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Volume 41 • No. 3 • September 2007 The

PublishedSSPIRIT byPIRIT the Descendants of the Signers of OF OFthe Declaration of Independence’76’76 100th Annual Congress

ur 100th Annual Congress was a special meeting. The day began with six Junior Members tapping the Liberty Bell at preciselyO 2:00 PM. The tapping coincided with bell ringing throughout our great nation. At 6:00 PM we had 101 members and their families plus invited guests join us in the Long Room of . The Long Room is not open to the public, and the D.S.D.I. has been privileged to meet there for 100 years. The Bell Tappers were presented to the members and President-General Thomas Gaillard Heyward handed out copies of the Declaration of Independence and a picture of the signing of the Left to right, Philadelphia Mayor John Street, Mariana Declaration by John Trumbull to them. Dobnys, Elizabeth Sturgeon, Christina Sturgeon, Tyler President-General Thomas Nolan, George Williams III, William Gottwald IV, and Gaillard Heyward presented Rev. Governor Edward Rendell Frederick Wallace Pyne with the Patriots Award for his many years Hercules, one of at least nine enslaved Africans of service to our Society. Fred’s who toiled in the Washington household, wife Ann was in attendance. The presided as ’s chef. The Declaration of Independence was public has been able to view the area from a read by President-General Thomas Continued on page 4 Gaillard Heyward and by Donald Crosset Ward, Jr. Out-going President-General Thomas WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE Gaillard Heyward, turned over the President-General’s Message ...... 2 reins of our Society to our new President-General, Donald Crosset Fall Centennial Meeting ...... 3 Ward. The meeting was Past Bell Tappers ...... 3 Out going Registrar-General adjourned. Bell Ringing, State Society ...... 6 Fred Pyne receiving the DSDI Our 100th banquet was held at Patriot Award Annual Giving ...... 6 the Omni Hotel with 71 members Plaque Dedication ...... 7 and guests attending. Dennis Reidenbach, the Superintendent of Independence National Park, The Signers from Pennsylvania ...... 8 was our dinner speaker. His wife, Christine, Registrar-General’s Report ...... 10 accompanied him. The Superintendent spoke Samuel Huntington’s Plaque Dedication ...... 12 about the changes taking place at the Park. There has been an extensive archaeological dig Sounds of Liberty ...... 12 of the “President’s House”, where presidents Your Signer’s Legacy ...... 13 George Washington and lived Future Meetings ...... Back Page successively from 1790 to 1800. The archaeologists have located the kitchen in which Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence Officers,______2007-2008 Board of Governors President-General DONALD CROSSET WARD, SR. 15 Wards Way, Boyertown, PA 19512 2007-2008______First Vice-President JOHN CURTISS GLYNN, JR. 105 Elmsford Court, Brentwood, TN 37027 NEW HAMPSHIRE - Mrs. Kenneth S. Peterson Second Vice-President PHILIP ROBERT LIVINGSTON, JR. 77 Oak Knoll Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 MASSACHUSETTS - Ms. Marianne M. Brinker Chaplain-General REV. FREDERICK WALLACE PYNE 3137 Periwinkle Court, Adamstown, MD 21710 RHODE ISLAND - Blaine Huntting Worth Registrar-General JAMES HERBERT ALEXANDER, JR. 7157 SE Reed College Place, Portland, OR 97202 CONNECTICUT - Truxtun Ennails Brodhead NEW YORK - Melvin Phillip Livingston Assistant-Registrar JOHNNY DOW ALEXANDER P.O. Box 425, Salem, OR 97308 NEW JERSEY - Emery Livingston Flannery Historian-General EDWARD RIDLEY FINCH, JR., ESQ. 860 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021 PENNSYLVANIA - Mark Crosby Ward Treasurer-General DANIEL HEYWARD McNAMARA 8507 Henrico Avenue, Richmond, VA 23229 DELAWARE - L. D. Shank, III MARYLAND - Mrs. Linda Coley Teare Assistant Treasurer ROBIN LEIGH RAWL 2528 Heyward Street, Columbia, SC 29205 VIRGINIA - Lawrence M. Croft Secretary-General THORNTON CALEF LOCKWOOD 17 Duck Pond Road, Demarest, NJ 07627 NORTH CAROLINA - Janet Anderson McKean SOUTH CAROLINA - Ms. Laura A. Heyward Assistant Secretary L. D. SHANK, III P.O. Box 634, Odessa, DE 19730 GEORGIA - Mrs. Julie Burnet McLaurine Chancellor-General T. MICHAEL KENNEDY, ESQ. 100 Flintshire Way, Coppell, TX 75019 WASHINGTON, DC - Mrs. Laura Haines Belman

