A Largely Overlooked Holiday

When was the last time you said the Pledge of Allegiance? While I no longer recite the declaration of loyalty on a weekly basis at Rotary meetings, I still stand at attention and give the flag the respect it deserves every month when we open the lodge. There are even occasions when a couple of the brothers, also members of the Sojourners, recite “A Toast to the Flag”. It is a presentation that holds deep meaning for those brothers preforming the poem as well as those witnessing the recitation.

On this day, Flag Day, we commemorate the adoption of our flag which happened on this day in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. This flag, while different than what we know it to be today, then served as a unified representation by which our two year old Continental Army would rally around. And while the early years saw many different designs (especially regarding the arrangement of stars), it has constantly flown as a representation of this country for well over two centuries.

However, it wasn’t until 1916 that Flag Day came into being when President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14^th as Flag Day. Congress officially established the federal holiday in August 1949. During this period of time, the National Flag Code was constructed by representatives of over 68 organizations, under the auspices of the National Americanism Commission of the American Legion who created the code on Flag Day 1923. The code drafted by that conference was printed by the national organization of the American Legion and given nationwide distribution.

With few changes made to the original code drafted in 1923 (most notably was the removal of the Bellamy salute dues to its similarities to the Hitler salute), on June 22, 1942, the Code became Public Law 77-623; chapter 435. Since that time, there have been few changes made with some notable exceptions being the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 (prohibits real estate management organizations from restricting homeowners from displaying the Flag of the United States on their own property), the Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007 (added a provision to fly the flag at half-staff upon the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who died while serving on active duty), and the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Sec. 595) (allows the military salute for the flag during the national anthem by members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and by veterans).

If it were a simple document I would include the code within this post but as many of you know the Flag Code is anything but simple and it is in fact quite extensive in the proper protocol for displaying, honoring, and even retiring a flag (among other things). In fact, many of use probably break the law at some point during our lives. While some may see the code as antiquated, it is a simple gesture to demonstrate our appreciation not just of our flag but of what it stands for and those who have defended and died for it. The holiday may be a single block on the calendar but the flag waves throughout the year as a constant reminder of the freedom that we have in this country and the liberty that it symbolizes. While some seem to forget this on a daily basis there are many of us who will never forget and continue to fight for the rights of all which are integral to this country just as every thread is essential to the creation of our flag.

Six Degrees of Revolution

I mentioned a couple of days ago that one of my goals for the second half of the year was to finally complete my Sons of the American Revolution application. Well, after sifting through the hundreds of documents on my computer, I have made significant progress. So far, I have found seven ancestors who participated in the war effort to support the Continental Army.

However, I can only sufficiently support through documentation one of the lines. This line is that of John Redcross who, according to records, fought both in the 2^nd Virginia Regiment and the Amherst County Militia. This is not particularly uncommon for many of the Native Americans in the area as they were valued contributors to the cause due to their unparalleled knowledge of the mountains. Here is the line that connects me to the Revolution (records used to prove the lines are mentioned after the ancestor):

JOHN REDCROSS

1.      ME – Birth Certificate

2.      FATHER – Marriage License and Birth Certificate

a.       Vietnam War – Military Records

3.      Percy Davis Teaford (1918 – 1985) – Marriage License, Birth Certificate, Census Records, Family Interviews

a.       World War II – Military Records

4.      Nettie Caldwell Love (1897 – 1972) – Death Record, Census Records, Family Interviews, Marriage Records

5.      Laura Belle Redcross / Cross (1862 – 1938) – Census Records, Family Interviews

a.       Last Full Blood Monacan Indian in this line.

6.      Paulus E. Redcross / Redcrop (1828 – 1914) – Census Records, DAR Application of Shelby Jean Wood Penn

7.      John Redcross (1768 – 1861) – Birth Record, Marriage Record, Census Records, DAR Application of Shelby Jean Wood Penn

8.      John Redcross (1740 – 1800) – Virginia Tax List Record of 1793, DAR Application of Shelby Jean Wood Penn

a.       2^nd Virginia Regiment (1779) and Amherst County Militia (1781) – Muster Roll, Records of Virginia Militia Members during 1781.

b.      Monacan Indian Chief – Founding Father of the Modern Monacan Nation. Burial on Bear Mountain in Virginia.  

