considered pre-mature, but the next day purposely absented legislation, armed his proprietary opponents with explosive issues. Their himself to facilitate an affirmative ballot by his State. energetic exploitation of them endangered his reputation at home until reliable information was published demonstrating his unabated opposi- Morris, a key Member of Congress, specialized in financial affairs and tion. For a time, mob resentment threatened his family and new home in military procurement. Although he and his firm profited handsomely, had Philadelphia until his tradesmen supporters rallied. Subsequently, it not been for his assiduous labors the Continental Army would probably Franklin’s defense of the American position in the House of Commons have needed to demobilize. He worked closely with General during the debates over the Stamp Act’s repeal restored his prestige at Washington, wheedled money and supplies from the States, borrowed home. money in the face of overwhelming difficulties, and on occasion even obtained personal loans to further the war cause. Immediately following Franklin returned to Philadelphia in May 1775, and immediately became his congressional service, Morris sat for two more terms in the a Member of the Continental Congress. Thirteen months later, he served Pennsylvania legislature in the period 1778-81. During this time, on the committee that drafted the Declaration. According to a traditional Thomas Paine and others attacked him for profiteering in Congress, anecdote, when he finished signing he declared, “Gentlemen, we must which investigated his accounts and vindicated him. Nevertheless, his now all hang together, or we shall most assuredly all hang separately.” reputation slipped. He subsequently contributed to the Government in other important Morris embarked on the most dramatic phase of his career by accepting ways, and took over the duties of president of the Pennsylvania consti- the office of Superintendent of Finance (1781-84) under the Articles of tutional convention. Confederation. Congress, recognizing the perilous state of the Nation’s finances and its impotence to remedy it, granted him dictatorial powers But, within less than a year and a half after his return, the aged states- and acquiesced to his condition that he be allowed to continue his pri- man set sail once again for Europe, beginning a career as diplomat that vate commercial enterprises. He slashed all governmental and military would occupy him for most of the rest of his life. In 1776-79, one of expenditures, personally purchased Army and Navy supplies, tightened three commissioners, he directed the negotiations that led to treaties of accounting procedures, prodded the States to fulfill quotas of money commerce and alliance with France, where the people adulated him, but and supplies, and when necessary strained his personal credit by issu- he and the other commissioners squabbled constantly. While he was ing notes over his own signature or borrowing from friends. sole commissioner to France (1779-85), he and John Jay and John Adams negotiated the Treaty of Paris (1783), which ended the War for To finance Washington’s Yorktown campaign in 1781, in addition to the Independence. above techniques Morris obtained a sizable loan from France. He used part of it, along with some of his own fortune, to organize the Bank of Back in the United States, in 1785-87 Franklin became president of the North America, chartered that December. The first Government-incorpo- Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. At the Constitutional rated bank in the United States, it aided war financing. Convention (May 1787), though he did not approve of many aspects of the finished document, he lent his prestige, soothed passions, and com- Although Morris was reelected to the Pennsylvania legislature in 1785- promised disputes. In his twilight years, working on his Autobiography, 86, his private commercial ventures consumed most of his time. In the latter year, he attended the Annapolis Convention, and the following he could look back on a fruitful life as the toast of two continents. Active year the Constitutional Convention, where he sympathized with the nearly to the last, in 1787 he was elected as first president of the Federalists. In 1789, declining Washington’s offer of appointment as the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery—a cause to first Secretary of the Treasury, he took instead a senatorial seat in which he had committed himself as early as the 1730’s. His final public Congress (1789-95). act was signing a memorial to Congress recommending dissolution of the slavery system. Shortly thereafter, in 1790 at the age of 84, Franklin During the later years of his public life, Morris speculated wildly, often on passed away in Philadelphia and was buried in Christ Church Burial overextended credit, in lands in the West and at the site of Washington, Ground. D.C. To compound his difficulties, in 1794 he began constructing on Philadelphia’s Chestnut Street a palatial townhouse designed by Maj. Pierre Charles L’Enfant. Not long thereafter, Morris attempted to escape Robert Morris creditors by retreating to The Hills, the country estate along the Morris was born in or near Liverpool, England, Schuylkill River on the edge of Philadelphia that he had acquired in in 1734. At the age of 13, he emigrated to 1770. Maryland to join his father, a tobacco exporter at Oxford, Md. After brief schooling at Arrested at the behest of creditors in 1798 and forced to abandon com- Philadelphia, the youth obtained employment pletion of the townhouse, henceforth known in its unfinished state as with Thomas and Charles Willing’s well-known “Morris’ Folly,” Morris was thrown into the Philadelphia debtors’ prison, shipping firm. In 1754 he became a partner, where he was well treated. Nevertheless, by the time he was released in and for almost four decades was one of the company’s directors as well 1801, under a Federal bankruptcy law, his property and fortune had van- as one of Philadelphia’s most influential citizens. Marrying in 1769 at the ished, his health deteriorated, and his spirit been broken. He lingered on age of 35, he fathered five sons and two daughters. amid poverty and obscurity, living in a simple Philadelphia home on an annuity Gouverneur Morris had obtained for his wife. He died in 1806 in During the Stamp Act turmoil in 1765, Morris had joined other merchants his 72d year. He was buried in the yard of Christ Church. in protest, but not until the outbreak of hostilities a decade hence did he fully commit himself to the Revolution. In 1775 the Continental Congress 7 DSDI State Society News

