Founding and organization of the Daughters of the American revolution and Daughters of the revolution

Front matter

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Class ^llZQZ> _ Book ^.A.B^^

copy 2.

Chapter 1 13 Chapter II. — a hope realized 74

Chapter III. — birth of the society in new york,

Chapter IV. — a modern revolution 99

Chapter V. — the " darling " chapter, d. a. r. —

A battlefield on HARLEM heights . II5

Chapter VI. — proposed compromise 131

Chapter VII. — the desha pamphlet 144

Chapter VIII. — daughters of 1812 185

Chapter IX. — adams ancestry in Europe and

AMERICA 200

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

MRS. FLORA ADAMS DARLING Fronthpuce

MRS. CAROLINE SCOTT HARRISON Facing Page 130

Introduction

THIS authentic and authorized history is the first that has been given regarding the foundation of the Alpha Society of Patriotic Women which was organized October ii, 1890, and known as "Daughters of the American Revolution." From the day the standard of the order was raised the society became famous.

It is a natural desire of nations and people to be entirely assured of the basis on which a structure is erected or a great society is formed that it may rest securely on the Rock of Truth. The prominence the first society of the Daughters of the revolution attained has created an imperative demand to lift the cloud that covers its origin, and have it known who created the enthusiasm, who entered upon the work, who was the organizer that laid the corner stone of success, and, when this was accomplished, who were the co-workers with the founder — to aid through united efforts in crystallizing into achievement the ambition of the founder's dream of Patriotic Daughters, based on pedigree and patriotism, to become factors in the destiny of Our Home and Country.

In order to secure historical fact beyond contradiction, the documentary evidence in this history has been submitted by the founder to a jury of expert historians, lawyers and men of letters, and after their long and faithful research from every point of view, we are able to present the History of the Founding herein set forth, fully verified by evidence, to stand the test not only of students of history, but the test of law.

lO INTRODUCTION.

We liave compiled claims and statements ; each, letter is in evidence, and nothing is more convincing than documentary verification, supported by original designs — original drafts of constitutions, resolutions and results. Our attention was called to the importance of this compilation under authorized researchers for the truth two years ago when the New York Tribune asked for facts, not fiction, and soon after, the Tribune announced that incontrovertible facts would be given. It has again become apparent that a more formal publication alone can serve the object, aim and purpose of those interested in the " true story"; for the following item while welcomed with interest by all of the hereditary patriotic societies only sounded a key-note of inquiry.

New York Tribune :

A gift of uncommon kind comes to the Daughters of the Revolution from the hands of Mrs. Flora Adams Darling, the founder of this and kindred associations. One part of the donation consists of different forms of original records of the foundation of these societies — letters of acceptance of office, minutes of meetings of early date, etc., etc., all of which have been carefully preserved. A collection has also been made of press-clippings subsequent to the organization of the Daughters of the American Revolution, in October, 1890, and continued to the present time, the whole of this material being now arranged in complete order to represent the different phases of the history of the several orders. The series presents every important episode of peaceful and stormy periods marking the advance of the three great associations — " Daughters of the American Revolution. A National Chapter — independent of state societies, the several chapters standing in the same relation to the Mother Society, as the Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic to the head of the army; the Daughters of the Revolution founded on the basis of the United States Republic of America — the general society is

INTRODUCTION. ii

made up of independent state societies — bound together bybonds of confederation for a basis of general scope and security — the United States Daughters General Society of the War of 1812 founded on the same lines as the Daughters of the Revolution, the original design of the founder.

The documents as well as the press-clippings omit no criticism of the founder and other officers whether favorable or adverse, showing also, in detail the origin and outcome of "a Mother of a Patriot Clause " that caused the disunion of the original society. By the adoption of " the Desha Clause," as it was known, the society in Washington became collateral, while the society in New York refused to recognize the clause and remained from the initial, lineal and based on state societies. The object, aim and purpose of the scope and plan of work of both societies run on parallel lines, and similarity of titles invited, atfirst, considerable confusion, especially, as both societies were instituted and organized by Mrs. Darling, founder, also vice-president general in charge of organization, during the initial year of the work of the former society and founder — also director general of the latter order; the title "general" employed to indicate officers of the general or national societies. In giving these facts from the original documents a valuable memorial is produced, that in the days to come will be of greater value than we can now forecast. To use the founder's words, when transferring the trunks of evidence from Washington she wrote, " I have produced argument by submitting proof, for others to give the x'erdict."

