NEW OFFICERS
Newsletter, Jerry
Orton 213 Dixon
Dr., Syracuse, NY 13219, 488-4076, orton50@aol.com
ADDRESSES
Please let us know your current email address and
if you change your mailing address. If you wish to be removed
from our active files, please let us know.
NEW MEMBERS
Robert J.Gang III, Syracuse; William Pomeroy,
Syracuse; Gordon D. Maycumber, Central Square; David Morton,
Manlius.
IN MEMORIAM
The compatriots of the chapter send our sympathy to the
family and friends of the following members who have had relatives
pass on recently. Past president Don died on 1-17; Earl Traub,
whose wife, Barbara, died on 6-18; William Pomeroy whose mother
died.
EAGLE SCOUT AWARD
Our chapter's entry, Thomas Harrington, IV, won the SAR Eagle
Scout Award in New State State and placed 8th nationally. We are
very proud of him and he is the great nephew of late past president,
Don Piron. On July 12, we meet this young man and presented him
his certificate and medal at St. Marie Among the Iroquois. Our
chapter had its annual picnic there to mark the 75th anniversary of the
Jesuit Well that is behind LeMoyne Manor. Compatriot Tom Henry
and Sheriff's Deputy John Anderson gave an excellent history on the
well. They could have passed for 17th century Jesuit priests.
NEW YORK STATE FAIR, AUGUST 21-SEPTEMBER 1, 2008
The Great New York State Fair is fast approaching. Our
chapter along with the DAR will have a historical booth in
the Woman's Building. Over the 12 days, thousands of individuals
walk by and hundreds come in and look at the artifacts. Yes, we
have obtained members from our time spend there. This year, we
are going to expand our exhibit to include different eras.
You may not know, but next year, 2009, is the 400th anniversary of New
York. If you belong to some other organization similar to the SAR
and would like some free advertising, please let us hear from
you. Most importantly, we need volunteers to help out with the
booth. The exhibit is open from 10 AM to 10 PM. So if you
can help we will appreciate any time you can volunteer. If
interested, please contact, Jane and Bob Pickett, who arelisted
above for details.
GIDEON BENTLY DIED JANUARY 22, 1858
The funeral of Gideon Bently, whose
death we mentioned a few days ago, occur on Friday last, in
Constantia, Oswego County. The Syracuse Citizens' Corps,
under Lt. Col. Walrath, attended the funeral in a body,
accompanied by Sutherland's full Band, escorting the remains about five
miles. At the grave Col. Walrath remarked as follows,
"Comrades - A solemn call has
summoned us together - it is the funeral dirge which announces to
us that one of the Veterans, a relic of the Revolution, has gone
to the receptacle of the dead.
Gideon Bently is no more with the
living. On the 15th of June we beheld him for the first
time. His head was white with the frosts of four score and seven
winters. And who is here, that was present on that occasion,
who was not struck with the remarkable preservation of his health
intellect. Now he,
'Wraps the drapery of his couch
about him, And lies down to pleasant dreams'
"It is in obedience to the dictates
of our hearts that we are now assembled to perform the rites due the
soldier of '76. Another link which bound us to the past is
broken. An old veteran full of years and ripe for the celestial
harvest is gathered to his father and sleeps in the peaceful stillness
of the grave.
'The Veterans died as a Christian
dies, With hope in his Savior, God, And now on the brave old heart
there lied, The heavy and fresh grave sod.'
"I do not intend to add to the able
and eloquent eulogy pronounced today. Let us now proceed to
perform the last duties and pay the final tribute of respect to the
remains of a Revolutionary patriot, a kind neighbor, a true friend and
fellow citizen."
The deceased was born in the town of
Exeter, R. I., August 12th 1750. Served under Col. Barton in a
Rhode Island regiment one year and as a minute man three years.
Was volunteer in a company under Capt. Barton, who crossed over to Long
Island in boats and captured a body of Tories , killing fifteen and
taking seventy-five prisoners, making a narrow escape-getting into the
boats just as the British came up and fired a volley at them as they
were pulling from the shore, but doing no damage. Has voted at
every Presidential election from Washington to Buchanan. Had at
the time of his death thirteen children; also, grandchildren and great
grandchildren numbering 225-all of whom are now living.
Gideon Bentley is buried in West Monroe Cemetery in section
5, lot 55 and his wife, Isabel, who died on September 2, 1844, and
survived at least 13 births, is buried along side him.
We wish to thank Compatriot Ken Sweet who brought this
Revolutionary War veteran to our attention.
Sources: Syracuse Daily Courier, January 23,
1858. West Monroe Historical Society cemetery records.
PENSIONER'S GRANDAD FOUGHT IN THE REVOLUTION
In its closing hours, the 100th
Maine legislature gave a $60 a month pension to an 88 year old woman
who claims to be the only living granddaughter of a Revolutionary War
soldier.
It isn't much, but it is more than
doubling the $25 on which Mrs. Katie Libby of Charlestown has been
living since 1957.
How do you live on that
amount? Mrs. Libby will tell you it isn't easy.
"If I weren't a prudent woman, " she
said, "I wouldn't have had enough money to eat this past winter.
But I really don't worry or fell alone because the Lord is with me and
I put myself in his care."
Mrs. Libby lives alone in a nine
room farm house on 120 acres of land. Until a year or two ago she
kept a cow and tilled a small garden.
Since then, the state pension,
result of a few years teaching experience in her youth, has been her
only support, although a niece occasionally gives her some groceries.
She has refused state old age
assistance because that state could put a lien on her property.
Once Mrs. Libby had to mortgage the farm and she won't do that
again.
"I won't tie myself down that way
even if I starve,", she said.
Mrs. Libby said the Veteran's
Administration's records show that her grandfather, Thomas B. Lowell,
enlisted in Col. John Brooks' Massachusetts Regiment in 1781, took part
in the Battle of King's Ferry and was discharged with a pension in 1783.
At the age of 80, when he had six
children by a previous wife, Lowell married a woman of 28. They
had four children one of whom was Mrs. Libby's mother.
Source: Utica Observer-Dispatch. Saturday, June 17,
1961, page 2.
ELBRIDGE CEMETERY NEEDS REVOLUTIONARY WAR MARKER
The December 13, 2007 edition of
Neighbors West of the Syracuse Post Standard had an excellent article
on Roger Tumber of Elbridge who is going to or has by now placed a
memorial to the Revolutionary War veterans buried in the
cemetery. There are at least 22, dying between the years 1807 and
1845. Maybe our chapter can be of assistance in some way, even at
this late date.
HIGH SCHOOL CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATES
Over 80 Good Citizenship
Certificates were awarded to high school seniors this year.
WAR SERVICE MEDAL, NEW YORK STATE CONSPICIOUS SERVICE
CROSS, AND MEDAL OF MERIT
This year at either our Pearl Harbor
Luncheon or Veterans Day we would like to present the above three
awards to members of our chapter who qualify one or all of them.
If you believe that you qualify please contact one of the officers
listed above and we will help you do the necessary paper work.
