The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-02
Nearest Links to OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Patriots Cldrer

ny JOHN ELFRErH WATKINS.

Upon tho eve OF this GLORIOUS
Fourth" 1 have been searching every
nook and Granny OF the land for those
living Americans who can boast Of
being our nearest links to independ-
ence.
1 soon found that. although the last
surviving signer OF the Declaration
was with us until 1882. no sons or
daughters of signers are now alive
lnasmuch. however. as the last Revo-
lutionary veteran remained among us
until 1863, and the last widow of
Revolutionary hero until only fve
years oga-1906-there doomed a more
promising Prospect of locating some
surviving sons and daughters of men
who. under the banner of Washingto ton,
shared in the contamination of IN
dependence. But at the outset this
quest appeared most discouraging. a
magazine writer who two years ago
made census Of surviving children
of Revolutionary patriots was able to
locate but two. one of whom has since
died So there appeared to be eXtant
but one interesting person of this
category.
During recent weeks, however, sew
eral national officers OF both the Sons
and Daughters of the American Revo-
luton have aided me in locating 1879
venerable Americans variously desig-
societies as actual sons" and real
MISREPRESENTATION of men who
risked their lives and fortunes for lib
erty in the .lrilling days of 1775-17S1
Dying Out Rapidly.
That theo- old ladies and gentle
men-unquestionabIy our nearest links
to ndependence-are fast dying off i.
proved b: the fact that of 70S real
daughters" enrolled during the past
score of years. but 15S survive and
that OF l5S actual sons" received in
membership during the same space OF
time there are but thirty now alive
OF course. this count does not nee
essariiy i1cludo all. or nearly ALL OF
the children of Revolutionary vet
Grams st1l N the land OF the living
II the truth were known, it would
probably be found that there are, alivs
and kicking, about many actual
sens as real daughters" The lat
ter's society has been the more jealous
in rounding them up and in Offering
them substantial inducements to join
the organization. So II is safe to say
that the, are still in the flesh be-
tween 80 and 400 men and women
whose ey s have Toasted on fathers
who. Under the First American, fought
the redcoats of England's third George.
d Many pseudo-real and pseudo-actual
Hhtldren of patriots have been brought
Two patriotic societies. but both or
4 gnizations have been most scrupulous
|ip separls ng the sheep from tie goats
Thus. out OF $50 claimants appearing
some time aSo in single State only
about fifty were found, on careful in
|vestigation, to be probably bona fde,
[and OF these only twenty-five were
home were discovered to be impostors
pure Aand staple: some grandchildren
9Isteah of children of patriots. and
3Hhers children of 1912 veterans while
5Hany could produce no substantial
$toot for their claims.
Personnel by the Society.
4f the immortal George and his pat
#1ot army, now camped upon yondcr
&ke of the great gulf, have percep.
as of mundane conditions. theiI
I&39nity is augmented by the knowl-
- that the baby girls whom they
III behind are insured against desti.
SfSb by t. younger generations OF
8r female descendants. The Daugh-
society. with a benevolent spirit
rec Masonry long ago pledged
= Aselves to this charitap.e work
" To-day forty-one real daughters"
craving from the organization
{hly pension OF SIS. which sufiicns
ep the wolf from the door.
kment has impelled the D. A r
falon also to provide each real
- ~ pr" with an enduring souvenir
~ banded down to posterity, and
hemento takes the form of
> gold spoon, properly inscribed
38fs or fees are accepted by either
from these honor members
Remarkable Longevity.
q longevity which the Scriptures
to those who honor their
and mothers lis and has been
s = by many Of these children of
r l,As, in the 1o9th year OF his age
=. 5ied last year at Newport n H.
: - Bellows McGregor. son of Pri-
y Joel McGregor who enlisted in
bird Connecticut Regiment, Con-
al ljne. in 17T7. and who was
AkSy discharged in 1850, after
been held a prisoner OF war
- Pw York sugar house"
: Us century span OF James, the
3 4 merely his birthright. as
father, had lived from No
- jIq5]F 3Re32, 1860, until October 81, 1861
383Rl OF 10l years, lacking only
b.