After the death of Mrs. Darling's only child, Edward Irving Darling, a question arose as to the disposition of the historical papers, which resulted in the priceless treasures coming into our possession, and we find pleasure in giving to the public a historical souvenir of the founding of the Mother Society of the Daughters of the Revolution. It will be found by the facts presented that it was the elder who failed to carry out the

12 INTRODUCTION.

design of the founder, and the younger society that retained lineal basis, state societies, colors, motto ; and the founder, as the head and director. And it is to be hoped that union will settle the matter upon a strong basis supported by just and equitable principles — with honor to all concerned.

Editor

CHAPTER I.

IT was not by accident that the organization of * women into patriotic societies, with the object of perpetuating the deeds of their illustrious ancestors, was accomplished. The idea of forming an association of women to preserve Revolutionary relics was conceived in my mind during the Centennial Celebration of 1876, and as early as the summer of 1884 I had so far perfected my plans that I invited my friend Miss Eugenia Washington to visit me at my home at Nyack-on-the-Hudson, so that we could discuss the details of the Revolutionary Relic Society, which I intended should be a joint conception of a Washington and an Adams. After spending a week with me, during which time we visited the many historic points in the neighborhood, such as the Andre monuments and the jail from which he was taken to be hanged, the headquarters of Washington and many others, Miss Washington returned to the city of Washington. We had decided that the time had not come for the promulgation of the idea.

In 18S9, I was in Washington, which has been m}' home for the greater part of my life. I called upon Miss Washington and suggested that the centennial celebration over the inauguration of the first president of the United States, which was then in progress made a propitious occasion upon which to launch our Revolutionary Relic Society. We at once set about interesting friends, and soon had a dozen ladies interested in the plan. Many promises of relics were made and the successful development of the society was assured. As a part of the work in view, I wrote to the Hon.

Hamiltou Fish, wlio had charge of the New York celebration, and requested that he invite Miss Washington to be a guest of honor, as she was the great-grandniece of the immortal Washington. As a result of this letter Miss Washington was made one of the most welcome and conspicuous guests.

During the spring of 1890 I was a guest at the home of General Marcus J. Wright, of Washington, D. C. He was at that time busily engaged in the formation of the District of Columbia Chapter of the Sons of the Americon Revolution, and the general topic of conversation in the household, naturally, was in regard to that work. The close resemblance of the aims of the embryo Relic Society and the Sons of the American Revolution suggested to me that it might be better for Miss Washington and myself to organize a society of Daughters of the American Revolution. I broached the project to General Wright, and he advised that we defer the matter until the Sons had decided whether or not they would accept women members.

On Sunday, April 29, 1890, the day before the organization of the Sons in the District of Columbia, I called upon my life-long friend, Mrs. Colonel Thomas C. English, at her home, 1907 N street, N. W., Washington, D. C, where Miss Washington met me. We three discussed the events of the day. Then I spoke of the plan I had for the expansion of the Revolutionary Relic Society (of which Mrs. English was to be a member) into the broader field of a National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, with the purpose of honoring the memories of the women of the Revolution, as the Sons did the men. Both Miss Washington and Mrs. English approved of the idea, and we discussed whom to invite. Miss

Washington said she knew three members of her family who would be eligible ; Mrs. English said she could vouch for three members of her immediate family, and I stated that the six members of my family (my five sisters and myself) would complete the number we would need to institute the society.

Mrs. English said she would write at once to her aunt, Eliza Jones, who had the history of the family, and get her to give the details of the service of the Jones family during the Revolution. Miss Washington had often told me of the service of her ancestor, Colonel Washington, and the fact that my ancestor. Colonel Andrew Adams had resigned from the service of the King to take up the sword in defense of liberty, home and country, was common history to both Mrs. English and Miss Washington. I explained to the ladies that as I was in close touch with the Sons through General Wright (who was chosen vice-president of the District of Columbia Society the following day), I would get the papers and application blanks of the Sons and use them as a basis for our work.

It was decided that the proper time for the announcement of the proposed society would be in the fall of the year, when Washington social life would begin to revive after the summer. I went to Culpepper, Va., and remained there until October 4, 1890. During the five months that intervened between April 29th and October 4th, I had written to Dr. W. S. Webb, president of the S. A. R.,for constitution and papers of the Sons and had received an express package containing the papers etc. I wrote to Dr. Webb and asked if he could favor me further by duplicating the papers and sending them to Miss Eugenia Washington. He courteously complied with this request. I received a l6 FOUNDING OF THE DAUGHTERS.

letter from Miss Washington, June 24, 1890, in wiiicli she said the package from Dr. Webb had been received, and that she would make known the intended organization among the ladies of the departments, where there were many descendants of famous Revolutionary patriots.

