Joint Grave-Marking Ceremony Held in Stratford

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State Officers 2017-2018 National Trustee David J. Perkins 203-797-1967 dperkins8@att.net Joint Grave-Marking Ceremony Held in Stratford President Ethan A. Stewart, Sr.

com Secretary Paul H. Selnau 860-651-4161 pselnau@hsa-architects.com Treasurer Daniel E. Benoit 203-323-8804 danielnca@aol.com Chaplain William J. Lane, Jr. 203-288-5863 lanewjg@comcast.

1 State Officers National Trustee David J. Perkins Joint Grave-Marking Ceremony Held in Stratford President Ethan A. Stewart, Sr st Vice-President Damien M. Cregeau nd Vice-President William H. Robbins Secretary Paul H. Selnau Treasurer Daniel E. Benoit Chaplain William J. Lane, Jr Registrar Gregory E. Thompson Historian Gary S. Pitcock Chancellor William P.Fenn Real Property Steward David H. Packard Color Guard Commander David J. Perkins SAR State President Ethan A. Stewart, Sr. (l) and DAR State Regent Alice E. Ridgway (r) Over 100 people congregated on Saturday, August 26th at the historic cemetery in Stratford owned Christ Episcopal Church for a joint CTSSAR-CTDAR state gravemarking ceremony commemorating the eighteen patriots of the American Revolution buried there, including 17 soldiers and William Samuel Johnson, one of Connecticut s three signers of the U.S. Constitution in Col. David Perkins led the Connecticut Line of the CTSSAR Color Guard and members of the 6th CT Regiment that included three volleys of musket fire. Efforts to repair the many damaged headstones - both structurally and aesthetically - were led by CTSSAR President Ethan Stewart, his wife, Barbara Stewart, who is regent of the Baldwin Stow Chapter of the CTDAR, as well as CTDAR State Regent Alice Ridgeway, the latter who helped lead coordinated efforts to have the CTSSAR and CTDAR be able to officially recognize and mark the eighteen graves with a stone tablet.

2 Among others in attendance were the Mayor of Stratford, John Harkins, who read his proclamation, as well as a performance of a song written for the ceremony by Tom Callinan of Norwich, professional musician and former state troubadour. An invocation was read by Rev. Scott Lee, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, and members of various branches of the CTDAR and CTSSAR were among the many dozens packed into the cemetery for a beautiful day made more pleasant by the shade from a large oak that is among the dozens of seedlings remaining of the Charter Oak of Hartford. 1 st VP Damien Cregeau spoke on the life of William S. Johnson. The Life of William Samuel Johnson Speech at Johnson s Grave, by Damien Cregeau Don t worry, compatriots and friends. It wasn t until two years ago I had not heard of William Johnson. My first thought was, Who s That?! William Samuel Johnson, not to be confused with the famous British writer Samuel Johnson, was born right here in Stratford, Connecticut on the 7th of October in 1727 and died on the 14th of November in 1819 at the age of 92. While it would have been more comfortable to be standing at this, his place of burial on the 7th of October in hopes of nicer weather, you probably agree with me that we have certainly been blessed with wonderful, comfortably warm weather throughout this summer. However, I also know that numerous volunteers from both the DAR and SAR would assert that they sweated for days, no, weeks, and many of them, as they toiled away on restoring this cemetery all summer long, and for those heroic efforts, they deserve our utmost, hearty, enthusiastic gratitude! The good news is that no one had to sweat over getting the U.S. Constitution ratified like William Samuel Johnson did, and he did it without air conditioning or even a fan! William was born to Samuel Johnson, a well-known Anglican clergyman and later president of King s (later known as Columbia) College, and Johnson s first wife, Charity Floyd Nicoll. I don t know if there s any relation, and I couldn t determine it, but DAR ladies might be intrigued to know she as a Floyd could be a relative of Mary Floyd Tallmadge, namesake of the Mary Floyd Tallmadge Chapter of the Connecticut DAR, and also daughter of New York Signer of the Declaration of Independence William Floyd, who s the only signer to have not one but TWO houses still standing. One is part of a national park on Long Island, and the other is where he died in upstate New York. Furthermore, Mary Floyd married Major Benjamin Tallmadge, a graduate of Yale, classmate and friend of Nathan Hale, and who had just completed his work of serving as both cavalry officer and case offer for the now-famous Culper Spy Ring. But I digress as usual and we are here to celebrate the lives of Signer Johnson as well as the patriot soldiers buried here, not Mary Floyd or her family, plus Bill Robbins will add my bones to the ones buried here if I don t pick up the pace and make my key points about Senator Johnson. I say Senator Johnson because this locally prominent and then-famous but until 2014 forgotten founding father of Connecticut s colony and then state was eventually a U.S. Senator. But wait, I should mention in passing that I must admit I had never heard of William Johnson until I did some research as a historian on the various signers of the various founding documents that were instrumental in creating our representational republic of the United States, culminating in the U.S. Constitution, created in 1787 and yet not ratified until Anyway, I had never heard of Johnson, and when I discovered he was not only from Stratford but also buried in a well-marked grave here in Stratford, I immediately alerted my two Stratford compatriot friends, Rich Kendall and Ethan Stewart. Wait a minute, I ve digressed again. Let s go on a trivial fact-finding mission together.

