| Regent | Carolyn Baley |
| First Vice Regent & Parlamentarian | Mary Warden |
| Second Vice Regent & Recording Secretary | Brenda Kendrick |
| Chaplain | Frances Vroom |
| Corresponding Secretary | Susan Sloan |
| Treasurer | Laura Krieger |
| Registrar & Librarian | Barbara Bond |
| Historian | Eva Duke |
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The story of Peggy Warne is one of courage, endurance, and dedication to others. She was born Margaret Vliet on 10 October 1746, and died October 1840. She was the daughter of Daniel and Gertruitje Springsteen Vliet who were married November 16, 1746, in the Flatbush (Long Island) Dutch Reformed Church. Soon after their marriage, they were living at Six Mile Run in New Jersey where their eldest son Jan was baptized on October 23, 1749, in the Dutch Reformed Church. Margrietje (our Peggy) was baptized in the same church October 26, 1754. Records of these baptisms were published in the Somerset County Historical Quarterly in 1919. In the same publication in 1918, there is a brief study of Daniel Vliet. It shows the pension papers of Daniel Jr. (Peggy's brother) and states that Daniel Sr. was a captain in 1777 and that Daniel Jr. was in his father's company. The same article says that Daniel Sr.'s will mentions his sons Garret (a General in the Revolutionary War), John, David, Jasper, William and daughter Margaret Warne. In her early twenties, Peggy married Joseph Warne (b. 5/6 Jan 1748, d. 5/6 Oct 1798), son of George and grandson of Thomas who was one of the twenty-four proprietors of East Jersey. They lived on a tract of 130+ acres which was left to Joseph in his father's will, and some additional land they purchased from two of his brothers, Elijah and Elisha, who received the largest portion of their father's 900 acre plantation in Mansfield Township. Only a little stone building remains. Located about half a mile south of Broadway on the Asbury Road, the building is said to be where "Dr. Warne" may have dried the herbs she used for medicinal purposes. On 10 October 1961, the Peggy Warne Chapter, NSDAR, placed a bronze plaque on the building marking the site of the homestead farm. Joseph and Peggy were parents of nine children: Ann; Abigail (b. 7 Jan 1778, d. 30 Dec 1842); Charity; Margaret; Elijhah (b.7 Nov 1785); Abraham (b. 16 Apr 1787); Elisha (b. 20 Jun 1789); Rhonda; and Frances "Frank" (b. 17 May 1791). Numerous descendants still live in and around Warren County. According to the Medical History of the County of Warren, 1765-1890, "Aunt Peggy" Warne, as she was called by everyone, was perhaps the most skillful, successful and widely known obstetrician of her day. She was particularly needed at the time of the Revolution when the male doctors were away with the armies. A horse was always kept ready for travel over the hills and valleys of the surrounding counties. She traveled in all sorts of weather, with her saddlebags filled with medicine to care for ailing citizens and convalescent soldiers. She attended to their needs, and she did it all 50 years before Florence Nightingale was born. Joseph Warne died in 1798 and some time later Peggy married his brother, Elijah. She continued to practice for many years, and lived to the age of 92, dying in 1840. Elijah died in 1844. All three are buried in the Old Mansfield Cemetery, Washington, NJ. Peggy's grave is only marked by a boulder and a bronze tablet that was placed there by the Peggy Warne Chapter on 30 May 1915. The members of this chapter point with pride to the courageous and inspiring wife, mother and angel of mercy, Peggy Warne, and are honored to bear her illustrious name. |