Miss Washington wrote me once and often twice a week during July and August, 1890, to keep me informed as to the progress she was making in interesting her friends in Washington in the Daughters of the American Revolution. In one of my letters to her I said that I would be in Washington on the ist of October, andthought that October i ith, the anniversary of the discovery of America, would be an appropriate day on which to organize.

As early as July 4th I received a letter from Miss Washington, in which she stated that Miss Mary Desha, one of her friends, who held a position in the Pension Bureau, was interested in organizing a society called the Wimodaughsis. It was to be a benefit society, and would take in all of the wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of the United States, to work for the advancement of womankind. The company was to have its headquarters in Washington, and was to issue stock at $5 a share. Its name was derived from a combination of the first syllable from the four words, making Wi-mo-daugh-sis.

Miss Washington wrote me that she had taken some stock and was quite interested in the undertaking. She added that Miss Mary Desha, Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth and Mrs. M. S. Lockwood were in the society, and that they were also eligible to the Daughters of the American Revolution and much interested in the idea. I replied that it would be perfectly satisfactory to have them become members of the D. A. R. Miss Mary Desba then opened correspondence witb ladies in whom she was specially interested in regard to the D. A. R., and she also extended me an invitation to become a member and officer of the Wimodaughsis. It was through the formation of these two societies, both in Washington, both being organized within two days of each other, the Wimodaughsis on October 9th and the Daughters of the American Revolution on October nth, and the peculiar coincidence that the promoters of the Wimodaughsis were all officers and charter members of the Daughters of the iVmerican Revolution, that a false statement of the founding of the D. A. R. has been established.

I was in Washington on October 9th, and met the ladies who constituted the Wimodaughsis, at their club house. They were introduced to me. The list of members had been sent to nie by Miss Desha for approval for the D. A. R. I accepted those who were eligible for the Daughters of the American Revolution, and they were invited to meet at the Strathmore Arms, where I was a guest, on October 11, 1890.

Miss Desha desired to have the two societies unite, and she proposed to turn over the stock of the Wimodaughsis to the D. A. R. This I could not agree to, as the purposes of the Wimodaughsis were quite different from those of the Daughters. As many of the ladies who had joined the Wimodaughsis were eligible to the D. A. R., it was decided by them on October 9th that the Daughters would become a great and popular order, and they were anxious to unite with it. I arranged with Miss Desha, Mrs. Walworth, Mrs. Lockwood and the other ladies, to give them official positions in the D. A. R. They were told what places I had assigned to them, and all were thoroughly satisfied, and accepted.

At the initial meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution, October ii, 1890, the constitution which I had drafted, and which had been read and corrected by Mr. William O. McDowell and Mr. Wilson L. Gill, two Sons of the American Revolution who were giving me the benefit of their knowledge of patriotic organization, was unanimously adopted. It did not contain a clause admitting members through the "mother of a patriot." The original draft as read at the meeting is reproduced in another part of this history. It was at this meeting that I was made the only exception, by being voted by resolution a life member in recognition of my work in founding the society.

The seal and motto of the society were suggested by me and shown to the ladies at the initial meeting. The original drawing of the seal is here reproduced.

When, at the conclusion of the third meeting, and when most of the members had departed, Miss Desha hurriedly offered an amendment to the constitution to admit to membership through the " mother of a patriot " clause, I stood out firmly against such a subversion of the society. A quorum of the members was present, and they were told that the amendment was for the purpose of making Miss Washington eligible, as she was a great-grandniece of George Washington, and would otherwise be excluded. Not realizing that an amendment to the constitution was being "railroaded," the members voted. The amendment was declared passed. The constitution as adopted at the first meeting, provided that an amendment could not be made unless proposed at one meeting and voted on at the following meeting. So the proceedings by which the " mother of a patriot clause " was carried, making the D. A. R. a collateral society, were absolutely unconstitutional and are null. I refused then, as I do now, to recognize the legality of the proceedings, and I persisted that the constitution should remain in force as it had passed, until properly amended. I struck out the words " or through the mother of a patriot," in every paper and in each copy of the constitution I sent out.

