History of the Delaware Society SAR

1890 - The organizational meeting of the Delaware Society was held on January 29, 1890. The first motion passed after organization was to hold an annual formal banquet to honor Delaware's ratification of the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787. Delaware was the first state to ratify this document that established the modern form of the U.S. government, and Delaware has ever since been known as "The First State". The Ratification Day Dinner has always been the principal event on the Delaware Society's calendar.

In the 20th Century | In the 21st Century

DESSAR Activities during the 20th Century

1901 - Several DESSAR members helped plan and finance the monument at Cooch's Bridge, commemorating the only Revolutionary War battle (a skirmish) fought on Delaware soil. The Brooklyn Navy Yard loaned to the DESSAR the four Navy Parrot rifles that surround the base of this monument. At the same time they loaned us two iron "Napoleons" cast for the Confederate Army. These once stood at the entry to the band stand at Brandywine Park and are now located at Fort DuPont on Pea Patch Island.

1910s - A DESSAR member contributed the alcove known as the Delaware Bay in the Cloister of Colonies in the Washington Memorial Chapel's Bell Tower at Valley Forge. A DESSAR member was Assistant Chief of Staff for the Fifth Army Corps in World War I; where he was awarded the Cross l'Etoile de France.

1920s - A number of members of the SAR helped purchase (at auction in England) the only Delaware battle flag known to remain from the Revolutionary War. This is now under the care of the Historical Society of Delaware.

1930s - Several SAR members served on the committee that established the original Delaware State Archives.

1940s - A DESSAR member was head of Selective Service (the draft) in Delaware during World War II and was awarded the Legion of Merit in 1943. He had over fifty years of service in the Army.

1970s - The SAR was instrumental in presenting lectures, films, and commemorations during the Bicentennial of our nation's founding. A DESSAR member wrote the definitive history, "The Delaware Continentals 1776-1783" (the Historical Society of Delaware, Wilmington, 1941) and later expanded this into a well-regarded history of the entire Revolution. Another DESSAR member wrote "The Story of Delaware in the Revolution" (Cann Inc., Wilmington DE, 1975) to cover other aspects of Delaware's contributions to liberty.

1990s -- A DESSAR member was lead author for transcribing and publishing Delaware 1782 Tax Assessments and Census Lists (Del. Geneal. Soc., Wilmington DE, 1994).
-- In 1996 he gave presentations to several organizations on The Battle at Lexington and Concord MA and The Sacrifice of the Delaware Continentals at the Battle of Camden SC
-- In 1998 The DESSAR encouraged the state of Delaware to place a commemorative marker and arranged for a grand ceremony in Camden SC near the site of the first battle of Camden, where 48 Delaware Continental soldiers died in a disastrous battle.
-- SAR members and their wives generated public support that resulted in the authorization of a multi-million dollar expansion of the Delaware State Archives and in a generous challenge grant that allowed doubling the research area and providing electronic access to past and current government information. A DESSAR member was co-chair of the drive to raise the matching funds. The new facility was opened to the public in late 2000. Top

DESSAR Activities during the 21st Century

2001 August -- The DESSAR organized a bus trip to Brooklyn NY for several organizations to participate in the dedication of a commemorative monument to the Delaware Continentals at the site where the Delaware troops held off British units for four hours during the battle of Long Island. About 31 Delaware soldiers died during this action. The monument was designed and supplied by the state of Delaware.

2002 April -- The DESSAR provided lead funding that drew a 4:1 match funds from the state of Delaware for a study of the campsites and interaction with merchants and society as the allied France-US army marched through Delaware in August 1780 and returned in 1781 and 1782 after the siege at Yorktown VA. Lauzun's Legion (250 light cavalry and 300 infantry) returned for a five-month stay in Wilmington during the winter of 1782/83. During this time, about seventy soldiers left the service and remained in the United States. See the Web links above.

2002 May -- We dedicated a marker in the Immanual Episcopal Churchyard in New Castle DE. At the request of the pastor the DESSAR had developed a list of patriots buried there and provided a marker with the text shown below:

2002 August -- The DESSAR participated in commemorating the 225th anniversary of the battle of Cooch's Bridge, providing the primary speaker (a descendant of Thomas Cooch, who owns the original home next to the bridge).

2002 September -- The DESSAR sponsored a bus trip to Germantown PA for several organizations to participate in the dedication of a monument (provided by the state of Delaware) noting the participation of the Delaware Continentals in this battle 225 years ago.

2002 December -- The DESSAR organized a bus trip to Princeton NJ for several organizations to participate in the dedication of a plaque honoring the life of Col John. Haslet, the first Colonel of the Delaware Continentals. The plaque was designed and supplied by the state of Delaware.

2003 February -- The DESSAR helped organize events in Philadelphia and Claymont to commemorate the 225th anniversary of (1) the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, in which France recognized the United States as an independent nation and of (2) the Treaty of Military Alliance, in which France pledged significant military assistance to the United States in its fight with England, and the United States promised comparable support for France.

2003 April -- The DESSAR is proud to note a significant contribution to preserve Delaware's only Revolutionary War battlefield. See The Gift of Cooch's Bridge

Top