DSDI WEB SITE: http://www.dsdi1776.com/

Dear Friends;

I was honored and humbled to be voted in as President-General at the Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. It is my pleasure to offer my services to our great Society. I thank you for your faith and confidence, as we begin our next 100 years with the Descendents of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Our turnout this July was the largest in recent history with 101 of our membership in attendance. It was once again a great day in Philadelphia! Thank you, to our out-going Pennsylvania Governess Grace Staller for another memorable Annual Meeting. Grace’s dedication and hard work has provided our members with many memorable visits to the city of “ Brotherly Love”. We are all very actively preparing for our upcoming Centennial Meeting in Colonial Williamsburg during October. If you have never attended a D.S.D.I. meeting this is the one not to be missed. As our Past President-General, Thomas Heyward has written previously “it will be a family affair”. Tommy will be our host and Master of Ceremonies and I can guarantee it will be a fun filled time for all. One hundred years ago our family members met in Virginia, during the month of October, to form our Society. It is our duty to commemorate the forming of the Descendents of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and honor our ancestors who had the foresight to form this society. Our society 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 Honors in the cause of Liberty”. Let us carry this forth as we begin our next 100 years.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Williamsburg.

God bless all of you,

Truly yours,

Donald Crosset Ward Sr. 2 President- General The Fall Centennial Meeting In Williamsburg, Virginia All events are at the Colonial Williamsburg Lodge

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2007 6:30 P.M. Reception, Fountain Garden (Back Up Plan for inclement weather in place) 1-5 P.M. Registration - Williamsburg Lodge Colony Foyer 7:30-10:30 P.M. Formal Dinner (Suit or Black Tie or Costume) 2:30-4:30 P.M. Board of Governor’s Meeting, Our Speaker – Mr. Thomas Colony Room C Jefferson 4:45 P.M. Parade to Old Capitol Building # # # # # # # # Assemble – Arrival Hall Flag bearers please assemble at 4:30. Dress Better Casual and comfortable – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2007 Handicapped arrangements are made. Breakfast on your own. 6:30-7:30 P.M. Reception, Colony Terrace Church – Bruton Parish Episcopal 7:30-10 P.M. Virginia Fare Supper – Children’s Services at 7:30, 9, 11:15 A.M. Plate Available. Mr. will dine and # # # # # # # # enlighten us on events of interest. HOTEL RESERVATIONS # # # # # # # # Make all Hotel arrangements directly with the SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2007 Hotels at 1-800-261-9530. Mention DSDI.

7-9 A.M. Continental Breakfast, Colony Room E Unfortunately, most of the rooms at our agreed upon 9-10 A.M. General Meeting, Allegheny Room rate are gone, but some still exist. So please don’t delay. Also, there are other nearby hotels. 10 A.M.-12:30 P.M. Guided Tours, Assemble – Arrival Hall # # # # # # # #

12:30 P.M. Lunch, Tidewater Room Other important reservation information has been Our Speaker – General George Washington mailed to all members.

ATTENTION PAST BELL TAPPERS

In preparation for our 100th Centennial Celebration, we are asking all past Liberty Bell Tappers, who tapped the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia 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] 3 PHILADELPHIA

Continued from page 1 special platform. On July 31, 2007, the President’s House site will be covered temporarily for preservation. Chief of Visitor Services for the Park, Steven Sitarski, and his lovely wife Janice also joined us for dinner. Steven has been looking after us for over 25 years at our Long Room meetings. At the end of our meal, a three tier candle-lit cake was wheeled in. The cake was decorated in red, white and blue and had the phrase “100 years” on it. We sang “Happy Anniversary” to the Signers and our Society. Submitted by Grace K. Staller

Minutes from the first organization meeting July 5, 1907

A-10 Fly by

New Recruit

Independence Hall 4 PENNSYLVANIA Statue representing all the Signers More recruits Elizabeth and Christina Sturgeon

Left to right, Rieman McNamara, President-General Donald Troops forming up for parade. Crosset Ward, Sr., Grace Staller and Immediate Past President-General Thomas Gaillard Heyward, Sr.

