The San Francisco call., 1896-02-23
Formation of the Society of Chill
dren of the American
Revolution.
THE ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES
Recitations, Patriotic Songs and G
Lecture On American Shrines
by Rev. E. R. Ollie.


election of the following named officers
Mrs. S. Isabelle Hubbard, president; Sara
Cone Bancroft, vice-president; David
Staples Painter, recording secretary; Flora
May Walton, corresponding secretary;
Isabel Dennison, treasurer; Helen A. Hal
lowell, registrar; Ralph Watts Wardwell
historian; Herbert Ross Baker color
bearer.
The new society, of which the following
are charter members-IsabeI Dennison
Leonidas R. Dennison. Jennie Stanford
Lathrop, Edward Richter Polhemus
Phoebe w. Painter. Lizzie D. Painter
David S. Painter, Elizabeth NJ. Moores
Charles B. Moores, Helen A. Hallowell
Gertrude Holt Lofthouse, Mary Alvord
heeney, Charles C. Keeney, Elizabeth R.
keeney, Elsie Tallant, SeIden S. Tallant
John D. Tallant, Herbert R. Baker. Leayitt
Baker, Helen Baker, Dorothy Baker. Loui:
Dorr, Elsie Dorr, Flora NJ. Walton Martin
6 Walton, Jr., Elo;se n. Scoville, Sara c.
bancroft, Karl August Bancroft, Ralph W.
w ardweil, Innes SPOTS keenev, William
Hooper Jouett, John Hamilton Jouett-
celebrated Washington's birthday N the
public parlor OF the Decide ntal Hotel YES
terday afternoon in the presence of d large
audiences. present by invitation and en-
braclng many of the most prominent
people of the City.
ReY. h. Nichols, l., A. Larsen rendered in
splendid voice, 81 am King DER Land and
Sea" Mrs. A. S. Hubbard gave an inter-
estlng history OF the formation of the Ma
tonal Society OF Children OF the American
revolution, upon the suggestion of Mrs.
Daniel Lothrop at the Continental Con-
gress OF the Daughters OF the American
RpWnlnrrOp haiI la-,
February
Mrs. Hubbard stated that the object of
the society is TO inspire spirit of patriot
ism in the rising generation, to teach the
young ones American history and rever-
ence for the American flag. She also
stated that another object of the society is
TO increase veneratIon for the flag and to
teach the people to rise whenever The
Star-spangled Banner is played or sung
within doors and to salute by raising the
hat when II is played out of doors.
Miss Alice Partridge gave a vocal solo,
followed by a recitation, THE Revolution
ary Rising" by Miss Mabel Sweetland.
Helen =. Hallowell, the registrar of the
new society, a bright Miss OF Is, who was
introduced as the great at-great-grand-d -daugh-
ter OF Valentine Holt, explained in sweet,
clear voice why the society had been
named for her relative. She said:
This society selected the name of one, who,
when but IS years OF age, by reason of his
iearlessness, bravery and patriotism, was
CHOSEN by his brother-in-law, Captain Benja-
min Farnham, to be the bearer OF dispatches q
position that was usually given TO men OF
mature years. Yet, despite mis- youth, Valen-
llne Holt discharged his duties TO the salts
lactlon OF his superlors. In carrying his mes
sages ne was forced 10 contend against the
Indians as well as the English troops
Valentine was not the first 10 bring the name
Holt into prominence, for among the earliest
records OF Andover, Mass, the name of Holt
appears. Nicholas Holt, horn in 1902, the
neutrality-suspicious. OF Valentine, reached
Boston from southampton June 3, 1635, on the
snip James, and went TO NeWbury, and ten
years later moved 10 Andoyer, his family being
the sixth to settle there. He became one OF
the largest landowners there and was one of
the prominent officers Of the town.
He was the one who superintended the stalking
OF the boundary lines between Andover and
Reading, and he was the founder OF long line
OF descendants noted fOr their education
fourteen OF whom graduated from Harvard
February IL, 1878, when the freehold OF
Andover took the oath of allegiance, six mem
bers OF the Holt family registered JOseDh
the father OF Valentine, graduated from Har-
ward with the degree OF 4. N, ana he was q
captain during the French-lndian war. He
wrote journal OF his expedition TO Canada
which was published by one of the foremost
historical societies OF the United States
The records of the Pension office show that
Valentine, born Christmas day, 1868 in pur.
suance of an agreement made between his
father and Captain Farnham, when thirteen
years old was taken from Wilton y H. to
which place his family had removed to Bos-
ton, where Captain Farnham's company was
stationed, reaching there in February l777
and al once entered into the service as beare-
OF dispatches. Captain Farnham, who was
one OF the $50 present at the cornerstone
laying at Bunker Hill, was twice wounded
during the war at the battle OF Bunker Hill
Young Holt went to Danbury, Conn, where
he joined Colonel Tupper's regiment and with
It proceeded to Fishkill, as &c leral Burgovue
advancing from Ticonderoga, n Y The
regiment was ordered to point near Saratoga.
From there he was sent as the bearer OF i'm
pOrtGnt dispatches TO Adams, Berksh hire
County, Mass, and from there to Wilton y II
On the way tn ere he narrowly escaped being
captured by the English troops, but reached
his destination in safety. He was in the battle
OF Bennington, VT. August 10, 1777, under
General Stark. Owing 10 great disturbances
he did not reach Captain Farnham until five
days after Burgoyne had surrendered at Sara
toga Valentine was discharged in Noyemher
OF that year near West Point, but he re-en-
listed in July of the following year in Captain
Burrows company in Colonel Nichols reg
iment raised in New HAMPSHIRE for the de-
fense of the colonies
He was honorably mustered out October %
when nearing his seventeenth birthday He
years after he left the army and he lived to
round out his fourscore years by the time he
was called TO his fathers.
There is no likeness of Valentine Holt, but
there is one of Lydia, his daughter, who was
born lob years ago, and his youngest lineal
descendant and bearing his name Is Gertrude
-
charter member OF our society.
Valentine Holts great-great-grandson is q
member OF the Sons of the American Revolu-
tion, and was the only member OF the National
Society ever admitted under age.
The speaker closed with patriotic allu-
sion to those who fought for liberty and
country under the greatest Of American
heroes and patriots, whose anniversary was
then being celebrated wherever floats the
stars and stripes
THE Legend of the Chimes was rem
dered by r. P. Evans, Mrs. George L.
Darling, Miss Alice Partridge and L. A
Larsen, Roscoe Warren Lucy being the
accompanist. This was followed by reci-
tation, 1.-The Horseman in the Sky" by
Miss Daisy Kimbal, in feeling manner.
Colonel J. C. Currier on behalf of Mrs.
LELAND Stanford, presented to the society
a handsome flag, which was received with
fitting words, spoken with ring of patriot
ism, by Miss Sara Gone Bancroft. the vice.
president, who placed it in the keeping of
Color-bearer Ross, who stood between
Selden Stuart Tallant and John Drury
Tallant. beautiful children, attired in
colonial costumes of velvet and wearing
white wigs
The singing of the "Star-spangled Ban
ner'' by Miss Darling, the audience stand
ing while it was sung, was followed by a