Sons of the Revolution (SR) is a hereditary fraternal organization which was founded in 1876 and educates the public about the American Revolution. The General Society Sons of the Revolution is the SR's national organization and is a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation,[1][2] located at Independence, Mo., and is governed by a board of managers, an executive committee, officers, standing committees and their members, and staff. The general society includes 28 state societies and 14 chapters in the United States, as well as societies in France and Mexico,[3] and describes its purpose as:
"[T]o perpetuate the memory of the men, who in the military, naval and civil service of the Colonies and of the Continental Congress by their acts or counsel, achieved the Independence of the Country, and to further the proper celebration of the anniversaries of the birthday of Washington, and of prominent events connected with the War of the Revolution; to collect and secure for preservation the rolls, records, and other documents relating to that period; to inspire the members of the Society with the patriotic spirit of the forefathers; to promote the feeling of friendship among them."[4]
Sons of the Revolution should not be confused with Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), a separate organization which was founded on April 30, 1889 at New York by New Jersey businessman William Osborn McDowell. He disagreed with the Sons of the Revolution requirement of the time that other state societies be subordinate to the New York society, and intended to include members by recognizing additional types of public service of a revolutionary ancestor beyond that which contributed directly to the Revolution.[5]
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SR membership is open to:
"Any male person above the age of eighteen years, of good character, and a descendant of one who, as a military, naval, or marine officer, soldier, sailor or marine, in actual service, under the authority of the original thirteen Colonies or States or of the Continental Congress, and remaining always loyal to such authority, or a descendant of one who signed the Declaration of Independence, or of one who, as a member of the Continental Congress or of the Congress of any of the Colonies or States, or as an official appointed by or under the authority of any such legislative bodies, actually assisted in the establishment of American Independence by services rendered during the War of Revolution, becoming thereby liable to conviction of treason, against the government of Great Britain, but remaining always loyal to the authority of the Colonies or States, or who served honorably in a military or naval expedition against the British during the War of the Revolution under the authority of the French or Spanish governments...."[4]
Junior, senior and life memberships are also available. Members receive benefits[6] [7] which include:
Sons of the Revolution was founded on February 22, 1876 at New York primarily by leading members of The Society of the Cincinnati and businessman John Austin Stevens who disagreed with society requirement that membership be based on the rules of primogeniture, and intended to include members by recognizing any descendant of a revolutionary ancestor.[8] Stevens held a preliminary meeting on December 18, 1875 at the New-York Historical Society at New York.[9] At a second meeting held in January 1876, the first SR constitution was adopted and a flier which invited members was published.
The fledgling group languished for several years until December 4, 1883 when an elaborate "turtle feast" dinner was held in the Long Room of Fraunces Tavern at lower Manhattan in New York to commemorate the centennial of the dinner and speech of U.S. Gen. George Washington where he bade farewell to his officers of the Continental Army in the room by saying "[w]ith a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable."[10] [11] [12] [13] At the end of the 1883 dinner, the SR constitution was signed by more than 40 new members, and the group was reorganized as the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York Inc.
In the early years after the reorganization, Society of the Cincinnati President-General Hamilton Fish gave much support and encouragement to the New York society. He referred often to its members as the "younger brothers of the Cincinnati."
Recognizing that SR members from states other than New York might form state societies in their states, the group's officers amended its constitution in 1884 to provide that state societies may organize as "auxiliary branches." Consequently, the Pennsylvania society was formed in 1888, and the District of Columbia society was formed in 1889. The General Society constitution was proposed on February 12, 1890 in Philadelphia and adopted on March 8, 1890 in New York. Members of the three state societies held a meeting on April 19, 1890 in Washington to inaugurate the General Society. In the next few years, several more state societies were formed and the General Society developed a more national character.
The General Society and state societies offer patriotic, historical and educational activities for its members and the public. In addition to various dinners, exhibits and holiday events, the societies produce the following specific activities.