Troops on parade 5 Bell Ringing by the New York State Society Although we didn’t have any formal service in conjunc- until the early 1950’s. Mel’s most vivid recollection is tion with our ringing this year, we did ring bells in two the ringing of the bell on VJ Day in the summer of 1945 locations. We rang the large 1885 bell in Central when many people came and joined in that celebration. United Methodist Church, in In our hearts that day were the hopes that his 19 year Endicott, NY. This is where we old brother Karl, missing with the submarine USS Trigger rang it last year in conjunction (SS237) in the East China Sea, would be found and he with a beautiful, well-attended would return home. That was not to be. Mel’s grandchil- service. Elaine D. Livingston, a dren Douglas Joshua, descendant of Philip Livingston of Jessica Lynn, and New York, and a DSDI Life Kristy Lynn Scordino Member did the ringing this year. rang the bell on July This bell requires a lot of strength 4, 2007. They and Elaine handled it well. enjoyed going back to a place where The ringing in Pennsylvania was their grandpa rang it done at the historic Silver Lake in 1945 on that Presbyterian Church at Laurel important occasion, Lake. This church was built in and where they were 1816 so will be celebrating its able to ring it this Elaine Livingston 200th Anniversary in 9 years. year on this important Mel Livingston, the DSDI Governor for New York State occasion. and a summer resident of Laurel Lake in his youth, was the official bell ringer at that church from the mid1940’s Mel Livingston Silver Lake Presbyterian Church

ANNUAL GIVING

Please consider making a cash gift to DSDI, Inc. in each calendar year. We are a volunteer organization. No members are paid for the considerable work necessary to carry on the regular business of this Society. Our dues and payments from the Life Dues Fund are used to pay for the always-increasing costs to do business, to communicate with our membership, and to undertake limited projects. Generally, you will find most non-profit organizations need Annual Giving from their members to further their work. We are asking for your support now as we approach our century anniversary.

Gifts of any amount will help us, and gifts of $100+ will be recognized at the Friends level, $250+ at the Boosters level, and $500+ at the Patriots level.

Please respond, and save us the cost of mailing an individual letter of solicitation. Thank you in advance for this consideration.

Your check should be made payable to DSDI, Inc., and mailed to our Treasurer-General: Dan McNamara 8507 Henrico Avenue Richmond, VA 23229

An appreciative acknowledgement and receipt will be returned for your records. 6 Josiah Bartlett Plaque Dedication

On Memorial Day weekend, May 25, a special cere- Memorial Day weekend is a special time to mony was held in Kingston, New Hampshire to dedi- remember those who died fighting for freedom or cate a DSDI plaque installed on the tomb of Josiah who served in our military. It is fitting that on Bartlett, the second signer of the Declaration of this hallowed day we honor both a healing physi- Independence. cian and a statesman who so fully represents all that our great country stands for. Early in the afternoon of a bright sunny day, visitors for the occasion assembled at the Kingston home of Dr. Josiah Bartlett rendered important service to Josiah Bartlett. The hostess for the day and the cer- our country by serving in the Continental emony was Ruth Albert, a Congress and later serving as Bartlett descendant, who Chief Justice of the New now lives in the Bartlett Hampshire Supreme Court. home with her husband However, his dedication to Dale. Nearly 50 descen- his country saw no greater dants, families and friends tribute than when he signed gathered for this historic the Declaration of event. In addition to resi- Independence. dents of New Hampshire, attendees came from His patriotism to his Texas, Georgia, South duties in Congress, and the Carolina and Washington, sacrifices he made for the D.C. to honor Josiah good of his country exemplify Bartlett on this special those whom we remember day. this Memorial Day weekend. Hostess for the dedication Ruth Albert, center, flanked In the early afternoon, the by cousins Casey and Arline Godbout, Tim Goonan, The honor and influence group walked across the William Bernard and Jennifer Roche Murillo, all of Dr. Bartlett have carried Kingston Green and into the descendants of Josiah’s son Levi Bartlett. down through the genera- cemetery of the Universalist tions and sustain us today. Church where Josiah Bartlett and his wife Mary lie We pray for him and for all those who have buried together. At 2 PM Ruth Albert welcomed served our country, and who are currently serv- everyone to the ceremony, thanking everyone for ing, and ask God’s blessing on them and their coming, and noting that many in the group had families. We ask these things in His name. come from some distance away to attend the ceremo- Amen.” ny. Thornton Lockwood, the Secretary-General of the DSDI and a Bartlett descendant, then read a After numerous photos of different descendant and biography of Bartlett giving highlights of his life and family groups, the group retired to the Bartlett his many accomplishments. Of particular note was homestead for refreshments, to enjoy a tour of the his active participation in all three of the country’s historic home, and to view many of Dr. Bartlett’s founding documents—the Declaration of personal effects. Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the U. S. Constitution.