The cause for the insertion of the clause is not obscure. Miss Mary Desha was the leading spirit of the Wimodaughsis. When so many of that society came over to the D. A. R. I felt she deserved recognition, and I desired to place her as chairman of the Executive Board. I showed the list of officers I had selected to Mrs. President Harrison, who had accepted the president generalship of the D. A. R., which I had tendered her. Mrs. Harrison, who had accepted on the understanding that she should have someone appointed to take tlie burden of work from her, told me that she approved of all the of&cers I had selected with the exception of one. The exception was Miss Mary Desha, Mrs. Harrison stated that, in the capacity of chairman of the Executive Board Miss Desha would have to be in close of&cial touch with her, and would have to represent her of&cially at many places and on most occasions. For that reason Mrs. Harrison thought that a married woman, one who had social prominence and a residence of some pretension in Washington should be chosen for the office.

I realized instantly that in endeavoring to give Miss Desha a place of such prominence I had committed an error of judgment. I suggested the name of Mrs. William D. Cabell. The suggestion was agreeable to Mrs. Harrison. I wrote to Miss Desha that she must be sacrificed for "the good of the cause,"

This was, of course, prior to the meeting November nth, and she proposed to accept the situation. Yet she was determined to regain the office. As before stated, the number of women in the several departments is very large, and a considerable proportion of them are the descendants of illustrious American patriots. Miss Desha, seconded by Mr. W, O. McDowell, who wanted to be a ''Daughter," planned to open the floodgates of the Wimodaughsis, by letting in the wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of patriots, which was equivalent to inviting all womankind to join. By the increased vote that this would bring in, Miss Desha and her adviser hoped to control the society,

1 incurred Mr. McDowell's further enmity when I declined to accept his paper applying for membership to the Daughters, I was willing, as is so often quoted, to have him the " Pope," but I drew the line at admitting liiiu to sisterhood. Mr. McDowell also desired to have the seal of the society, " a cradle, and in it Baby McKee." Because I would not give my approval to this indelicate suggestion he and his clique harbored the bitterest enmity against me.

From October 11, 1890, the day the D. A. R. Society was organized, until June 18, 1891, when I resigned from the position of vice-president general in charge of organization, there was never a word uttered by any member of the society to the effect that I was "an arrogant usurper;" that I " had appropriated the work of others ;" that I "was not eligible to my own society ;" that I "was not the founder or even ofie of the founders of the society." None of these statements appeared until I had withdrawn from the organization and founded a lineal society, "Daughters of the Revolution," from the Darling Chapter in New York.

I held undisputed position as founder in the D. A. R., making all appointments and having charge of the organization of chapters in the several states. Every commission was issued by me. That the officers of the board in Washington recognized me as founder and organizer is proven by their letters to me after my departure from that city to begin the work of forming the societies in New York and New Jersey. These letters and all the correspondence and official papers that I held at the time of my resignation from the office of vice-president general in charge of organization, are reproduced in this history to form an incontrovertible chain of evidence sustaining me in my position as founder of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

I have written innumerable letters to those who were connected with the organization during my official term, and I have not, to this date, been confronted witli a single one of my letters which disproves my statements. The only use that has been made of my letters, or those of any other member of the societies, has been to take certain paragraphs and phrases, and fit them to suit the case of those who were working to secure the honor of founding the society. The unsubstantiated use of words that has characterized the writings of Miss Mary Desha, who wrote authoritatively for the Board of Managers, cannot stand with the reproduced evidence and letters which she and the other members of the society wrote to me before and after the organization, October ii, 1890. In her " Pamphlet " (printed in full elsewhere in this book) she sets the date of the founding of the D. A. R. as July, 1890. But the society still retains the date, October 11, 1890, although it has erased a year's history to take the founding from me to bestow it upon Miss Washington, Miss Desha and Mrs. Walworth, as the facts will prove.

With this general outline of the facts and points that I propose to establish, I shall proceed in detail.

