PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION www.amrev.org

VOLUME 23 NUMBER 3 FALL 2013

A Celebration of Independence Superintendent Cynthia Younger Members MacLeod of Independence National Historic Park Reception welcomed us all on this festive day, as members September 12, 2013 -- Following the PSSR’s of the Orpheus Club Choir Board of Managers meeting, the Society’s provided spirited patriotic Younger Members Committee hosted a music. In addition, Michael Cocktails with the Board reception at the Quinn, president and CEO of Bachelors Barge Club on Boathouse Row. the Museum of the American Revolution (MAR) spoke A full turnout of younger members and about the unique nature of board members enjoyed cocktails, cigars in the broad and a sumptuous spread from our friends at scope of the Revolution, Di Bruno Bros. And despite the signature and left us with anticipation cocktails, and the weather, being Dark & for the forthcoming soon- Stormy, a great time was had by all. to-be-relocated museum moving to just two blocks THE TRADITION CONTINUES from Independence Hall.

For the forty-fourth consecutive year, the Pennsylvania Society celebrated “Let Freedom Ring” at Independence National Historical Park on July 4th in Philadelphia. A capacity gathering of Society members, families and guests met at the Sheraton

Society Hill in Philadelphia and were Richard Pagano, John Ventura and Harvard Wood welcomed by cocktails and a sumptuous luncheon. Following the event at the boathouse, many of the younger members continued on to After lunch, the Color Guard, led by Captain a popular speakeasy in center city for an Robert Van Gulick, paraded from Society Finally, just prior to the 2 pm annual impromptu mixer with our friends the Young Hill, through Philadelphia’s Historic District Liberty Bell ringing ceremony, we were Dames of the NSCDA. and up towards Independence Hall, with all briefly transformed back to the period streets closed to traffic, and family, friends in history by an enthusiastic Patrick Henry, We are looking forward to a full calendar of and public celebrants lining the route and describing to us all the spirit, bravery and Younger Member events this coming year, following enthusiastically. The Watson trust that everyday colonial Americans had and welcome all younger members of the Highlanders Pipe and Drum led the parade for those leading the American Revolution. Society to come join us. Please feel free to up and through the gathering crowds, where The whole day was a spectacular contact us through the Society office, and we the Society colors were then presented to success, and a great time was had by all. will be sure to add you to our roster. everyone in attendance. --Leif A. Zetterberg, LFR Chairman --Andrew McReynolds, Chairman --William H. Dutcher III, co-Chairman --Kipp Gearhart, co-Chairman PAGE 2 PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION FALL 2013 PAGE 3 PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION FALL 2013

Remembering Past Society Member Lancaster Chapter Update New Citizens Reception &

David Knickerbacker Boyd The Lancaster Chapter is alive and well and continuing the Society’s Naturalization Ceremonies work. We have had a few events over the summer and early this fall, (1872-1944) and look forward to a full slate The Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution will host its next of meetings and events to round New Citizens Reception on Thursday, December 12, 2013. The event D. Knickerbacker Boyd, born in 1872 and a member of a prominent Without a doubt his most successful residential work was out the year. will take place at the ceremonial court room in the Federal Court Philadelphia family, he was the son of David Boyd Jr. and Alida “Walmarthon” the sprawling St. David’s estate of Charles S. House located on the northwest corner of 6th and Market Streets Visscher. His education included Friend’s Central School, The Walton, a very successful leather manufacturer. The main house We held our annual Independence in Philadelphia. Our president, James Bradley Burke will be one Rugby Academy for Boys, St. Austin’s School followed by the is a combination of Northern Italian Villa and California Mission Day family picnic, which was of the speakers at the event. The ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (1887-1889) and the Spring style with eighteen inch walls and heavy tile roof giving it the air well attended and a fine day at However, in order to be sure of seats we recommend you plan to Garden Institute (1889). Records indicated he was listed as a of permanence and presence. The fine tile was provided by Henry the Lancaster Leiderkrantz Club. arrive at approximately 9:45 a.m. The presiding judge will be the draftsman but later formed an Mercer, and iron work by craftsman Samuel Yellin. The project Hon. Stewart R. Dalzell. architectural partnership with took seven years to complete. Today the estate is known as Eastern Our members will participate his younger brother, Laurence University. in Naturalization Day For those of you who have not previously participated, the usual Visscher Boyd. D. Knickerbacker ceremonies at the Lancaster routine is for the chairman and a member of the office staff to arrive Boyd became one of the most A 1914 Social Register lists Boyd residing at 217 Aberdeen Avenue, County Court, greeting new at 9:45 a.m. with a box of packets containing a small American flag, prominent architects of his time. St David’s with his wife Katherine and daughter Barbara. According citizens and providing them a copy of the U. S. Constitution, a ball point pen, and a lapel pin. His contemporaries were other to the Sons Centennial Register, Boyd joined the Pennsylvania copies of founding documents. During the ceremony we hand these to the new citizens following the well-known architects including Sons of the Revolution in 1893 at the age of twenty-two under presentation of their citizenship certificate by the clerk of the court. William L. Price and Horace ancestors John Knickerbacker, John Knickerbacker, Jr., Arthur St. Lastly, our annual Trumbauer. Clair and David St. Clair. He was admitted into the Society Color Capitol Day ceremony The ceremony should be over no later than 12:00 noon, at which Guard in 1897. In addition to the Sons, he was a member of Merion took place on September 27th, commemorating Lancaster time there will be a festive reception in the foyer, with cake and By 1931 Boyd could state in Cricket and the T-Square Club among others and remained an being the national seat of government on that day in 1777. musician playing traditional American music. Please confirm if you his resume that over a period of active contributor to these and many other clubs and organizations will attend by calling the office. thirty-five years he had designed, throughout his lifetime. Boyd never retired and died in 1944 at the --James H. Martin, Regent supervised or directed the work of over three thousand buildings age of 72. Lancaster County Chapter --John M. Blickensderfer, Chairman ranging from industrial and office to churches, schools and private residences, many for notable Philadelphians on the Main Line. This It is important to remember past Society members who held the same included scores of homes in the Pelham and Overbrook sections of beliefs as we do about life and our Revolutionary War ancestors and Philadelphia and the Childs-Drexel development of St. David’s and take a look back at their time in history to see who they were and Wayne. He designed school buildings for Haverford and Radnor how they influenced the world we live in today. We look forward townships, the Central Baptist Church and also the Saturday Club to our members' contributions to this series of articles. and the Firehouse in his native Wayne. --Theodore E. Wiederseim 3d Society Historian CONTENTS CONTRIBUTORS