Ruth Albert read the plaque dedication statement and a wreath was brought up and displayed in front of the tomb. The Reverend Wendell Irvine, a close friend of Ms. Albert, then read a prayer especially prepared for this ceremony by the Chaplain-General of the DSDI, Nina Hopkins, and afterwards he added some thoughts of his own.

Ms. Hopkins’ part of the prayer reads as follows:

“Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we gather this Memorial Day weekend for the plaque dedication of Josiah Bartlett, the second signer of the Thornton Lockwood, Secretary-General, DSDI and Declaration of Independence. Josiah Bartlett, descendant, at the dedication ceremony. 7 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 signers below are the third set of three in alphabetical order. Pennsylvania. He began as a laborer and then became a clerk JAMES SMITH at Warwick Furnace, in Chester County, and within 3 years Smith, the second son in a large family, rose to bookkeeper-manager of nearby Coventry Forge, anoth- was born in northern Ireland about 1719. er enterprise of his employer. In 1742, the year after the latter When he was around 10 years old, his died, Taylor acquired his business when he married his widow; father emigrated to America and settled she bore him a son and daughter. on acreage west of the Susquehanna In the mid-1750’s Taylor moved northeastward to Bucks River in York County, Pa. James studied County, where he and a partner leased Durham Furnace, about surveying and classical languages at 2 miles south of the Northampton County line and 10 miles Rev. Francis Alison’s academy in New London, Pa., and then south of Easton. Apparently after 1763 Taylor lived much of read law in the office of his elder brother at Lancaster. He was the time at or near Easton and acquired property there. In admitted to the bar in 1745 and moved westward to the 1768 his wife died; he subsequently sired five children by his Shippensburg vicinity in Cumberland County. A lack of clients housekeeper out of wedlock. The year of his wife’s death, he and surveying work caused him about 1750 to relocate east- built a home about 15 miles west of the city on a 331-acre ward to York, where he married a decade later. Although he tract he had purchased the year before. In 1771 he leased was the only lawyer in town until 1769, he experienced difficul- most of the land out as a farm, and 5 years later sold the ty in recruiting clients. Probably for this reason, during the house and land. years 1771-78 he undertook iron manufacturing, but the ven- ture failed and he lost £5,000. Taylor had begun his public life in 1747, when he took a com- mission as a captain in the Chester County militia. In 1761 he Smith early emerged as a local Whig leader. In 1774, at a was appointed as justice of the peace for Bucks County, but provincial convention in Philadelphia, he supported nonimporta- devoted most of his energies to Northampton County, which tion measures and advocated an intercolonial congress. That he served as justice of the peace (1764-75) and representa- same year, at York he raised a militia company, in which he tive in the colonial legislature (1764-70). In 1774 Taylor, a served as captain and later honorary colonel. At two provincial political moderate, became a member of the Northampton meetings in 1775-76, he championed the interests of the County committee of correspondence. The next year, he western counties and helped formulate resolutions calling for attended a provincial convention, was elected to independence, the strengthening of defenses, and establish- the provincial assembly, served on the council of safety, and ment of a new provincial government. During the latter year, became a colonel in the Bucks and Northampton County mili- he sat on the drafting committee in the State constitutional tias. convention. Elected to Congress (1776-78) on July 20, 1776, after the vote on independence had been taken, he arrived in In July 1776 the Pennsylvania assembly selected Taylor as Philadelphia in time to sign the Declaration. Among his col- one of its new Delegates to the . His only leagues he gained a reputation as a wit, conversationalist, and noteworthy action there was signing the Declaration. The next eccentric. January, however, he and fellow signer of Georgia negotiated a peace treaty with the Six Indian Nations During the period 1779-82 Smith held various State offices: (Iroquois) at Easton, Pa., but Congress did not ratify it. In one-term legislator, judge of the Pennsylvania high court of March the voters of Northampton County elected Taylor to the errors and appeals, brigadier general in the militia, and State new Supreme Executive Assembly of Pennsylvania, but illness counselor during the Wyoming Valley land dispute between and financial difficulties restricted his participation to only 6 Pennsylvania and Connecticut. In 1785 he turned down reelec- weeks, at the end of which he retired from public life. tion to Congress because of his age. His major activity prior to his retirement in 1801 was the practice of law. Smith died By this time, Taylor’s Durham Furnace was turning out at about the age of 87 in 1806 at York, survived by two of his grapeshot, cannonballs, bar shot, and cannon for the five children. His grave is in the First Presbyterian Church Revolutionary army—for which Taylor was ill-compensated. In Cemetery. 1778 the State dispossessed him of his lease on the Durham Furnace, owned by the Philadelphia Loyalist John Galloway and Drawing: Watercolor, ca. 1760, by an unknown artist, The R. W. confiscated by the State. Taylor then moved to Greenwich Norton Art Gallery, Shreveport, La. Township, N.J., and leased Greenwich Forge, which he operat- ed until his death at the age of 65 in 1781. The year before, his health failing, Taylor had returned to Easton and leased a GEORGE TAYLOR home. Originally buried in the yard of the German Evangelical When Taylor was about 20 years of age, Lutheran Church at Easton, his body was later moved to the he indentured himself and emigrated Easton Cemetery. from northern Ireland, where he Drawing: Oil, 1912, by Laura J. Schneider, probably after George T. 8 had been born in 1716, to Pool, Independence National Historical Park. SIGNERS, CONTINUED

