5 Important Things to Remember When Filling Out Your DAR application.

So you have been invited to join Daughters of the American Revolution but you are not sure what is involved or what you need to do.  First of all congratulations!  DAR is not just a lineage society.  It is an organization that started over one hundred years ago to honor and preserve the legacy of our American patriots.  Today we continue this legacy by actively supporting historic preservation, promotion of education and patriotic endeavors.  But before you can join you must prove you are a direct descendant of an American patriot.

Upon your initial invitation you will receive a worksheet and booklet giving you all the instructions to complete your application.  However it is all kind of overwhelming if you have not done any genealogy before.  So here is a quick short list to help you get started.

1 Write down everything you already know.  You are the first generation on the worksheet.  Write down your birthday and place of birth and if you are married include your husband's information. Continue with your parents and then your grandparents.  Continue through the generations until you reach your patriot.

2 Ask your family (mother, father, aunt, grandmother, cousin) They are the most logical ones to help you fill in any missing blanks you may have. Don't forget to ask them if they know anyone else in the family that might know some of the answers too.  You never know mother may have a crazy aunt who loves genealogy!

3 You must have proof.  Just because mom says it's true doesn't make it so with the verification committee in Washington DC.  You need to not only prove where your different relatives were born and died but you also need to prove how the different generations are connected.  Most of the time it only takes a birth certificate, death certificate and marriage licence however if those are not available you can use other sources such as US census records, wills, land deeds or any other document that is on the approved sources list.

4 If you need help, please ask.  Each DAR chapter has a lineage research committee whose sole purpose is to help potential member fill out their application.  They won't do the work but can lead you in the right direction to get those proofs.  With today's technology a lot of these proof records can be found online and a member of the committee can help you search that way too.

5 Be mindful of the time. Once you have been invited to join DAR the National Society allow two years to complete an application.  However a time extension of one year may be granted if the applicant requests it.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has a wonderful website too with a lot of answers to help with the application process.  You can find their site HERE.

Again congratulation on deciding to join one of the greatest patriot societies ever!

Until next time, happy hunting!
Kristina

Baron von Steuben, Valley Forge and my ancestor John Koen of Pasquotank, NC

Patriot Profiles- John Koen

My favorite magazine came today!

American Spirit is published by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  In each issue there are wonderfully written articles covering such subjects as American history, historic preservation, patriotism, genealogy and education.   And this month there is an article that pertains to one of my patriots, John Koen of Pasquotank, NC.

Walter, Jeff “Building a Better Army; Baron von Steuben’s military expertise helped turn the tide of the Revolution.” American Spirit. May/June 2014: Pages 44-46

The three page article gives background on the military veteran of the Seven Years War in Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben and how he received specialized training from King Frederick II’s personal class on warfare and leadership.  It tells of how this veteran Baron von Steuben went from a privileged elite officer of Prussia to a soldier of fortune enlisting as a volunteer in the Continental Army.   Steuben arrived near the end of that brutal winter of 1778 that had taken its toll on Washington’s Army at Valley Forge, PA.

My patriot John Koen had enlisted under Col Abraham Shepherd’s 10^th NC regiment July 1777 and was at Valley Forge that entire winter.  The article goes on to say by the end of February 2,500 had died of starvation, disease or exposure and how the survivors though they had spirit and potential they were severely lacking in discipline and military training.  As temporary inspector general it was von Stueben’s job to get them ready for battle.  He was an “in your face” kind of man that these soldiers were not used to but listened to and respected none the less.   First however the camp had to be cleaned up with actual latrines and placing the kitchen on the opposite end of camp for sanitation purposes.   Drilling began with just a few of the men then as those mastered the military tactics they in turn each trained a small group until the skills spread to the entire Continental Army.    I can only image the hope and excitement my ancestor, John Koen along with the rest of the army felt as the proudly paraded May 6, 1778 to celebrate France’s alliance with America and demonstrated their newly honed military skills they had just mastered  over the last few months. 

My ancestor went on to fight in many battles after this including Monmouth, White Plains, and Charleston where he was taken prisoner.  He was then exchanged July 1782 and was marched to Richmond where he was discharged and went home.  I look forward to reading about these battles and more as I learn not only about their experiences but get a better understanding of what made them who they were and in turn a glimpse into whom I am as well.

Being a genealogist and keeper of the family history I enjoy reading about events that I know my ancestors were involved in.  It really makes history come alive.  Do you have an ancestor that was camped at Valley Forge?  I would love to hear your story.  Just click the word comments below and leave me a message.

Gen Israel Putnam, Col Edmund Phinney and My Patriot David McIntire 1775-1776

As recorded in the Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors Book Vol 10 p 505 David McIntire of Falmouth served as a private in Capt. Samuel Noyes's company under Col. Edmund Phinney's (31^st) regiment from when he enlisted June 23, 1775, until October 1775.  He then reenlisted as Corporal Jan 1, 1776 but this time in Capt. Hart Williams's company under Col. Edmund Phinney's 18^th regiment.  During this time he was promoted to Sergeant Aug. 3, 1776.

In researching Col. Edmund Phinney’s Regiments I found two publications, History of Col Edmund Phinney’s 31^st Regiment of Foot and History of Col Edmund Phinney’s 18^th Continental Regiment both written by Nathan Goold which shed quite a bit of light on my 5^th Great Grandfather’s experience in the Revolutionary War.  This is my summary of these two books.