Not all men were able to fight in the revolution; some did what they could to contribute to the cause monetarily and through the sale of goods. This was an important demonstration of patriotism and support shown by many men who were either physically unable to fight or they simply had to do what they could to support and protect their families from home. Jacob Düffordt was one of those men. Here is the line that is one step away from being fully substantiated:

JACOB DÜFFORDT

1.      ME – Birth Certificate

2.      FATHER – Marriage License and Birth Certificate

a.       Vietnam War – Military Records

3.      Percy Davis Teaford (1918 – 1985) – Marriage License, Birth Certificate, Census Records, Family Interviews

a.       World War II – Military Records

4.      Harry Gilmore Teaford (1895 – 1963) – Marriage License, Birth Certificate, Census Records, Family Interviews

5.      Roy / Rolly Harrison Teaford (1857 – 1914) – Marriage License, Birth Certificate, Census Records

6.      John Wesley Teaford (1837 – 1909) – Marriage License, Birth Certificate, Census Records

a.       Civil War – Pension Records and Muster Roles

7.      Jacob Teaford (1790 – 1877) – Marriage License, Birth Certificate, Census Records

a.       War of 1812 – Pension Papers

8.      Jacob Teaford / Düfford (1768 – 1840) – Census Records, Wills, Deeds, Court Records, Engagement Records

9.      Jacob Düffordt (1734 – 1800) – Deeds, Will, Census Records

a.       Donated 55 pounds of flour to the Continental Army of Virginia (1784) – Receipt from Continental Army

b.      Arrived in Philadelphia on 27 October 1764 on the Hero from a German enclave in the Alsace – Lorraine region of France (considered a German immigrant) – Ship Manifest

 

John Jacob Myers is the first of the Pennsylvania contributors that I came across. From immigration to independence, here was a full life lived. I am further still from providing documented support throughout this line:

JOHN JACOB MYERS

1.      ME – Birth Certificate

2.      FATHER – Marriage License and Birth Certificate

a.       Vietnam War – Military Records

3.      Isabel Ardis Hallman (1920 – 1980) – Birth Record, Death Record, Marriage License, Census Records, Family Interviews.

4.      Sarah Mabel Ardis (1899 – 1982) – Birth Record, Death Record, Marriage Record, Census Records, Family Interviews.

5.      Sarah Hansell Myers (1874 – 1932) – Birth Record, Death Record, Marriage Record, Census Records.

6.      Henry Levi Myers Jr. (1841 – 1941) – Birth Record, Death Record, Census Records.

7.      Henry Levi Myers Sr. (1809 – 1893) – Birth Record, Death Record, Marriage Record, Census Records.

8.      Isaac Myers (1784 – 1867) – Birth Record, Death Record, Marriage Record, Census Records.

9.      John Heinrich Myers (1765 – 1837) – Birth Record, Death Record, Marriage Record, Census Records, Land Grant.

10.  John Jacob Myers (1732 – 1808) – Birth Record, Death Record, Marriage Record, Census Records, Naturalization Papers.

a.       6^th Pennsylvania Battalion out of Lancaster – Muster Rolls, Veterans Burial Card.

b.      Arrived in approximately 1760 from Westphalia, Germany – Naturalization Papers.

Now we come to the only ancestor I could find up to this point that, so aptly put by President Lincoln 87 years later, “gave the last full measure of devotion.” Rufus Cone wasn’t able to fully embrace independence. In fact, he spent his final moments stripped of his freedom and taken from his newly declared country. While the “proof” may not be there yet, the family connection is strong.  

 RUFUS CONE

1.      ME – Birth Certificate

2.      FATHER – Marriage License and Birth Certificate

a.       Vietnam War – Military Records

3.      Isabel Ardis Hallman (1920 – 1980) – Birth Record, Death Record, Marriage License, Census Records, Family Interviews.

4.      Sarah Mabel Ardis (1899 – 1982) – Birth Record, Death Record, Marriage Record, Census Records, Family Interviews.