barricaded themselves in his home at Third and Walnut JAMES WILSON Streets, henceforth known as “Fort Wilson.” During a brief skir- Wilson was born in 1741 or 1742 at mish, several people on both sides were killed or wounded. Carskerdo, near St. Andrews, Scotland, The shock cooled sentiments and pardons were issued all and educated at the universities of St. around, though major political battles over the Commonwealth Andrews, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. He constitution still lay ahead. then emigrated to America, arriving in During 1781 Congress appointed Wilson as one of the direc- the midst of the Stamp Act agitations in tors of the Bank of North America, newly founded by Robert 1765. Early the next year, he accepted a Morris with the legal advice of Wilson. In 1782-83, by which position as Latin tutor at the College of Philadelphia, but time the conservatives had regained some of their power, he almost immediately abandoned it to study law under John was reelected to Congress, as well as in the period 1785-87. Dickinson. Wilson reached the apex of his career in the U.S. In 1768, the year after his admission to the bar, Wilson set up Constitutional Convention (1787), in which he was one of the practice at Reading, Pa. Two years later, he moved westward leaders, both in the floor debates and the drafting committee. to the Scotch-Irish settlement of Carlisle, and the following That same year, overcoming powerful opposition, he led the year took a bride. He specialized in land law and built up a drive for ratification in Pennsylvania, the second State to ratify. broad clientele. On borrowed capital, he also began to specu- The new Commonwealth constitution, drafted in 1789-90 late in land. In some way he managed, too, to lecture for along the lines of the U.S. Constitution, was also primarily many years on English literature at the College of Philadelphia. Wilson’s work and represented the climax of his 14-year fight Wilson also became involved in Revolutionary politics. In 1774 against the constitution of 1776. he took over chairmanship of the Carlisle committee of corre- For his services in the formation of the Federal Government, spondence, attended the first provincial assembly, and com- though Wilson expected to be appointed Chief Justice, in pleted preparation of Considerations on the Nature and Extent 1789 President Washington named him as an Associate of the Legislative Authority of the British Parliament. This tract Justice of the Supreme Court. He was chosen that same year circulated widely in England and America and established as the first law professor at the College of Philadelphia. Two Wilson as a Whig leader. It denied Parliament’s authority over years hence, he began an official digest of the laws of the Colonies, though it did not question their allegiance to the Pennsylvania, a project he never completed, though he carried Crown, and recommended a reorganization of the imperial on for awhile after funds ran out. structure similar to the later British Commonwealth of Nations. Wilson, who wrote only a few opinions, did not achieve the The next year, Wilson was elected to both the provincial success on the Supreme Court that his capabilities and experi- assembly and the Continental Congress, where he sat mainly ence promised. Indeed, during those years he was the object on military and Indian affairs committees. In 1776, reflecting of much criticism and barely escaped impeachment. For one the wishes of his constituents, he joined the moderates in vot- thing, he tried to influence the enactment of legislation in ing for a 3-week delay in considering ’s reso- Pennsylvania favorable to land speculators. Between 1792 lution of June 7. On July 1, however, Wilson dissented from and 1795 he also made huge but unwise land investments in the majority of the Pennsylvania delegation and balloted with western New York and Pennsylvania, as well as in Georgia. John Morton and Benjamin Franklin for independence. On July This did not stop him from conceiving a grandiose but ill-fated 2 the three men, representing a majority of the scheme, involving vast sums of European capital, for the Commonwealth’s Delegates present, voted the same. Wilson’s recruitment of European colonists and their settlement on strenuous opposition to the republican Pennsylvania constitu- western lands. Meantime, in 1793, a widower with six chil- tion of 1776, besides indicating a switch to conservatism on dren, he had remarried; the one son from this union died in his part, led to his removal from Congress the following year. infancy. To avoid the clamor among his frontier constituents, he repaired to Annapolis during the winter of 1777-78, and then Four years later, to avoid arrest for debt, the distraught Wilson took up residence in Philadelphia. moved from Philadelphia to Burlington, N.J. The next year, apparently while on Federal circuit court business, he arrived Wilson affirmed his newly assumed political stance by closely at Edenton, N.C., in a state of acute mental stress and was identifying with the aristocratic and conservative republican taken into the home of James Iredell, a fellow Supreme Court groups, multiplying his business interests, and accelerating his Justice. He died there within a few months. Although first land speculation. He also took a position as Advocate-General buried at Hayes Plantation near Edenton, his remains were for France in America (1779-83), dealing with commercial and later reinterred in the yard of Christ Church at Philadelphia. maritime matters, and legally defended Loyalists and their sympathizers. Drawing: Oil, 1873, by Philip F. Wharton, after a miniature attributed to James Peale, Independence National Historical Park. In the fall of 1779, during a period of inflation and food short- ages, a mob, including many militiamen and led by radical-con- stitutionalists, set out to attack the republican leadership. Wilson was a prime target. He and some 35 of his colleagues 9 DSDI - REGISTRAR-GENERAL’S REPORT Annual Congress: 3, 4, July 2007, Philadelphia, PA