3 Johnson graduated from Yale College in 1744, going on to receive a master s degree from his alma mater in Do the math and you may be startled to know he was only 20 when he earned his master s, the same year he also received an honorary degree from Harvard! Nowadays you will probably agree me as a former preparatory school teacher and dorm head that we re lucky if we can get a 20-year-old to finish his year of college learning more than grievance studies and how to NOT study the likes of local heroes like William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman, Oliver Wolcott, Samuel Huntington or Oliver Ellsworth. Parents, you ll understand when I say you are apt to project your own values upon your children s generation, and hope they will follow in your footsteps. This might explain why Johnson did not heed his father s urging to become a minister, but instead pursued a legal career, something I am sure Bill Fenn would agree was a noble decision. Speaking of noble, Sir John Towle will enjoy learning that the Johnson coat of arms in red and white features three red something or others and a red chevron. I ll let him prove its veracity. What we will all appreciate learning about Johnson is that he was well-respected legal authority, and for that reason he was consulted by many of Connecticut s founding fathers as they made their trips to Philadelphia to represent Connecticut in various editions of the Continental and then United States Congress. This list includes the aforementioned Governors and Declaration of Independence Signers Oliver Wolcott and Samuel Huntington, but also Roger Sherman as well as Oliver Ellsworth, William Williams, Governor Jonathan Trumbull and Silas Deane, diplomat to France who hailed from Wethersfield. Before the American Revolution broke out in 1775, Johnson was sent to London, England to serve as a representative of the colony of Connecticut. Imagine this long-forgotten chapter in Connecticut s history. He appeared before British Parliament to advocate successfully for Connecticut s rights to Native American territory in what was then called Wyoming territory. I am not referring to what is now Wyoming, but instead, the western part of the modern-day state of Pennsylvania. Johnson (much to my own surprise) also served as a colonel in the Connecticut militia during the American Revolution. It was after the war, however, that he gained his notoriety as both as U.S. Senator (dates?) and SIGNER of the U.S. Constitution. Speaking of the Constitution, we in Connecticut are likely aware that our DMV license plates say The Constitution State on them, but that is not because of the famous 1787 Constitution. Rather, it pays homage to the 1639 document known as the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. It was Roger Sherman, William Johnson and Oliver Ellsworth who were the three representatives from Connecticut to head back town to venerable Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention. Lest any of you think that Congress moves like molasses nowadays, I like to remind contemporaries like yourselves that Congress moved even slower in those days. For example, it took over a year to ratify our famous U.S. Constitution. Why? Because, much like nowadays, no one could ever possibly agree on even fundamental issues, so we had, or might say, were cursed with, the two unofficial political parties then known as Anti-Federalists in confrontation with the Federalists. Unlike today s triumphant tweets and titanic disasters of press conferences, back then the difference of political opinion could lead to one congressman caning another - on the floor of Congress - or, worse yet, come to blows with another weapon: the dueling pistol. Imagine nowadays if Clinton and Trump were to meet in Weehawken to settle their differences on a dueling ground overlooking New York City and the Hudson River. Well, not only did Hamilton died now famously in 1804 at the hands of Vice President Aaron Burr, but Hamilton also nearly came to dueling with future president James Monroe.

Thankfully, I am not aware of any evidence of William ever engaging in a duel to settle differences or slights towards his reputation, or harming another s.

Constitution would once and for all put to rest the risk of anarchy embodied in such civil uprisings as Captain Daniel Shays Rebellion in Massachusetts in 1786, as well as the Whiskey Rebellion and

In conclusion, I wish to offer several thought-provoking quotes from Mr. Johnson: He knows not his own strength who hath not met adversity.

