Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-05-05

Secretary General Cresap ad vised an Gu.
tire revision of the constitution OF tho
society, in order to pace it above criticism
and to avoid antagcuism with other kindred
societies.
The report Of tho actins registrar gener-
al, A. Howard Clark, showed that tie
natioaal archives now contain 1924 indI-
vidual records of lineal descendants of pa
trlCts of the revolutionary war. Family
tradition is frequently the sole calm Oh APP
plicants, but there are many instances
vhen tradition is verified by the medium OF
papers Of other applicants
The society archives show that descend
ants Of nearly all the signers Of the decldra-
ton OF Independence are III the membe. ship,
as well Us those Of The hundreds OF famous
soldiers and sailors who led the American
army and navy to victory. Registrar
General Goode su3 that ne had exercised
rigid scrutioy OF papers before issuing Ger
tihcatos for badges and State officers should
verify the papers before transmitting Thorn
TO the national officers.
TreasurerG General Otis reported $500 in
the treasury.
Henry hall, historian general presented
an elaborate report of the sources OF IN
formation to which a man or Il woman
can apply for proof of an ancestor i'll tie
American revolution. The report stated
that the armies OF the revolution were com
posed OF 23l ,3S7 Continental troops, A,
G04 militia, and 81, 65# ''adIitonaln NH
itia; total SO BID. The population then
was about , 3JU OOU, ana II per cent served
in the war IN one capacity or another.
IAe first step to trace back ones line
age by as many lines as possible to the
tunes Of the revolution. Family Bibles, the
memory OF relatives, the records of towns
anu counties, wills Of the deceased, etc.
must be consulted. The man woman
who once begins upon this fascinating search
| will never stop until he discovers whether
! lie had an ancestor or not.
For proof of service of an ancestor re-
course must be had to existing records in
the Is original States or Ia Washington.
| Several States have published booas, none
of them absolutely complete but a.. OF them
exceedingly valuable. New Humps has
| published four volumes OF rolls OF her troops
in the American revolution. Copies can he
| had from OTIS q. hammond, Concord, y. H.
| Vermont has no BOOK, bus does possess the
records Of service, and inquiries should be
addressed TO Theodore S. Peck, al Iutant-
general Massachusetts LAS never issued a
| book, but has u great mass of documents
| indeXe1. and an inquiry addressed to tho
secretary of the commonwealth, Boston,
Mass, will receive attention. Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey aud
! Pennsylvania have hooks.
At Washington tuere is great mine of
material. There are over 800 volumes of
manuscript papers and records in the state
department and in the pension bureau there
are over 200 more volumes OF muster and
pay rolls and similar documents The ales
III the case OF the 62, OG0 revolutionary pen
sions are exceedingly valuable for proof of
service
Gen. Peck of Vermont announced the
death Of Major Gen. William Wells, IA Yer
mont delegate, which was followed by re-
marks from Col. NJ. NJ. Parker and Gen.
Frank G.. Butter fold, delegates from thu
district OF Columbia. On motion OF ex-
Judge Armour of New York the Vermont
delegation was appointed a committee tc
draft minute commemorative of the life
and services of Ma or Gen. v ellis, and trans
init them to the secretary general, who il
instructed to spread the same ut .args upon
the records Of tLe congress.