Since its founding, the General Society has held triennial meetings of the membership. The 40th meeting was held on September 24 through 27, 2009 in Glendale, Calif., by the California society. The meeting's keynote speaker was U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., an SR member since 1989 by right of descent from Pvt. Moses Tyler, who served in Capt. Peter Harwood's Co. of the Massachusetts Militia.
The General Society has established various citizen awards which are given to individuals and state societies for their work to continue the SR mission and honor the memory of the participants of the Revolution. The awards include the Modern Patriot Award, the Patrick Henry Award, the Jay Harris Award, the Richard Farmer Hess Leadership Award, the Trent Trophy, the Membership Achievement Award and the Presidential Commendation of Merit. The 2009 Modern Patriot Award, symbolized by a Paul Revere Bowl, was presented to U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California.[14]
Fraunces Tavern is a museum and restaurant housed in a restored building that played a prominent role in pre-Revolution and Revolution history. The building that houses the tavern, located at 54 Pearl Street at the corner of Broad Street, has been owned by the New York society since 1904, which claims it is Manhattan's oldest surviving building.[15]
The building served also as the offices of the General Society until 2002, when the society headquarters moved to its current location in Independence, Mo. The museum maintains several galleries of art and artifacts about the Revolution including the McEntee "Sons of the Revolution" Gallery that displays much of the SR history.[16]
The Rhode Island society has maintained Green End Fort since 1969 when its owner, Newport Historical Society, "expressed hope that the Sons would 'maintain the Fort as a memorial and eventually acquire the property.'" The fort was built in 1777 by British troops at the Village of Green's End near Middletown, R.I. as part of the defenses of Newport.[17]
Several state societies have placed SR markers and wreaths at the graves of identified revolutionary patriots including that of the Massachusetts society which placed markers at the graves of Samuel Adams and James Otis Jr. that are located in the Granary Burying Ground at Boston. The General Society joined the Georgia society in 2005 to place a wreath at the re-interment of U.S. Brig. Gen. Casimir Pulaski in Savannah, Ga.[18]
The Pennsylvania society has sponsored since July 4, 1969 "Let Freedom Ring," the nationwide celebration of those who helped achieve our nation's independence during the Revolution.[19] [20] [21] According to U.S. Senate Concurrent Resolution 25 of 1963, bells across the nation are rung 13 times at exactly 2:00 p.m. EDT in honor of the 13 original states that were represented by the signers of the Declaration of Independence. At the appointed hour, four young descendants of the signers tap Philadelphia's famous Liberty Bell, setting off the chimes of freedom from bell towers throughout the nation. There is also a series of related patriotic festivities which take place in the Independence Hall area, including a colorful parade of Revolutionary War flags, fifes and drums, and a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War at Washington Square.[22]
The General Society and several state societies have established various educational and military awards which are given to individuals and groups for their academic or service performance. The awards include the Annapolis Cup which was created in 1905 and given annually by the general society and the Maryland society to a U.S. Naval Academy midshipman,[23] the Knox Trophy (New York) which was created in 1910 and given annually by the New York society to a U.S. Military Academy at West Point cadet,[24] the Capt. Gustavus Conyngham Award which was created in 1999 and given annually by the New York society to a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point midshipman,[24] the Recognition Award which was created in 2002 and given annually by the Massachusetts society to a U.S. Army ROTC cadet,[25] and the Knox Trophy (Massachusetts) which was created in 1924 and given annually until 1940 by the Massachusetts society to a U.S. Army field-artillery battery and "redleg" artillery operator.[26]
The New York society has organized infrequent Evacuation Day observances of the anniversary of the British departure on November 25, 1783 from New York after the Revolution. After a controversial New York Police Department denial on May 21, 2008[27] of a New York society application for a parade permit, officials accepted the application on July 30, 2008[28] for society members to march down Broadway from New York City Hall to Battery Park, "where reenactors in period costumes will lower a Union Jack and raise the Stars and Stripes in a symbolic reprise of what happened in 1783. British and French diplomats, along with others who had roles in the American colonies' struggle for independence" were invited to attend.[29] [30] [31] [32]
Many notable celebrities and public leaders in the United States have served as SR members.
[33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] They include the following persons.