National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution is a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting education, historic preservation and patriotism. There are over 185.000 members in three thousand chapters across the world. Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership.
The Craig Valley Chapter, based in New Castle, is one of 130 chapters Virginia and is currently marking their tenth anniversary. A highlight at their recent celebration reception was an “Honor Roll Call of Patriots” where the following names of the ancestors of current members were recited by secretary Gerlene Sizer against of background of colonial-era background.
- Jacob Berger
- Jonathan Buck
- Nathaniel Cochran
- William Gragg, Jr
- Henry Harman, Sr.
- Hugh Hayes
- John Kennedy
- Zachariah Lee
- Joseph Amable LePage
- John Looney
- Adam Lugar
- James Maiden
- Andrew Meade
- Drury Puckett
- Rice Scott
- James Trenor
- Henry Jacob Trolinger
While most of these patriots are officially from Virginia, their stories extend from Germany to Ireland and from Williamsburg, Virginia, to the Great Lakes. Only a couple lived in Southwest Virginia before the Revolution, while several others helped to settle the area in the decades following the war. Several served in Virginia militia as privates, one supplied food to troops, one came to America to fight as a Hession and one served in a light infantry unit at Valley Forge.
Detailed histories will be printed during upcoming months as Craig Valley Chapter looks ahead to the future while commemorating the past.
A variety of resources are available to supply proof of lineage for area women who are interested in joining DAR and honoring their ancestors. Please contact Registrar Margaret Hines at 540-864-8447 or Regent Diane Givens at 540-864-5004.
-Submitted by Diane Givens
