Daughters Of The American Revolution Hold February Meeting

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL - The Daughters of the American Revolution Pithlochaskotee Chapter held an in-person general membership meeting on Feb. 13 at the American Legion Paradise Post #79 at 10:00am. Sons of the American Revolution Clearwater Chapter President James Grayshaw gave a presentation about the history of Revolutionary War related lineage societies. Grayshaw has also served in officer positions in the Sons of the Revolution New York Society. Other members from the Sons of the American Revolution Clearwater Chapter, Past President Robert Anderson, who also serves on the Florida Society Sons of the American Revolution Liaison Committee towards the Daughters of the American Revolution, Historian/Publicist Harry Fuller, and Ladies Auxiliary member Susan Grayshaw, who is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution Caladesi Chapter, also attended. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing guidelines were followed and masks were worn except when members were eating or giving a presentation. The chapter also provided a Zoom link so members could also view the meeting online.

Grayshaw's presentation began with the Society of the Cincinnati that was founded in 1783 by officers of the American Army and consists today of qualified male descendants of commissioned officers who served during the Revolutionary War. The Sons of the Revolution was founded in 1876 by John Austin Stevens in New York City which includes the descendants of all soldiers who fought during the Revolutionary War. Stevens disagreed with the Society of the Cincinnati limiting membership to only the descendants of officers.

The Sons of the American Revolution was founded in 1889 by William Osborn McDowell in New York City because he disagreed with the Sons of the Revolution requirement that the other state societies had to be subservient to the New York society, and that all forms of patriotic service could be used as a basis for membership. The Sons of Revolutionary War Sires was formed in 1876 in San Francisco by a group of Freemasons who had ancestors that fought in the Revolutionary War. Members of this group were allowed to join the Sons of the American Revolution after its founding.

The Daughters of the American Revolution was formed in 1890 by women descended from Revolutionary War patriots after they were not permitted to join the Sons of the American Revolution and founded their own organization.

Both of the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution are non-profit, non-partisan organizations dedicated to enhancing education, promoting patriotism and preserving American history. Members of the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution can trace their lineage to a patriot who supported the cause of American Independence.

For information about the Daughters of the American Revolution Pithlochaskotee Chapter, contact Chapter Regent, Judy Weaver at Tsudi47@aol.com or (727) 785-3587

For joining the Sons of the American Revolution Clearwater Chapter, visit www.clearwatersar.org or contact the chapter Registar, Parks Honeywell at parkshoneywell@gmail.com or (315) 212-9077.