Original Daughters of the American Revolution (part 1)

Introduction: In this astonishing article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes about 22 women still alive in 1925 whose fathers fought in the American Revolutionary War! Melissa is a genealogist who has a blog, AnceStory Archives, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History.

For this July 4^th, I honor the early members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) – whose fathers served in the War of Independence. These women represent the closest connection to those who fought for freedom.

What is now known as the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution grew into an organization which continues to focus on education, community service, historic preservation, and patriotism. These daughters all share a common bond of having an ancestor who contributed to securing the independence of the United States of America.

I found a huge spread in the Kentucky Post covering 22 of the remaining “Real Daughters” still around in 1925. I have included some additional genealogy and service records on some of the subjects.

It’s really quite astonishing when you think about it: in 1925, there were still 22 women alive whose fathers fought in the Revolutionary War! This article reported:

Almost a century and a half since the war which gave America birth!

Other wars have been fought and won. New generations have sprung into being.

Yet in this country today are twenty-two living links in the chain of associations which reaches back to that first great war – twenty-two daughters of men who fought the fight for Freedom.

They are the Real Daughters of the American Revolution.

Their fathers were all soldiers in the Continental Army, who served as officers, non-commissioned officers, privates, and drummer-boys. Each did his bit toward throwing off the British yoke.

Many of them recall the stirring scenes of the Revolution, as told to them while seated on their father’s knee. Their childhood stories were about the great struggle for freedom, in contrast with the modern bedtime radio stories and other anecdotes to amuse children.

Daughter of Seth Capron

For example, Mrs. Louisa Kirwan Capron Thiers was born in Whitesboro, New York, to Seth Capron and Eunice Mann in 1814. She married David Bodine Thiers.

Her father, Seth Capron, was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and served three years in his state. He then transferred to General George Washington’s staff and was aide-de-camp to the general.

At the time the Kentucky Post article was written, Mrs. Thiers was 110 years old, active, and still attending the annual state conferences in Wisconsin where she lived with her daughter Mrs. Charles Quarles, also a member of the D.A.R.

Daughters of John Dolson

In another example, sisters Sophia Maxwell Dolson Andrews and Helen Margaret Dolson Barrett, both born in New York, were the daughters of Revolutionary War patriot John Dolson. He fought in Trenton, Saratoga, and Yorktown. Dolson was one of the 2,500 men who crossed the Delaware with General Washington. He died at Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1838.

Daughters of Thomas Clapp

Two other sisters, Mrs. Ardella Bartlett Hatch and Mrs. Mary Ann Scott, were the daughters of Revolutionary War soldier Thomas Clapp of Foxboro, Massachusetts. He joined the Continental Army at age 16 as a guard with an attachment company under Major Nathaniel Heath. He fought at Dorchester Heights.

Ardella’s daughters Elise Almira Hatch Davis and Ada Rose Hatch Somers both joined the D.A.R.

There was another Clapp sister, Mrs. Aurelia Boyden McDonald of North Abington, Massachusetts, who died in 1920. She was a member of the Deborah Sampson Chapter of the D.A.R., of Brockton, Massachusetts. Her daughter Mildred F. McDonald was a member as well.

Daughter of Silas Morton Jr.

Mrs. Harriet Gilbert was born in Pembroke, Massachusetts, to the distinguished Revolutionary War soldier Silas Morton Jr. and his wife Elizabeth Foster.

Silas Morton Jr. was a Minuteman at the siege of Boston. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in New Jersey and carried dispatches for General Washington. He was with the Continental Army at Valley Forge and took part in the capture of Stoney Point. He was also at West Point at the time of Benedict Arnold’s treason, and witnessed the execution of British Major John André for assisting Arnold.

Morton was at the siege of Yorktown and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. He rose to the rank of brevet captain and was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati after the war.

Morton received a sword captured from the British, presented by General Lafayette. There is a Silas Morton Chapter of the D.A.R. in Texas.

Daughter of Allen Bosworth

Mrs. Sarah Bosworth Bradway of Connecticut was a member of the Elizabeth Porter Putnam Chapter of the D.A.R. and was admitted through her father, Allen Bosworth, who was noted for his exemplarily service during the Revolution.

Allen Bosworth was 17 when he enlisted in Ashford, Connecticut, and served five years. He was a private in Capt. Stephen Lyon’s Company and fought in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Fort Washington, and Frog Point. He also served in Rhode Island in Capt. John Sumner’s Company and then with Captain Benjamin Sumner until the close of the war.

Daughter of Solomon Loring

Mrs. Angelina Avery, a member of the Anne Wood Elderkin Chapter of the D.A.R., was the daughter of Solomon Loring. He enlisted at the age of 14 and served in Vose’s regiment of the Continental Army for three years. He was an aide to Colonel Vose while in Washington, D.C., and served three months at West Point and six months under Lafayette.

Daughters of Moses Short

Miss Ruth Ilsley Short of Newbury, Massachusetts, was one of the remaining real daughters who never married. She was the daughter of Revolutionary War soldier Moses Short and Abigail Ilsley.

Moses Short served as a private in the company of Captain Silas Adams and Captain Oliver Titcomb.

Moses had another daughter, Miss Abigail “Abby” Short, also unmarried, who was a D.A.R. member until her death in 1905.

To be continued…

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Note on the header image: the D.A.R. in the 1922 July 4^th parade. From the left to the right, the participants standing in front are: Mrs. Frank Corwith, Miss Betsy Bush, Mrs. C. E. Foster, Mrs. Lewis E. Downs, Mrs. Eli Fordham, Mrs. J. M. Jagger, Mrs. H. H. Hildreth, and Mrs. Raymond Corwith. From left to right onboard the float, the participants are: Mrs. R. Kendrick, Mrs. A. W. Tunnell, John M. Nugent as a child, Helen C. Bishop as a child, a young Edward. H. Foster, a young E. Halsey Howell, Adelaide Corwith, and a young Mercator Cooper Kendrick. Courtesy of the South Hampton Museum, South Hampton, New York.