FALL 2020 Vol. 115, No. 2 Zoom! The Modern-Day Town Crier FALL 2020 Vol. 115, No. 2 The Gen. Anthony Wayne and Pittsburgh chapters, Pennsylvania Society SAR, collaborated with Boy Scout Sam Everson, Troop 400, on his Eagle Scout project. 16 See story on page 35. 5 o Letters t the Editor 18 The Revolution and the Beginning of the End of Slavery in America 6 AR2021 S Congress in Renton, Washington 22 The Battle of Brier Creek 7 Congress Fundraiser/Nominating Committee The Midnight Ride of Sergeant John Weir 8 Recuitment, Retention and Recovery 25 9 SAR Genealogical Research Library Honored 26 The Untold Story of the Wabash A Win-Win Scenario/Who’s on Zoom? 27 Books for Consideration Due to the COVID-19 10 pandemic, “When Washington, Christmas and the Revolution State Society & Chapter News You Are Traveling” 12 28 does not appear 16 250th Series: Medicine in the Time of the Revolution 41 In Our Memory/New Members in this issue. THE SAR MAGAZINE (ISSN 0161-0511) is published quarterly (February, May, August, November) and copyrighted by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, 809 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202. Periodicals postage paid at Louisville, KY and additional mailing offices. Membership dues include The SAR Magazine. Subscription rate $10 for four consecutive issues. Single copies $3 with checks payable to “Treasurer General, NSSAR” mailed to the HQ in Louisville. Products and services advertised do not carry NSSAR endorsement. The National Society reserves the right to reject content of any copy. Send all news matter to Editor; send the following to NSSAR Headquarters: address changes, election of officers, new members, member deaths. Postmaster: Send address changes to The SAR Magazine, 809 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202. Publisher: President General John stAff directory Thomas Manning As indicated below, staff members have an email address and an extension number of the automated 10 Old Colony Way telephone system to simplify reaching them. Scituate, MA 02066-4711 Ph: (781) 264-2584 Executive Director: Don Shaw, ext. 6128, Librarian: Joe Hardesty, ext. 6131, Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] editor: Stephen M. Vest AssociAte editor: Patricia Ranft Development Director, SAR Foundation: Assistant Librarian/Archivist: P.O. Box 559 Phil Boyd, (502) 315-1777, [email protected] Rae Ann Sauer, ext. 6132, Frankfort, KY 40602 [email protected] Ph: (502) 227-0053 Director of Finance: Megan Krebs, ext. 6120, Fax: (502) 227-5009 [email protected] Librarian Assistant/Receptionist: Email: [email protected] Robin Christian, ext. 6138, Director of Operations: Michael Scroggins, [email protected] heAdquArters stAff Address: ext. 6125, [email protected] National Society Sons Registrar: Jon Toon, ext. 6142, of the American Revolution Administrative Coordinator: [email protected] 809 West Main Street Kelly Moore, ext. 6123, [email protected] Louisville, KY 40202 Merchandise Director: Susan Griffin, Ph: (502) 589-1776 Acting Director of The Center/ ext. 6141, [email protected] Fax: (502) 589-1671 Director of Education: Colleen Wilson, Email: [email protected] ext. 6129, [email protected] Website: www.sar.org 2 SAR MAGAZINE Working Virtually Compatriots: compatriot consider a donation to our Education Center It is heartening to see so many states and chapters and Museum project through the Liberty Tree Campaign. hosting their events virtually. While this forum is not our Many articles in past issues of The SAR Magazine describe the preferred way of conducting business and hosting events, project we are undertaking at our headquarters, we must continue our society’s work during this time. Also, highlighting the design and showcasing the impressive looking on the bright side, many more compatriots, who collection of artifacts we have acquired. It is our goal to may not be able to travel to events for one reason or have this up and running by 2026 for the 250th anniversary another, have the opportunity to join in on the virtual of our nation’s founding. Now, more than ever, in these meetings from the comfort of their homes. I know that all times when the history of our country is under attack, it is of us miss the social aspect of these events and are eager our responsibility to our ancestors to ensure that the story to resume our “normal” schedules, and I hope we can do is told accurately. Since many in-person events have been so soon. canceled and travels curtailed, perhaps the money that To say that I have been busy these last few months is an would have been spent on these travels could be donated to understatement. Along with the National Society’s business this important educational project. and all it entails, I have attended I would also like to take this numerous virtual meetings and opportunity to remember three- events on every level. Due to term Librarian General Mike Wells conflicts, I have not been able to of the Alabama Society. Mike was a participate in entire meetings