Pennsylvania Society

We have been revitalized. We held the Thomas McKean plaque dedication in April 2005. The 4 bell tappers this year were all junior members from Pennsylvania. Bell tapper positions have been reserved through 2013 with 2014 and 2015 filling up rapidly.

Respectfully submitted Grace K. Staller

Virginia Society

My first official duty as the newly elected President of the Virginia Chapter was to help my son Bruce Laubach with The Sounds of Liberty program. The Virginia Gazette reported on our ceremony. The Charlottesville Fire Department allowed us to use the Central Fire Station for the program. Boy Scout Troop 1028 of Keswick was the color guard and bell-ringers. A choral ensemble from The Broadus Memorial Baptist Church performed a medley of patriotic songs to include the National Anthem. Several speakers made presentations, including myself.

Respectfully submitted Page L. Warden

Editor’s comment – According to the minutes of the General Meeting, there were 3 other Sounds of Liberty activities in Virginia and possibly more around the nation. If you have information about other Sounds of Liberty activities, please send me the information so I can include in the next Spirit ’76.

ATTENTION PAST BELL TAPPERS

In preparation for our 100th Centennial Celebration, we are asking all of the past Liberty Bell Tappers to supply us with information. We would like to have your name, women should include their maiden name, your DSDI membership number and your current address, telephone number, and most importantly, the year in which you tapped the Bell.

Please send the information to: Grace Staller, 1294 Robynwood Lane, West Chester, PA 19380 Telephone 610-436-9191, Fax 610-436-1805 Email: [email protected] Left to Right - Bell Tappers Douglas Scordino, Jessica Scordino, Kristy Scordino, and Luther Shank in front of the Liberty Bell - 7/5/05.

8 225th Siege of Charleston (May 12, 1780 – May 12, 2005)

On May 14 DSDI member John Glynn, his wife Kathryn, and grand- daughter, Alexandra Miles gave educational lectures on the Declaration of Independence and the four signers from South Carolina, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Edward Rutledge, Thomas Lynch, Jr., and Arthur Middleton in conjunction with other Siege events in and around Charleston, SC the weekend of 14 and 15 May.

The lectures were given at Middleton Plantation, on the Ashley River, home of Arthur Middleton. The lectures were well attended and the audience was very interested in the signer’s lives and their place in history as well as details about the Declaration. Additionally John talked about Richard Stockton, John and Alexandra’s great-grandfather and a signer of the Declaration from New Jersey and a great-cousin William Henry Drayton, a strong supporter of the Revolution and civil liberties. John, Alexandra and William share the same great- grandfather, Thomas Drayton, who built Magnolia Plantation used by the John and Alexandra ready to attend Continental forces during the weekend’s events. Magnolia Plantation is located the Surrender. between Middleton Plantation and Drayton Hall, all located on the Ashley River. Judge John Drayton built Drayton Hall and is William’s father and John and Alexandra’s great-uncle. Drayton Hall was the operational head- quarters of the British forces for the weekend.

Kathryn lectured on the wives of the four South Carolina signers and Annis Boudinot-Stockton and other signer’s wives and their Revolutionary War contributions. Alexandra assisted by passing out information sheets on Heyward, Lynch, Rutledge and Middleton to the audience. A loyalist and his lady dancing. On Friday, May 13, John, Kathryn and Alexandra attended the ‘Surrender Ball’ at the historic Charleston Exchange. All participants had to attend in period clothing and danced to the music and dances of 1780.