5.      Sarah Hansell Myers (1874 – 1932) – Birth Record, Death Record, Marriage Record, Census Records.

6.      Lizzie F. Hansell (1848 – 1879) – Death Record, Census Records.

7.      Margaret Cone (1825 – 1899) – Census Records.

8.      Rufus Cone (1784 – 1846) – Census Records, SAR Application of Charles George Leeper

9.      Azel Cone (1763 – 1820) – Birth Record, Census Records, SAR Application of Charles George Leeper

10.  Rufus Cone (1737 – 1776) – Census Records, SAR Application of Charles George Leeper

a.       7^th and 17^th Connecticut Regiments.

b.      Taken prisoner at the Battle of Long Island 27 August 1776.

c.       Died aboard British prisoner ship.

Someone had to be the politician in the family and in mine it was John Fulton. Another immigrant to the colonies, both John and his son served in the Revolution. While the ender was representing the people in a government defying the political odds, his son was in the field fighting for an as of yet unknown Pennsylvania regiment. While there is still much work to be done on this line my current research has resulted in the fascinating lineage listed below.

JOHN FULTON

1.      ME – Birth Certificate

2.      MOTHER – Marriage License, Birth Certificate.

3.      William Reuben McKannan (1914 – 1981) – Marriage License, Birth Certificate, Census Records, Masonic Record, Family Interviews, Draft Registration Card, Family Albums.

4.      Helen Walker Fulton (1892 – 1922) – Marriage Record, Birth Record, Death Record, Census Records.

5.      William Harvey Fulton (1858 – 1930) – Census Records.

6.      James H. Fulton (1829 – 1894) – Census Records, Tombstone, Pension Papers, Draft Cards.

a.       Civil War – Pension Papers, Muster Rolls.

7.      Hugh Fulton (1784 – 1843) – Census Records, Death Record, Marriage Record.

8.      John Fulton Jr. (1755 – 1808) – Census Records, Tombstone, Veterans Records.

a.       Unknown Pennsylvania Regiment

9.      John Fulton Sr. (1713 – 1796) – Census Records, County Documents, SAR Application of Alfred Miller Fulton.

a.       Member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly (1776 – 1779) from Chester County – County Documents, SAR Application of Alfred Miller Fulton.

b.      Arrived in 1762 from Scotland and settled near Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania – Census Records, SAR Application of Alfred Miller Fulton.

The last of the connections I have been able to uncover is that of Samuel Dickey Jr. A first generation American, it is has been said that he was among the men who crossed the Delaware River in December 1776 under the command of General George Washington. Currently this is hearsay but it will be an adventure either proving of disproving it.

 SAMUEL DICKEY JR.

1.      ME – Birth Certificate

2.      MOTHER – Marriage License, Birth Certificate.

3.      William Reuben McKannan (1914 – 1981) – Marriage License, Birth Certificate, Census Records, Masonic Record, Family Interviews, Draft Registration Card, Family Albums.

4.      Helen Walker Fulton (1892 – 1922) – Marriage Record, Birth Record, Death Record, Census Records.

5.      William Harvey Fulton (1858 – 1930) – Census Records.

6.      James H. Fulton (1829 – 1894) – Census Records, Tombstone, Pension Papers, Draft Cards.

a.       Civil War – Pension Papers, Muster Rolls.

7.      Hugh Fulton (1784 – 1843) – Census Records, Death Record, Marriage Record.

8.      Jane Dickey (1765 – 1796) – Census Records, Tombstone.

9.      Samuel Dickey Jr. (1730 – 1795) – Census Records, Tombstone, Chester County Historical Marker, Veterans Index.

a.       Served under General Washington during the Crossing of the Delaware River on 25-26 December 1776 – Revolutionary War Rolls, Veterans Index.

10.  Samuel Dickey Sr. (1708 – 1778) – Census Records, County Records.

a.       Arrived in 1730 from Ireland and settled near Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Those are my six degrees of Revolution (as of right now). Obviously, I will continue to research each of these ancestors in the hope of building support for these lines. Maybe all will be proven; maybe only one or two more; maybe I will make more connections; maybe I will only be able to prove the current definitive line. Who knows but I am going to keep learning about the history of my family and, therefore, the history of this country.   

Do you have a genealogical connection to the Revolution? Maybe not, maybe your family’s ties to independence came later. Either way we are all a part of this country and we are all united by the rights and freedoms fought for during that time. What is your family’s story?