Founded October 16, 1971

Mary Rolph Marsh Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution

A preliminary meeting for the purpose of organizing a local chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR) was held August 9, 1971, at the Matagorda County Museum with 22 interested women present. Martha Moore was organizing regent for the proposed local chapter. The purpose of the National Society DAR and a brief history of the organization, which began in 1890, were explained.

On Saturday, October 16, 1971, members met at the home of Martha Moore for the organizing ceremonies. Thus the Mary Rolph Marsh Chapter DAR in Bay City had its beginning on this historic occasion.

The new chapter was named for a wife and mother of the Revolutionary War period. Mary Rolph Marsh was the daughter of Judge Henry Rolph and wife, Mary Connally, of Woodbridge , New Jersey. The wife of Daniel March and mother of eleven children was widowed by 1756, with four sons under 15 years of age. Three sons, all officers, assisted in the establishment of American independence. One of these sons, Captain Christopher Marsh, was the ancestor of the organizing regent.

The 36 charter members of Mary Rolph Marsh chapter were:

Mesdames C. L. Arnold (Sallie), R. E. Bellanfant, C. G. Bess (Lois), E. L. Castleton (Louise), B. R. Cole (Maurine), H. W. Estill (Madge), G. D. Everett (Elizabeth), Eaton Grisham, H. C. Ham (Thelma), M. T. Huebner (Jean), J. W. Ingram (Keye), W. B. Jeter (Lorainne), C. E. Lee (Nantie), W. C. Lloyd (Alberta), H. J. McAllister (Mary Belle), Elizabeth McMahan, Harris Milner (Verda), Paul Norwood, A. H. Pontiff (Myrna), Gordon Richardson (Jean), F. E. Ryman (Blanche), J. M. Ryman (Irma), Carl Salas (Sallie), Cary Smith, Jr. (Esther), Daryl Thompson (Julianne), J. G. Voss, A. H. Wadsworth (Lurline), J. F. Woolsey (Sallie), J. A. Wyse (Verne), Albert Younts (Mary), and Arthur Younts (Joyce), and Misses Sharon Grisham, Ethel Gusman, Martha Moore, Betty Jane Scott and Grace Selkirk.

Benjamin Wightman is the only Revolutionary soldier buried in Matagorda County, and the chapter marked his grave in Matagorda Cemetery with a bronze marker and held appropriate ceremonies on June 14, 1972 .

Regents of the chapter have been: Martha Moore (1971-73), Mary Belle Ingram (1973-75), Esther Smith (1975-76), Sallie Salas (1976-78), Marcella Odom (1978-80), Jessica Jecmenek (1980-1982), Donna Johnson (1982-85), Margaret G. Seerden (1985-88), Zula W. Atwood (1988-91), Faye Vos (1991-93), Janet W. Hickl (1993-95), Jim B. Howze (1995-97), Muriel T. Lawhon (1997-99), Rosanne R. Burgess (1999), Sally V. Woolsey (1999-01), Janet W. Hickl 2001-03) and Donna M. Johnson (2003-present).

The Mary Rolph Marsh Chapter strives to foster true patriotism and love of
"God, Home and Country."

OBJECTIVES & MEMBERSHIP
 

The objectives of this society are to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American independence. Any woman is eligible for membership in the local and national society of DAR who is at least 18 years of age, and who is descended from a man or woman who, with unfailing loyalty to the cause of American Independence, served as a sailor, soldier, or civil officer in one of the several colonies or states, or in the United Colonies or states, or as a recognized patriot, or rendered material aid thereto; provided the applicant is personally acceptable to the society.
 

Email: Donna Johnson
 

Bay House - Legacy Campus

700 12th Street, Bay City

First Thursdays in Sept, Oct, Nov, Jan, Mar, Apr & May.

First Sunday in Feb.
 

Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution

Aaron Adams, VT

James Anderson, SC

Joseph Anderson, NJ

William Armfield, Sr., NC

William Beans, VA

William Bookers, VA

William Bowen, VA

Matthew Brinson, NC

Jacob Brown, NC

Joshua Butler, NC

John Caldwell, VA

Thomas Camp, Sr., NC

Paul Chapin, MA

Churchill Carter, SC

Constantine Clarkson, VA

Silas Cook, Jr., NC

John Coult, CT

John Cowden, NC

Stephen Cromwell, MD

Martin Dawson, VA

Bernabe Denis Cheletre, LA

James Craig, VA

John Daniel, VA

Benajah Doty

Jonathan Eddy, CT

Godfrey Fowler, NC

Shadrach Gibbs, SC

Patrick Gilmore, Sr., NC

Peter Glasscock, Jr., NC

Peter Glasscock, Sr., VA

Joseph Gooch, NC

Thomas Green, VA

William Griggs, VA

Joseph Guyton, SC

Thomas Hadley, NC

Joseph Hagen, MD

David Haggard, VA

Nathaniel Haggard, VA

Martin Hammock, VA

Joseph Hardin, NC

Nathaniel Harding, MA

John Hawkins, NC

William Henderson, VA

Justus Hinckel, Sr., VA

William Hoge, VA

Samuel Hovey, CT

Adam Kuykendall, NC

John Peter Leichteiter, MD

Johann Conrad Leichteiter, MD

John Lewis LeMay, VA

Robert Lide, SC

John Major , SC

William McClanahan, VA

James McCrosky, VA

David McKnight, NC

Joshua Mersereau, Sr., NY

Joseph Mortin, VA

Uriah Howard Nanney, VA

Aaron Packer, PA

John Patterson, MD

Lewis Peebles, SC

John Polk, NC

Thomas Prather, MD

John Robbins, CT

John Robuck, Sr., SC

John Rooker, NC

Shadrack Rowe , NC

William Russell, VA

Daniel Severence, NH

Robert Small, NC

Henry Smith, Sr., SC

Jonathan Smith, SC

Wyatt Smith, VA

Thomas Suggs, NC

John Swank, KY

Matthew Tanner, Sr., VA

John Torrey, NC

Evetts Townley , NJ

Abraham Van Meter , KY

Jacob Van Meter, PA/VA

Henry Walker, VA

Evan Watkins, NC

John Whitaker, NC

Benjamin Wightman, NY

Aaron Wood, NC

William Wyatt, VA

Daniel Yeamans, CT

Copyright 2005 - Present by Carol Sue Gibbs
All rights reserved

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