It was a very exciting event with re-enactors coming from all over the country to participate. It felt as if you were in the middle of the all the military action as well as the activity of a large military camp 225 years ago. Unfortunately the events 225 years ago did not turn out well for the Revolution and signers Heyward, Rutledge and Middleton, and all militia, were captured and imprisoned in St. Augustine, FL. They were eventually exchanged about a year later. Charleston was eventually recaptured however, from siege to recap- ture South Carolina was a center of war activities with several major battles including Camden, Cowpens, Fort Ninety Six and Eutow, wearing down Lord Cornwallis’ army and forced them to move north to Yorktown and ultimate Hessian Troops on the march to defeat. Charleston.

John and Kathryn provide educational lectures to schools, clubs, historic sites and other organizations on the Declaration and the Signers.

Respectfully submitted John Glynn

Kathryn and John Glynn. 9 DSDI – REGISTRAR-GENERAL’S REPORT Annual Congress Meeting: 3, 4, July 2005, Philadelphia, PA

4 New Senior Members:

2771 Catherine Phelps WHITTINGHILL Carter BRAXTON 224 Bent Twig Avenue From Jr. # 1140 Camarillo, CA 93012

2772 LM Vincent Ming Fae TAM Matthew THORNTON 6609 Pine Valley Place From Jr. # 1188 Fort Worth, TX 76132

2773 Priscilla Ann Reed GIAQUINTA John HART 2220 15th Street, SW Canton, OH 44706

2774 LM Walter Byrd MITCHELL Carter BRAXTON 1806 Roland Avenue From Jr. # 1165 Ruxton, MD 21204

5 New Junior Members:

1193 Logan Graebe FLINT 10th of 490 Erb Road John HART Perkiomenville, PA 18074

1194 Skylar Woodbury FLINT 10th of 490 Erb Road John HART Perkiomenville, PA 18074

1195 Riley McAllister FLINT 10th of 490 Erb Road John HART Perkiomenville, PA 18074

1196 Daniel Boone Carson FLINT 10th of 490 Erb Road John HART Perkiomenville, PA 18074

1197 LM Casey Bartlett GODBOUT 8th of 203 Mayflower Drive Josiah BARTLETT Manchester, NH 03104

1 Reinstatement

2479 Alice Lowndes Lee FRASER Arthur MIDDLETON 51 Myrtle Island Road Bluffton, SC 29910-7109

10 44 Junior Members Dropped for Delinquency

We have identified 44 Junior Members to be removed from our rolls because they have not transferred to Senior Status. Contact the Assistant-Registrar Jim Alexander for more information.

1 Name Change and Correction:

1808LM From: Janet McKean SMITH, George CLYMER 103 Woods Walk Court, Carboro, NC 27510 To: Janet Anderson McKEAN, 113 South Wake Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278

3 Deaths:

571LM Grace Morris Poe BRAWNER Robert MORRIS Died 7 Sep 2004

1502LM Katharine Jackson REESE Oliver WOLCOTT Died 25 Mar 2005

1885LM James Hooper MELLICHAMP William HOOPER Died 6 Apr 2005

Summary Society Status

Last Senior Number, last report: 2770 Last Junior Number, last Report: 1192

New Senior Members (2) plus Transfers from JR. (2) = 4 Carter Braxton 2 John Hart 1 Matthew Thornton 1

Seniors Juniors 927 Total Membership, Last Report 204 +2 New Members +5 +2 Transfer to Senior -2 -0 Resignation/Drop -44 +1 Reinstatement -3 Death +2 Total net added, this Report -41 929 Total Membership, This Report 163

Respectfully Submitted, Frederick Pyne The Rev. Frederick W. Pyne Registrar-General, DSDI 11 Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Proposed Future Meetings

17, 18, 19 March 2006 Greensboro, NC

3, 4 July 2006 Philadelphia, PA

13, 14, 15 October 2006 Kingston, NY

25, 26, 27 March 2007 Cowpens, SC

3, 4 July 2007 Philadelphia, PA

Our Centennial Celebration Special, Special, Special 19, 20, 21 October 2007 Williamsburg, VA Plan Ahead and Be There For a Memorable Experience

Presorted D.S.D.I. First-Class Mail Rev. Frederick Pyne U.S. Postage 3137 Periwinkle Court PAID Adamstown, MD 21710 Upper Darby, PA Permit No. 114 Address Service Requested