In April, 1889, the anniversary to celebrate the centennial of Washington's taking oath of office as President, at New York, was a special event to the kin of the father. Mrs. Lewis Washington told me of the numerous honors crowded upon her. I suggested she should divide with Miss Eugenia Washington. I felt Miss Washington had a place of right with founder's kin. I wrote this opinion to Hon. Hamilton Fish, supplementing it with the observation that Miss Washington had been so long in the Dead Letter Office, she had, in fact, become a dead letter — no one calling for her ; nor had she appeared on the ramparts selling "Washington's Waistcoats." Hence, she was an unclaimed memory of departed glory. He responded with pleasure and made her "the Washington feature of the show." The event united our desires to carry out a plan together to place her properly as a Washington. It was after her return from the New York celebration, 1890, that we first talked of the D. A. R. Society. I told her two ladies had called on me from Virginia to unite in the relic work, that I had to go to Culpepper to remain on business matters for some time, but upon my return, we would form our Society of Daughters. She said she was much occupied in office, but she would do what she could. Up to this date I had never seen or heard of Mr. W. O. McDowell, who afterwards became the disturbing element in patriotic societies ; nor had I ever seen or heard of Mrs. Lockwood or Miss Desha. I had heard of Mrs. Walworth, but had not her acquaintance. During the winter of 1889-90, Miss Cleveland, the authoress, visited me at Culpepper, desiring me to read and criticise a new book that she was about to publish, which I did. While there she told me Mrs. Ivockwood had written " Historic Homes of Washington," which she desired me to criticize. I sent word to her, "with pleasure." Soon after, I had an invitation to the Strathmore Arms, April, 1890. While there, I told Mrs, Lockwood of my intended Daughters of the American Revolution, which, at once, she approved and applauded. She desired me to go with her to see Mrs. Emily Sherwood, a correspondent for several papers, to give her the scope of the idea, so that she could set forth the nature of the work. I did so, and early mjicne^ 1890, she sent me a type-written copy for approval. I wrote her it was a little early to use, as the society would not organize until October. The article appeared before our first meeting. Slie brought me a copy when we took up the work. I invited her to become a member. I do not recall the date, but with Mrs. Lockwood I visited her home in Anticosti the third Sunday in April, 1890.

The next Sunday I spent at the house of General Marcus J. Wright. He was interested in the organization of the District of Columbia Societ}^ of Sons of the American Revolution, of which he was elected vice-president. I told him of my Society intentions, w^hich he approved, but regarded it wise to have the Sons fully organized before the Daughters. I also saw Dr. G. Brown Goode, and his advice ran parallel. I thought they both regarded it a hazard to invite a modern revolution. No doubt the}^ foresaw that peace would be as impossible as Noah found with the animals in the ark. But my ignorance of societies made me fearless, and the time had come to advance the idea, and I did so without counting the cost ; but for a time I was the ark of the covenant floating in peace. Miss Washington met me that Sunday evening at the home of Mrs. Col. T. C. English, and in the presence of Mrs. English we talked over our plans. I told them what General Wright said, but that we would institute the work without delay, for " the hour had come." Mrs. English said, " I will write to cousin Eliza Jones who has the pedigree and service of our family." Before I returned to Culpepper, Mrs. English had securedher ancestor's record for admission, which she gave me, written by Mrs. Eliza Sinclair Jones on the wood cover of a fruit basket. Mrs. Madison Ballinger was the next to give me her lineal pedigree. Miss Page Robinson, Mrs. Truehart Buck, Mrs. J. W. Green, with members of my own family and fully verified, were secured before July 4, 1890.

I invited Mrs. Wriglit to become one of " tbe original thirteen," but she decided to "wait a bit." General and Airs. Wright visited me during June in Culpepper ; the General brought exploited work to show me the vwdiis operandi ; besides. Dr. Webb, president general of the S. A. R. National Societ}^, New York, had sent me by express, early in June, 1890, a constitution, application blanks and other printed matter, to guide my work. When I acknowledged ithe favors, I asked him that one be sent to Aliss Washington, my co-worker in the societ}'. He did so. She wrote me she had received it, and of the progress she was making ; she said '' a society called Wi-mo-daugh-sis is being organized by Miss Mary Desha ;" that she had united with it, i. e., had taken stock to the amount of $5.00 (I believe this the specified amount) ; she also wrote that Mrs. Brown, Mrs. W^alworth, Miss Desha and Mrs. Wolf had expressed a desire to become " Daughters," and that Miss Desha would write an article for the Post. I was much pleased to leave Washington in her charge while I was working "at large." I arranged with the editor of the Adams Magazine, New York City, formerly the Gotham, to have the magazine become the exponent of the society and that I would take the historical department, as I was to make the New York society my "home field." All of these arrangements were made during June and July, 1890. It is a question in my mind now^ as it was tJien^ whether history or developed patriotism was the motive power of my action; still, it was history first, last and all the time that animated me most, and there was but one position I desired. All of these plans and desires I made known to Miss Washington, and her letters to me were full of interest. I sent my own application to sliow tlie plan ; it was made on a blank sent to me from tlie New York S. A. R. I also had one sent me from New Jersey and one from tlie District of Columbia.