NUMBER of DSDI APPLICATIONS, 18 New Senior Members: LAST 5 YEARS 2882 James Livingston McCORMICK Meeting Date / Place # of Sr’s # of Jr’s Total for Mtg. Total for year 5612 South Blackstone Ave, # 2 18 Oct 2002/ 11 3 14 Chicago, IL 60637 Philip LIVINGSTON Woodstock, VT 28 Mar 2003/ 24 7 31 2883 Michael Stuart McCORMICK Charlottesville, VA 338 Tenney Circle Philip LIVINGSTON 3 Jul 2003/ 8 5 13 58 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Philadelphia, PA 31 Oct 2003/ 9 4 13 2884 Caitlin Ross McCORMICK Philip West Point, NY 338 Tenney Circle LIVINGSTON 23 Apr 2004/ 26 11 37 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 New Castle, DE 2 Jul 2004/ 15 7 22 72 2885 Ryan Lee SMITH Philadelphia, PA 2021 North DeQuincy Street 29 Oct 2004/ 7 6 13 Indianapolis, IN 46218 Newport, RI 1 Apr 2005/ 17 8 25 2886 Ashley Lara SMITH Abraham CLARK Frederick, MD 9701 Hamilton Hills Lane 3 Jul 2005/ 4 5 9 47 Fishers, IN 46038 Philadelphia, PA 7 Oct 2005/ 16 10 26 2887 Davis Crawford FRANKLIN Princeton, NJ LM 13421 Crandall Court Benjamin HARRISON 10 Mar 2006/ 26 6 32 Richmond, VA 23233 Middleton, SC 2 Jul 2006/ 25 32 57 115 2888 Andrew Middleton HILL Philadelphia, PA 2739 Walton Way From Jr. # 939 13 Oct 2006/ 11 1 12 Augusta, GA 30909 Kingston, NY 23 Mar 2007/ 27 8 35 2889 Patrick Arrington LLEWELLYN, II Charlotte, NC 116 Winding Way 3 Jul 2007/ 22 7 29 76 Little Silver, NJ 07739 Philadelphia, PA 2890 Reginald William NELSON Summary Totals 248 120 368 368 LM 1820 New Market Road Thomas NELSON, Jr. Richmond, VA 23231 This concludes my term as your Registrar- General. I was elected to the office of Registrar- 2891 Stephanie Lynn NELSON General of the DSDI at its Annual Congress on 4 LM 1820 New Market Road Thomas NELSON, Jr. July 2002. It has now been five full years, and I Richmond, VA 23231 have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it - wrapped in History, and its handmaiden 2892 Sara Elizabeth NELSON LM 1820 New Market Road Thomas NELSON, Jr. genealogy, as I am. It was easy and natural for Richmond, VA 23231 me to enter upon this task. With your help, wonderful changes have taken place that make it 2893 Jonathan Jarvis MAJOR John ADAMS much easier to apply, easier to find a signer 11449 Winding Trail Way ancestor, and more fun to do. As some of you Dublin, CA 94568 may know, I need to free time to devote to a new historical work, The War of the American 2894 Roland Cress BOWKER, JR. John MORTON Revolution: Day by Day. Numbers of you have 22 High Street also asked about the preparation of 2nd Editions Brookeville, MD 20833 of “The Register”, so that you and your progeny 2895 Laura Lee WILLS may even more easily find descendants of a 599 Neals Lane signer. That too will be a part of my future. You Gallatin, TN 37066 are in good hands with Registrar-General James Alexander, and I will be around to support him 2896 Virginia Heyward FISHBURNE and you as needed. God bless! LM 3000 Valencia Terrace Thomas Charlotte, NC 28211 HEYWARD, Jr. 10 2897 Molly Inge Crown NORDMANN 3 Change to Life Membership: 4116 Woodhill Drive Benjamin HARRISON Mobile, AL 36608 1129 Kathryn Elizabeth FARRELL LM Jr. Philip LIVINGSTON 2898 Michelle Alexander ROBERTS John LM 2047 Ravenstone Loop WITHERSPOON 1130 Madigan Ann FARRELL College Station, TX 77845 LM Jr. Philip LIVINGSTON 2899 Douglas Macon VALENTINE Thomas 101 Mountain View Drive NELSON, Jr. 2071 William Poindexter MOORE, Jr. Charlottesville, VA 22903 LM 140 Ivy Drive, Apt. # 2 Charlottesville, VA 22903-5035 4 New Senior Supplements: 1 Death: 2837 [S] John Chase BELMAN 2605 Virginia Murrell Brockenbrough COPELAND 2837 [S] John Chase BELMAN Oliver WOLCOTT d. 3 May 2007 Carter BRAXTON 2838 [S] Owen Wolcott BELMAN William ELLERY Winter Park, FL