4 Thankfully, I am not aware of any evidence of William ever engaging in a duel to settle differences or slights towards his reputation, or harming another s. Yet, it was Alexander Hamilton who, in agreement with Mr. Johnson, wanted the thirteen states to come to a reasonable consensus that the U.S. Constitution would once and for all put to rest the risk of anarchy embodied in such civil uprisings as Captain Daniel Shays Rebellion in Massachusetts in 1786, as well as the Whiskey Rebellion and other contemporary challenges. Hamilton argued that the U.S. federal government needed the power to tax in order to collect revenue. In conclusion, I wish to offer several thought-provoking quotes from Mr. Johnson: He knows not his own strength who hath not met adversity. To keep your secret is wisdom; to expect others to keep it is folly. and finally, Whatever you have, spend less. These fine words come from Stratford s founding father who will no longer be a forgotten founding father thanks to the incredible efforts of volunteers such as Ethan and Barbara Stewart. Gen. David Humprheys Branch Annual 4th of July Ceremony New Haven, CT Humphreys Branch President Bill Fenn reads the names of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence as Damien Cregeau, 1st VP of CTSAR, looks on in front of the grave of Roger Sherman at Grove Street Cemetery, where Gen. David Humphreys is also buried. Annual Ceremony for Sgt. Herman Baker Held at Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford President Ethan Stewart and Host & Compatriot Tim Wilkins Lead the Ceremony for P&W Employees Who are Veterans

Compatriot Steve Frash of the Ohio Society lays a wreath at the grave of

5 Connecticut Line Participates at Commemoration of Fort Griswold in Groton, September 3rd and Let Freedom Ring Ceremony in Litchfield on July 4th Compatriot Steve Frash of the Ohio Society lays a wreath at the grave of Colonel Ledyard Compatriots of the Connecticut Line gather inside Fort Griswold, Groton, CT

patriots Members of the Connecticut Line fire a musket salute at the 4th of July

6 Beautiful weather on a Sunday evening in September as Dave Perkins reads the names of those patriots who fell at the massacre at Fort Griswold, including his Perkins patriots Members of the Connecticut Line fire a musket salute at the 4th of July ceremonies in Litchfield in honor of Gov. Oliver Wolcott, Sr. and Major Benjamin Talmadge

6 August 2017 - ALL WARS TIME LINE EVENT in Woodbury, CT Five members of the Connecticut Line (Paul Selnau, Derek Brockhoff, Martin Spring, Jon King and Mike Byrd) participated in this year s event.

The Park is a perfect venue for this event with an open field, ample paved parking and rest room facilities.

We set up in an open arrangement that allowed spectators to walk through our stuff and ask questions.

7 6 August ALL WARS TIME LINE EVENT in Woodbury, CT Five members of the Connecticut Line (Paul Selnau, Derek Brockhoff, Martin Spring, Jon King and Mike Byrd) participated in this year s event. It took place at Hollow Park, the organizer was Ray Manzi of the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery. The Park is a perfect venue for this event with an open field, ample paved parking and rest room facilities. We set up a partial encampment with a couple of small tents, fire irons, seats and brought the historic flag display of branch 10. We set up in an open arrangement that allowed spectators to walk through our stuff and ask questions. Other groups had larger encampments & vehicles but we had a good display given our partial availability for the date. Conservative estimates were that about 1,000 spectators attended throughout the day. All of us would tell you that we had groups of people engaging each of us the entire time. Martin said it was like that all afternoon too. We paraded some and fired muskets. Many of the spectators were Vets and many showed up in uniform. As of now, they plan on adding military vendors (shirts, memorabilia etc), more food options & may add a military vehicle show. Look forward to participating again next year.