One positive of holding dedicated member who was active sometimes, but I have endeavored in SAR on the chapter, state and to “show up” to as many meetings virtual events is that many national levels. He sat on and as possible. I thank all the states chaired many committees. Mike and chapters that have sent me compatriots who would not served as Alabama state president invitations. and as VPG of the Southern On Saturday, Sept. 26, our Fall have been able to attend District. We were fortunate to have Trustees Meeting was held such a knowledgeable person in virtually for the first time. meetings can now do this position. He applied his Committee chairs submitted their expertise in genealogy and led in reports, and many issues were so from the comfort of the development and building of discussed. One crucial topic on the the National SAR Library. Mike was agenda was a proposed change to honored with the Minuteman allow for a virtual congress in the their homes. Award, the highest award in our future, should it be necessary. I society. He was a friend to many of want to thank Chairman Mike us, and he will be missed. To his Elston and the Bylaws Committee wife, Liz, and his family, and to our for their work on this proposal. Thanks also to Secretary Alabama compatriots, we extend our deepest condolences. General Davis Wright, Paul Callanan and David Perkins, Lastly, I would like to address an issue that has who organized and managed the Zoom Trustees Meeting. generated many emails to our executive director and me In October, the National Headquarters would typically asking the SAR to make an official statement and stand have hosted our Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, at which against the removal of historical statues and our history’s we thank each volunteer individually and present them destruction. Our organization is a 501(c)(3), and as such, we with the Lafayette Medal. Colleen Wilson, director of the would jeopardize our standing if we became involved in SAR Center, is working to ensure that our volunteers this type of debate. This does not preclude any member receive their medals along with a thank-you letter from me, from taking a stand; however, it cannot be under the and is posting an article on the SAR website. Thanks to umbrella of the SAR on any level. What we, as a society, can Colleen for her thoughtful work in ensuring that these do is to continue the work of promoting our mission. individuals are recognized this year. Sheila and I would like to wish one and all a happy, I am sure that many of you have seen on the news that healthy and peaceful holiday season. Louisville is one of the many cities experiencing unrest. We have taken measures to ensure that our headquarters remains safe during these protests. The Minuteman Statue out front has been covered. Work on the façade of the building was scheduled to commence on or around Oct. 26. This work was approved at the Trustees Meeting held Aug. 29. John Thomas Manning I want to take this opportunity to ask that each President General FALL 2020 3 General Officers, National Society Sons of the American Revolution President General John Thomas Manning, M.Ed., 10 Old Rocky Mountain District, Stephen John Miller, USAF (Ret.), Colony Way, Scituate, MA 02066-4711, (781) 264-2584, 451 East Glendale Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85020-4920, [email protected] (602) 230-7518, [email protected] Secretary General Davis Lee Wright, Esq., P.O. Box 8096, Intermountain District, Larry Herbert Mylnechuk, Wilmington, DE 19803, (302) 584-1686, [email protected] 5855 Gharrett Avene, Missoula, MT 59803, (503) 819-6454, Treasurer General C. Bruce Pickette, 7801 Wynlakes Blvd., [email protected] Montgomery, AL 36117, (334) 273-4680, [email protected] Western District, James Clarence Fosdyck, 9772 William Chancellor General Peter Malcolm Davenport, Dalton Way, Garden Grove, CA 92841-3840, (714) 530-0767, 8625 Cherry Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031, (703) 992-0230, [email protected] [email protected] Pacific District, Kenneth Doster Roberts, 5411 69th Street Genealogist General Jim L.W. Faulkinbury, 4305 Elizabeth Cout NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335-7458, (253) 851-0480, Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95821-4140, (916) 359-1752, [email protected] [email protected] European District, Patrick Marie Mesnard, 69 Boulevard Registrar General Douglas T. Collins, 7004 Shallow Lake de la Republique, Versailles, France 78000, Road, Prospect, KY 40059, (502) 292-0719, [email protected] [email protected] International District, Russell Frederick DeVenney Jr., Historian General William Oliver Stone, 1131 Felder 5026 South Hunter Court, Columbia, MO 65203-9227, Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36106, (334) 264-7157, (573) 446-1382, [email protected] [email protected] Librarian General Tony Lee Vets, 504 Oak Street, Colfax, LA PrEsidEnts GEnEral 71417, (318) 481-8441, [email protected] Surgeon General Dr.