The sun., 1897-10-03
SHE'S THE YOUNGESTD.A.R.
MRS. BLANCHARD, AGED SO. OF
BOLYOKE CLAIMS THE HONoR


Rorp-He Lived to Be OJ-A visit from AZ
Ared, white hatred sen-A Long search.
SPRINGFIELD Mass, Oct. 2,-The search fov
tho Youngest daughter OF the American Rcvo-
lution has been going on so long that IL Is noe
easy to trace tho responsibility for starting it,
perhaps this il not worth while doing. since she
has now been found. Sho 10 Mrs. Victoria Rocks
we'll Blanchard Of Holyoko, Mass. II has been
inserted that this question will not down, and
that the youngest daughter OF the Revolution
may continue to pe discovered from time 10
time The advocates OF Mrs. BlanchNrd's claim
do not admit this. They say that the proofs OF
her claim to the honor are clear that the
matter is settled.
Mrs blanchard is daughter OF Jeremiah
Rockwell who bore arms in the Revolutions
She was born on May "a, 1871. and is therefore
SO years old. Until recently she lived in bliss-
ful ignorance that her birth had anything TO do
with making her famous.
The discussion as to who was entitled to the
honor has been carried on for some time. When
a Mrs Holister, aged 10. who lives in EaHs
Hartford, Conn, was found. she enjoyed tho
honor for short time, until the discovery OF
Mrs Avery Of Willimantc. who is only 90, and
who probably follows Mrs. Blanchard good
second. Mrs. Avery's father, solomon Loring,
did not enlist until about the close Of the war.
and was a boy OF only 3 at the time. Recruits
were scarce. and boys even younger were gladly
taken.
Jeremiah Rockwell. the father of Mrs. Blanch-
ard, was born at RidRefeld Conn, on July 10.
1885, SO he was 90 years Of age at tho outbreak
OF the war. Having remove ed with his father 10
Lnnesborough. Mass, he enlisted there. but in .
Connecticut regiment, probably because there
we're others OF his friends in the same company.
The records at Washington show that he served
under Capt Barnes and Col. y oodbrdge. lie was
in the battle of Bunker Hill, SO that his daughter
may boast Of being not only D. A r.. but also
the child Of who served in that en-
gagement He married at the close Of the war,
and lived in Lanesboro until 1889. Then. hav-
ing purchased farm in Cornwall, VT, ho
removed thither and lived there until 1884.
From there he again removed to Stanbridge.
Canada where Mrs. Rockwell horn the
child Of his third wife. As she was born on the
Queens birthday, she was named for Queen Vic
| toria who was then in the third year Of her
| reign.
Perhaps the most astonishing fact OF the
| matter is that the old soldier was 81 years OF
| age at the time OF her birth. Her mother was
| forty years younger The old soldier wished to
spend his last days in his native country and in
lS47 purchased a farm at Brandon y. V, near
near West Bangor. where he died on Aug. %,
1852, in his ninety-seventh year. He was buried
| in West Bangor The stone marking his grave
| may still be seen. On it are inscribed the names
| OF battles in which he participated. beginning
| with Bunker Hill.
Mrs. Blanchard old enough at his death
| to remember her father well. He was remark
ably straight, and his hair was not white until
| near the very close OF his life. He never knew
| q prolonged period OF illness. In the last years
| Of his life II his custom TO walk over tho
| farm with a cane, and he used to take pleasure
| in going through the manual OF arms for tho
amusement of the children. He was of a genial
! - iAla and NJ riny;r Z fhaI
nature iohu .. IoAe. anu y, eh!os Ing ane
ready with some story.
~. read nnncb ~ tho TINA in ,nc,emen,
weather" she said to THE srS reporter. Ho
was deacon in the Congregational Church.
and remember the many hours he spent in this
chair reading copy of the old Poiygiot edition
tha Co., viz, ha,, hs ,omld son,n,imes nro.
.he moor WIN DING ne "ou.u soinGttnes =. pro-
| duty. when a little sirl to run and hand him
i the book" "
He did not apply for pension until he was
| -. T.. A., - ,. A.. .
Gohs,oereu ra.ner !ale IN .he Gay out 10
lively old boy Of his nature. who had not yet ee-
60 s, ~ - w IT, a, at ~ 49,. go. ao
& years se. 10 en was a,,n n%S W hst Amy means ~ bo
onnortnnitv Granted nv an act NJ Congress bo
oppor'uhi'! sfah'eo W an ao. Vi Sohstss' no
sent In his application In !s32. ana received
pension Of $40 year until his death.
Mrs. Blanchard is OF medium height, round
figure, and regular features and does not look
tho 56 years which she acknowledges. She
mem bcrs her childhood days in Canada, where
she first went to school. Later she attended
public and private schools in New York State
until she became a pupil OF seminary for
pupils OF both sexes at Townsend, VT. OF which
her half brot her was principal She returned to
West Bangor TO reside with her mother,
and there was married TO William Harri.
son blanchard, who, by the way. served
In the war Of the rebellion from 1862
TO 1865. A few years later the fam
| ily went to Holyoke taking possession OF their
present residence Mr.. and Mrs. blanchard
have a daughter, who is the wife OF J. L. Grit
| nth. and a son, Wallace j. who is younger.
Mrs Blanchard has a brother, Cyrus s. Rock
well of East Dickinson. y. y, who is but two
and half years older than she. Mr.. Rockwell
Mercy Warren Chapter OF the Daughtcrs OF