8 New members in the Connecticut Society since Jan 1, 2017 National# CT# New Compatriot Branch Date Approved Spencer Francis Judge Baldwin 02/03/ William James Bendix Baldwin 02/03/ Glen Dean Myers Hale 02/28/ Christopher L.Hayes Mead 02/28/ Roger Allen Willard Wadsworth 03/17/ Bradley Dean Mock Mead 03/24/ David Christian Wold Mead 03/24/ Patrick John Sweeney Wolcott 04/14/ Raymond Edward Green Sherman 04/21/ Steven Schaefer Green Sherman 04/21/ John Alison Brockway Wolcott 04/21/ Philip Dickson Birkett Wolcott 05/04/ John Lyman Cox Wolcott 05/19/ Matthew David Cassedy Wolcott 05/19/ Quinn McKinley Kozak Hale 05/19/ Carter Garrison Moots Wolcott 05/26/ Andrew Rocco Melillo Mead 05/26/ Christopher R. Chiappetti Wolcott 05/26/ Donald Mark Phillips Mead 06/30/ Leonidas Emerson Denslow Mead 06/30/ Maxwell Charles Gelinas Baldwin 06/30/ Gavin Braden Gelinas Baldwin 06/30/ Harrison Tomas Gelinas Baldwin 06/30/ Garrick Matthew Gelinas Baldwin 06/30/ Patrick Joseph Burke Baldwin 06/30/ Gregory Jonathan Gelinas Baldwin 06/30/ Brendan Alec Rothman Baldwin 06/30/ Michael Charles Saleski Humphreys 06/30/ Alan W. Head Hale 08/11/ Christopher Denis Boyle Humphreys 08/11/ Benjamin D'Antonio Wallace Hale 08/11/ Douglas Granville Story Hale 08/11/ Jacob Calen Menten Hale 08/23/ Thomas Michael Menten Hale 08/23/ Thomas McGuffin Kirkpatrick Putnam 08/23/ Ethan Joseph Kirkpatrick Putnam 08/23/ Ryan Thomas Kirkpatrick Putnam 08/23/ Albert Bates Finch At Large 09/05/ Thomas Joseph Seigel Sherman 09/15/ Albert Eugene Fiacre Wadsworth 09/15/ Peter Schaff DeSantis Humphreys 09/15/ Jonathan David Stern Humphreys 09/15/ Andrew Paul Krusinsk Wadsworth 09/22/ Robert John Young Baldwin 09/28/ Thomas Edwin Grimshaw Humphreys 10/06/ John Douglas Miner Hale 10/06/ Christopher D. Bandecchi Humphreys 10/06/17 Deceased Members since Jan 1, 2017 NS # CT # Compatriot Branch Date of Death Alan Gilmore Palmer Baldwin 05/01/ Peter Dearborn Webster Baldwin 02/19/ Abbott Lawrence Wright Sherman 03/21/2017

For the revitalizing of this cemetery Colombia University gave the Humphreys Branch a donation of $10,000. along with the Branch starting a Go Me Fund.

9 President s Foot Notes I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. It has been an extremely busy for me along with the David Humphreys Branch. The branch and 2 DAR Chapters have been restoring Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery in Stratford. For the revitalizing of this cemetery Colombia University gave the Humphreys Branch a donation of $10,000. along with the Branch starting a Go Me Fund. We had our joint grave marking (SAR & DAR) on August 26 th. Over 150 attended this Historic Ceremony and the SAR is still receiving praise from the DAR and members of the town of Stratford. I personally want to thank all that helped me with this Historical State joint event. Moving forward I would hope that we could have more State Grave Marking Ceremonies to help promote the SAR. At the Ceremony, three people came up to me wanting to know how to join the SAR. Summary of activities: 29 April Attended the Battle of Ridgefield. 2 May Attended DAR Annual Gala. 16 May - Attended the Coast Guard Academy for the Alexander Hamilton Award. 26 May Attended a Grave ceremony for Sgt. Herman Baker spoke and placed a wreath. This was at Pratt & Whitney. 27 May Attended Hale Branch meeting. 3 June Attended Wadsworth Branch meeting. 4 July Attended the Ceremony at Grove Street Cemetery for General David Humphreys and Roger Sherman. August 26 - Had a joint Historic State SAR & DAR Grave Marking Ceremony for 18 Revolutionary War Patriots at Christ Episcopal Church in Stratford, CT. Patriotically yours, Ethan Allen Stewart, Sr. CTSSAR President State Calendar of Events including non-sar Events September 23, 2017 BOM Woodbridge at Woodbridge Public Library October 8, 2017 Gov. Jonathan Trumbull 308th Birthday/War Office, Lebanon, CT 11am October 21, 2017 Annual Massing of the Colors in New Canaan, CT 2pm November 18, 2017 All Member Essex at the Griswold Inn 10:30am December 16, 2017 Wreaths Across America All War Memorial in Bantam, CT - Noon February 10, 2018 BOM TBD April 21, 2018 All Member Wethersfield at Lucky Lou s Bar and Grill 10:30am Our guest speaker for the November State Meeting will be Mark Allen Baker His books to the right will be available for purchase and signing.

The Connecticut Societies of the Sons & Daughters of the American Revolution

The Connecticut Societies of the Sons & Daughters of the American Revolution Presents a Grave Marking Ceremony Honoring 18 Revolutionary War Patriots Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery Corner of Broad Street