John M. Blickensderfer William H. Dutcher III Celebration of Independence 1 J. Kipp Gearhart IV Younger Members Reception 1 Andrew R. McReynold Remembering: David Knickerbacker Boyd 2 James H. Martin Lancaster Chapter Update 3 Schuyler C. Wickes Upcoming New Citizens Ceremony/Reception 3 Theodore E. Wiederseim 3rd GALLERY: 4th of July 4/5 Ben R. Wolf Feature: Captain Lambert Wickes 6 Leif A. Zetterberg New Members & In Memoriam 7 Calendar of Events 8 Photography Amanda Muckle Lanny R. Patten Schuyler C. Wickes

Walmarthon Mansion, St. David's, PA c. 1913 PAGE 4 PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION FALL 2013 PAGE 5 PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION FALL 2013

4th OF JULY GALLERY PAGE 6 PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION FALL 2013 PAGE 7 PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION FALL 2013

Captain Lambert Wickes C.N. sterling seamanship, captured a number of prizes in the (1735-1777) and had a sharp engagement with HMS Shark, beating her off and IN MEMORIAM escaping into port. “Fate was kind in decreeing that our gallant Captain Lambert Wickes of Maryland should first perform for our country many On October 24, 1776, Wickes was ordered to with Benjamin such glorious deeds as have made justly famous the illustrious Franklin as a passenger. During the voyage, Reprisal captured Name Pa ID Born Died Elected John Paul Jones. But, fate was drastic with Wickes. She wove into two brigs and reached Nantes on November 29 where the ship’s her portentous web that he should die just 16 months after he had important passenger disembarked. Setting sail in January 1777, become a member of our ; but graciously crowded Wickes took Reprisal to sea on a course which took her to the Bay David Young Cooper #4502 8/14/24 8/2/13 2/9/61 into those sixteen months his splendid and dashing and pioneer of Biscay and the mouth of the English Channel. On February 5, service for the American Nation struggling to be free to work out his ship captured the armed packet-boat Swallow, carrying mail Gerald van Syckel Henderson #5158 10/17/27 7/5/13 1/9/75 their own salvation by winning the Revolutionary struggle. Thus between Britain and its ally Portugal, after a hard action of 40 Dennis Scott Clark Kelley # 5458 5/22/41 7/12/13 11/13/80 then began the glorious last sixteen months of the life of Captain minutes duration. During the battle, Reprisal suffered two officers Lambert Wickes on this distracted globe” seriously wounded and one man killed. William Benjamin Neal #5810 9/28/30 4/15/13 10/8/92 DeCourcy W. Thom, Maryland Historical Magazine, 1932 James Douglas Watt, Jr. #4667 7/6/44 7/7/13 3/10/66 During the remainder of this foray against British shipping, Wickes Lambert Wickes was a Captain in the Continental Navy during took five additional prizes and left them at Port Louis. Wickes the American Revolutionary War. Wickes was born sometime in moved Reprisal to , but was ordered to leave the port in 24 1735 in Kent County, Maryland. His home hours by the French government—the was on Eastern Neck Island, in the family port authorities apparently stirred to home, Wickliffe. Prior to the American action by bitter remonstrances from the Revolution, Wickes was captain of the British government. Wickes, however, merchant ships the Neptune and the Ceres. claimed that Reprisal had sprung a On March 28, 1776 the Continental leak and needed to be careened for hull Congress allowed the purchase of the 16- repairs. Wickes proved to be skillful at This Newsletter is published by the gun merchantman brig Molly which would gaining time; as, on several occasions, New Members Elected Pennsylvania Society of be renamed the Reprisal. he thwarted the intentions of the French government to have him sail. Since June 2013 Sons of the Revolution In May of the same year, as captain of the Reprisal, Wickes was ordered In April 1777, the Continental Office Hours to sail into battle against the British vessels Lexington and Dolphin Michael John Krasulski, Jr. Monday - Friday frigate Roebuck, which was opening the joined Reprisal and constituted a 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. to British ships. This squadron under Wickes’ command. Reprisal engages HMS Shark off Martinique, 1776 Phone would be Reprisal’s and Wickes’ first action Setting sail from St. Auzeau on May 28, Charles Stevens Manning III 215-545-1888 of the American Revolution. Wickes would later be designated as the ships sailed around Ireland in June, July, and August; during Fax number 11 on the Continental Navy’s seniority list. one phase of the voyage, the three ships captured 15 ships in 215-545-1777 five days. On September 14, Wickes left France in Reprisal, Christopher M.L. Church Email The Committee of Secret Correspondence of Congress, by in company with Dolphin, bound for home. Around October [email protected] arrangement with the Marine Committee, issued orders for Capt. 1, Reprisal foundered off the Grand Banks of , with (Junior Member moved to Wickes to proceed to the West Indies in Reprisal and bring out the loss of all hands except the cook. Younger Member) Phone Let Freedom Ring munitions for use by General Washington’s army. In addition, Wickes 1-800-330-1776 was to transport to his post, the French possession Two ships in the Navy have been named in his honor, Email Let Freedom Ring of Martinique, as agent for the American colonies. Reprisal passed and the two iron balls on each side of a magnetic compass, used to Austin William Lamac [email protected] down the Delaware River from Philadelphia during the latter part balance out and counteract magnetic variations based on a ship’s of June 1776. While en route, Reprisal went to the aid of the harried location, are traditionally called “Lamberts”, in his honor. Albert Homer Manwaring IV Newsletter Committee Continental 6-gun brig Nancy - bound from St. Croix and St. Schuyler C. Wickes, Chairman Thomas with 386 barrels of gunpowder - which was being chased Louis H. Bolander, the assistant librarian at the Naval Academy, Peter L.H. Byrne by six British men-of-war. In order to save Nancy, her captain ran wrote an article on Wickes in 1928, entitled “A Forgotten Hero of Jeffrey George Trauger Dr. James B. Congdon her aground. Reprisal and Lexington - the latter under the command the American Revolution.” Appearing in Americana, in April 1928, Richard R. P. Di Stefano, Esq. of Capt. John Barry - kept boats from HMS Kingfisher at bay and the article closed with a fitting epitaph for Capt. Lambert Wickes: Wm. Murray Gordon succeeded in landing some 200 barrels of the precious powder. In “Thus closed a career distinguished for patriotism, gallantry and Hardwick Smith Johnson, Jr. this engagement, Wickes’ brother Richard was killed while serving humanity, for not a single charge of cruelty or harshness was ever James S. Hayes III, Esq. as third lieutenant on Reprisal. This engagement became known as breathed against him by any one of his many prisoners. Franklin, (Transferred from Dr. David M. Humphrey the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet. who knew him well, said of him, ‘He was a gallant officer, and a Georgia Society to PSSR) Daniel I. Murphy, Esq. very worthy man.’ Coleman Sellers VI Clearing the Delaware capes on July 3, Reprisal, under Wickes’ --Schuyler C. Wickes & William Lambert Wickes PAGE 8 PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION FALL 2013

Calendar of Events 2013

12 December Naturalization Ceremony Date TBD Valley Forge Church Service Federal Courthouse Location TBD Philadelphia, PA 17 May Radnor Hunt Races Radnor Hunt Club 2014 Malvern, PA

Late-January Young Members Evening with Colonial Dames of America Monthly Events Philadelphia, PA Second Thursday of Each Month 15 February Washington's Birthday Ball Board of Managers Meeting Location TBD The Union League of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, PA

17 April PSSR Annual Meeting The Racquet Club of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA

Please consult the PSSR new website www.amrev.org for current details

Return Service Requested Service Return

No.114 t i rm Pe

, NJ NJ , n o nt e r T

aid P

Philadelphia, PA 19107 PA Philadelphia,

ge ge sta Po US

121 South Broad Street - Suite 1910 Suite - Street Broad South 121 l i a M lass -C rst Fi

d e rt o s e r P Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution the of Sons of Society Pennsylvania