2838 [S] Owen Wolcott BELMAN Oliver WOLCOTT Summary; Society Status: Original Applications approved by the Registrar- General on 5 June 2006, and accepted by the Board Last Senior Number, last Report: 2881 of Governors on 3 July 2006 as descendants of Last Junior Number, last Report: 1254 . New Senior Member Applications (17 plus 4 Supplementals plus Transfers from Jr.(1 ) = 22 7 New Junior Members: John Adams 1 Abraham Clark 2 1255 Alexa Read SCHOLL 10th of George READ William Ellery 2 Benjamin Harrison 2 Thomas Heyward, Jr. 1 William Hooper 1 1256 Ryanne Livingston FARRELL Philip Livingston 3 Arthur Middleton 1 LM 10th of Philip LIVINGSTON John Morton 1 Thomas Nelson, Jr. 4 1 Oliver Wolcott 3 1257 Koy Michael ZDIMAL ______LM 10th of Philip LIVINGSTON ______Seniors Juniors 1258 Kannon Philip ZDIMAL 1001 Total Membership, Last Report 183 LM 10th of Philip LIVINGSTON 17 New Members 7 1259 Kooper Raymond ZDIMAL 4 New Supplementals 0 LM 10th of Philip LIVINGSTON (does not increase # of Members) 1 Junior Transfer to Senior - 1 1260 Max Edward ZDIMAL - 0 Resignation/Drop - 0 LM 10th of Philip LIVINGSTON (including non-transferring Juniors) 0 Reinstatement 0 1261 Stella Rile FLANNERY - 1 Deaths 0 11th of Philip LIVINGSTON + 17 Total Net Added, this Report 6 1018 Total Membership, This Report 186 0 Reinstatement: ______Total Life Members as of this Report are: 0 Resignation: Seniors = 531, Juniors = 110, Total = 639 Last Senior Number, this Report: 2899 0 Senior Members Dropped for Last Junior Number, this Report: 1261 Total Membership, this Report are: Delinquency: Seniors, 1018; Juniors, 186