The shot that was heard round the world on April 19, 1775 was heard two days later in Falmouth Massachusetts today Portland Maine.  War had finally come.  However there was not an organized or outfitted army to fight it.  Continental Congress immediately set about the task to resolve this problem and over thirty thousand men enlisted.  So many some had to be turned away.  Our ancestor David McIntire was one of those to heed the call.  There were ten companies in Col Edmund Phinney’s 31^st Regiment.  It was the first regiment raised in Cumberland County and David had enlisted under Capt. Samuel Noyes.

Unlike the Americans the British were organized and outfitted and it showed when they won the battle of Bunker Hill June 17th.  Congress was none too happy that the organizing of Phinney’s Regiment was taking so long and on June 22^nd they sent orders that 400 men of this regiment be sent to Cambridge at once.  Phinney and his captains finally set out around the first of July.  But still it would take time to march the regiment 130 miles from Falmouth to Cambridge.   With stops at local taverns along the way to eat and rest it took seven days to complete the march.

Col Phinney’s Regiment was assigned to Gen. Israel Putnam’s brigade and encamped near Fort #2 which was on the easterly side of Putnam Ave at Franklin St in Cambridge.  Today it is a busy residential neighborhood with a historical marker.

Gen. George Washington arrived July 3 to take command and he set up headquarters at Longfellow’s home not far from Fort #2

Our ancestor along with the rest of Phinney’s Regiment might have been too late for Bunker Hill but they were ready to fight.  The first important event after the arrival of the regiment at Cambridge was the burning of Boston lighthouse to prevent British warships from coming into the harbor.  Later the British tried to march out to Roxbury but we drove them back to Boston and when they rebuilt Boston Light the regiment destroyed it again.  By August Capt. Daniel Morgan’s Riflemen had arrived from Virginia.  And in September Gen Benedict Arnold and Col Henry Knox were given order to leave for Ticonderoga.   David McIntire along with his comrades in arms participated in skirmishes and picket firing and saw many killed and wounded about them while stationed outside of Boston during the Siege.

On October 18 the town of Falmouth was attacked and burned by a fleet of Royal Navy vessels commanded by Henry Mowart.   It was the same Capt. Mowart who Capt. Samuel Noyes and Col. Phinney had had trouble with before they marched to Boston four months earlier.  The record doesn’t say that is the reason Capt. Noyes’ men went back to Falmouth in October but they did none the less.

Col Phinney’s regiment remained in Cambridge.   The Colonial Army was in trouble.  The British ministry had hired over seventeen thousand German troops known as the Hessians and the colonies were not united. The southern colonies were not giving their all to the cause.  Also there was no money and very little ammunition.  It seemed hopeless but we would not give up we just needed to be reorganized!  So on December 31 the old regiments were disbanded and on January 1, 1776 a new organized and renamed army was born.  It was now called the Continental Army and the 31 regiment became the 18^th.   It is at this time David McIntire reenlisted as a corporal under Capt. Hart Williams and he went back to Boston to continue with the siege.

All through February the army was being prepared to attack Boston.  It was during this time that Henry Knox’s “Noble Train” arrived from New York with the cannons and ammunition they need for the attack.

On March 4 Col Phinney’s regiment was stationed at Lechmere Point and Cobble Hill with the intention of distracting the British of the goings on at Dorchester Heights.  Washington was sure the British would order an assault when they discovered the works at Dorchester and so the next day Gen Putnam’s regiment was marched to Cambridge Commons and readied for an attack on Boston but the order never came due to a torrential rain storm that kept the British from their attack.

By March 10 British conceded to evacuate Boston and were all gone along with Tory sympathizers by March 17.  Gen Putnam left March 28 for New York and Washington left April 5.  However even though the British were no longer in Boston it didn’t mean the American troops could just leave the town and harbor unprotected.  Col Phinney’s  and Col Hutchinson’s regiments stayed on through the summer of 1776. On July 4 independence was declared and on the eighteenth the declaration was read aloud from the State House in Boston.

A few weeks later in August, our ancestor David McIntire was promoted to Sargent just as orders to march to Fort Ticonderoga came through.  Col Phinney’s regiment marched out of Boston August 8 heading north.  The terrain was rough, the weather awful and most nights they could not find a place to stay so camped in the woods to sleep.  In all it took them over three weeks to reach the Fort.  They were assigned to Mount Independence, across the lake from Fort Ticonderoga, where fortifications were being built in preparations for an attack from the British out of Canada.

October 11 there was a naval battle off Valcour Island that lasted all day.  The Americans were out gunned and though they narrowly escaped that day most vessels were destroyed the next two days.  The British now occupied Fort Crown Point.  The next few days the troops on Independence worked nonstop to finish the fortification.  And on October 28^th when the British approached the forts they were met by an army of over 13,000 men that were well armed on both sides of the lake.  The British boats retreated by sunset and all forces at Fort Crown Point left and returned to Canada.

On November 20 Col Phinney’s regiment marched from Mount Independence and arrived at Fort George at the south end of Lake George where Phinney took command of the Fort from Col John Stark.  The duty of the regiment was to transport flour over the lake to the other forts.  And at the end of December the regiment was discharged where upon many started for home including David McIntire.

There are no other records I have found that suggest David reenlisted again throughout the rest of the war.  However his brother, Benjamin is recorded to have been a part of the Penobscot Expedition with Paul Revere in 1779.