0 Junior Members Dropped for Respectfully Submitted, Delinquency (over 18, did not yet transfer): Frederick W. Pyne The Rev. Frederick W. Pyne, PhD. Registrar-General, DSDI 2 July 2007 11 The Spirit of ’76 Samuel Huntington’s Plaque Dedication

On July 3, 2007, DSDI Connecticut Governor Truxtun Brodhead dedicated the DSDI plaque to Samuel Huntington at a celebration of his 276th birthday. Samuel Huntington was the first President of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation and a governor of Connecticut in addition to being a signer of the Declaration of Independence. About 200 people gathered in Old Norwichtown Cemetery at the recently restored tomb to hear Connecticut State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal deliver the keynote speech. Among those in attendance was Channing Huntington, a descendent of Samuel Huntington. Governor Brodhead, accompanied by the Second Company Governor’s Foot Guard of New Haven and Connecticut, laid a wreath on behalf of DSDI and gave a brief biography of Samuel Huntington before dedicating the plaque.

DSDI Connecticut Governor Truxton Brodhead dedicating the DSDI plaque to Samuel Huntington.

The July 4th 2007 Sounds of Liberty program had bell ringing ceremonies held in Bluffton, Georgia; Endicott, New York; and Perth Amboy, New Jersey. The total number of certificates will be approximately 100 as were issued last year. The original intent of the program was to ring each states’ liberty bell, most of which are located in their respected capitals. However, in some instances these bells are not available to ring. In 2008, any member or friends of members who ring a bell whether it be a state, church, com- munity, or their own bell on or about 2:00 Eastern Daylight Time on July 4 will be awarded a cer- tificate by the DSDI. To help make the bell ringing ceremony a more meaningful event invite clergy, boy or girl scouts, community leaders, patriotic societies or organizations and other inter- ested people. This program could add new meaning and depth to your Fourth of July experience. Sounds of Liberty Program Chairman Richard “Sandy” Stromberg

12 Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence Have you ever wanted to make a personal contribution to the legacy of your signer?

Well now you can.

In 2006 DSDI initiated the DSDI Biography Project—a program to write new short biographies of the signers to replace the skimpy biographies that are now on our website (dsdi1776.com). We are inviting DSDI members and interested friends to volunteer to write these biographies, and many have already done so.

You don’t have to be a professional writer, historian or genealogist to prepare an outstanding biography of your signer—or any other signer you might choose to write for. We do not expect our volunteer writers to have the art and skill of a David McCullough, Walter Isaacson or Joe Ellis. We are approaching excellence in a different way. We have carefully studied the many short biographies now available in print and on the internet, and have found that by using just three resources you can write a short biography that is “world class” in terms of content, com- pared with other short biographies in existence. You can do this by focusing on five information subjects that have never before been pulled together in a short biography. These five subject areas are:

1. The family history of the signer, in the new world and the old

2. The signer’s actions, thoughts and feelings on his particular road to independence

3. The signer’s appearance, manner and reputation

4. Signer memorials—homes, gravesites, statues, plaques, your own knowledge and experiences, etc.

5. Sources of information for the interested reader (we will provide you with a “starter” list).

So far volunteer biographers have selected 35 of the 56 signers. Many of these biographies are well advanced, and seven are already posted on the DSDI website. But there are lots of great signers still available—21 in all. Signers still in search of a short biographer include John Adams, , William Ellery, , Benjamin Harrison, , Stephen Hopkins, , Samuel Huntington, , Thomas McKean, , George Read, , James Smith, , George Taylor, , William Williams and James Wilson.

You won’t have to start “cold” on this project. We have prepared a content guideline document that will help you get started. It will also tell you where to go to get the information you need, tell you what is available in the three key resources you need, and other helpful hints. And I am always available to handle questions.

This is a unique opportunity for you to make a contribution to a signer’s legacy in your own lifetime. When your biography is finished, and signed by you, it will go up on the DSDI website and remain there forever.

Just let me know which of the above 21 signers you want to write for, and our package will be on its way.

Mr. Thornton C. Lockwood Secretary-General, DSDI and Co-Chairman of the DSDI Biography Project 17 Duck Pond Road Demarest, NJ 07627 Tel: 201-768-1338 Email: [email protected] 13 Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Proposed Future Meetings Our Centennial Celebration Special, Special, Special

19, 20, 21 October 2007 Williamsburg, VA Mar 2008 Greensboro, NC July 2008 Philadelphia, PA

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