Sons of Revolutionary Sires

The first known organization honoring Patriots in the American Revolution was the founding of the Society of Cincinnati in 1783 by General George Washington and his Continental officers. The first known hereditary society honoring all Patriots of the American Revolution was the Sons of Revolutionary Sires in 1876 at San Francisco. The establishment of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (1889), the Daughters of the American Revolution (1892) and all other related Revolutionary War hereditary societies can trace their origins to the historic events of 1876 in San Francisco. Compatriot Marston Watson (Member Emeritus & Minuteman) of the San Francisco Chapter has transcribed this significant history from an extant copy of the Sons of Revolutionary Sires, Names of Officers, Constitution, By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation.

Origin of the Society
Among the local items in the Alta California (newspaper) of June 29th, 1876, there appeared a call for the descendants of revolutionary fathers, to meet at 212 Kearny Street. That evening they assembled at 8 o’clock; when on motion of James P. Dameron, Esq., General A. M. (Albert Maver) Winn was called to the chair, and Dr. E. L. (Emory Lorenzo) Willard chosen secretary. The chairman said he did not know who called the meeting, but supposed it was intended to celebrate the 4th of July. Mr. Dameron replied that he was one of those who called it, and their object was to join in celebrating the centennial anniversary.

At the suggestion of the chairman those present were enrolled and recognized as members of an association for the purpose of celebrating the hundredth anniversary of American Independence.

The chairman and secretary were directed to make the necessary arrangements. Joseph Sharon suggested that we might meet at the Palace Hotel on Saturday evening next (July 8), which was agreed to.

Meeting July 1st
The society met at the Palace Hotel; the same officers were in their places. Quite a number of new members were added to the list, and the society adjourned to meet at the call of the chairman.

Meeting July 4th
The society met at the Palace Hotel; several members were added to the list. The line was formed by Wm. B. Moses, Marshall. Thirteen of them carried a shield, each representing one of the thirteen original states, and marched in line until dismissed by order of the Grand Marshall.

On returning to the Palace Hotel, Marshall Moses called the meeting to order, when James P. Dameron, Esq., delivered an address which was published in the Alta California of July 7th.

The society dates its organization from the 4th of July 1876.

Meeting July 11th
The chairman gave notice in the daily papers, and the society assembled at the Dashaway Hall (Post Street). The meeting was well attended, about fifty being present. The chairman called the meeting to order and delivered an address, giving his views at length.

On motion of Caleb T. (Taylor) Fay, the Chairman was chosen. President, by acclamation, and the other officers were elected. They will appear in their proper place. The remarks of the Chairman and Secretary were published in the Alta (California) Sunday, July 16th, 1876. The Constitution and the By-Laws were referred to the officers, and the society adjourned to meet at the call of the President.

Meeting August 2d
The society met at the Palace Hotel. President, A. M Winn, in the chair, and Wm. B. Eastin, Secretary. By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation were unanimously adopted.  
Presentation by Alfred Maver Winn
Meeting of August 2, 1876
Palace Hotel, San Francisco

Gentlemen: In the Revolutionary War, as in others, when a battle is fought or some great deed of patriotism is accomplishment, the commander or leader, is recorded by name, while those of the rank are merely incidental. Perhaps their names are found on the Sergeant’s roll, for the convenience of knowing whether they were present or absent; the roll wears out, the Sergeant is killed, or something else prevents the handing down even the names of those who bared their breasts in storms of shot and shell and lost their lives for their country’s good.

A hundred years have passed since our grandfathers left their offices, fields and shops to win for posterity this glorious country; they are called patriotic revolutionary fathers, with a seeming thought that they had some other name like Washington, of which their descendants are just as proud as if they were titled heroes embalmed in the hearts of their countrymen.

In the very nature of things, it could not be otherwise, the newspapers could not herald all the men by name, and if they did so the generals and leading officers were all the great mass of the people wanted to know about. But the mother knew her son fought and was killed; the wife knew that her husband had gone to the bloody field and did not return; she told it to her children, they told the same story to theirs, and so the deeds of private soldiers and officers of inferior rank have been handed from mouth to ear for a hundred years.

It is natural that we should be proud of such ancestry; it is right that we should collect such tradition and make history speak of the glorious deeds, sealed with the seal of patriotic blood. It for this purpose we have organized the “Sons of Revolutionary Sires.”

Each of the members will tell us what they can about their ancestral line, and we shall write it down, perhaps to bring forth the oft-repeated traditional stories of individual patriotism. We will find the parent stock of revolutionary fame and trace it down to the youngest of the line, making a record from which our descendants may start and follow up to the end of time.

J. P. H. Davison has passed his 87th year, General John Wilson his 87th, Samuel Graves his 82d, Samuel Stevens his 82d, Col. Jonathan D. Stevenson his 77th, Andrew Dunlap his 73d, Joseph Sumner his 71st, and Dr. P. Randall his 70th year. There are about thirty men, like your President, between 50 and 70 years, who have seen much of the hardships of Western life and heard from the lips of their fathers and grandfathers many revolutionary incidents worthy of a page in the history of their age that tried men’s bodies as well as their souls.

Gentlemen, you have commenced a glorious work, you have formed an association that will spread throughout the land like the Good Templars and Grangers—organizations that owe their success, in a great measure, to their lady membership, where whole families unite and help each other in every good work. Your committee of officers have considered well the help needed in the progress of our labors; they have provided for a “Historic Council,” to make history of tradition; a ladies’ auxiliary, from which we expect valuable assistance and a young men’s auxiliary, that we have them trained, for the work we propose to commence, and will soon have them for management and control. We have thought well of the subject matter, and are directed to report and Constitution, By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation, which we now present for your consideration. Respectfully submitted,

Albert M. Winn, President,
Caleb T. Fay, 1st Vice President,
Samuel Graves, 2d Vice President,
Ira C. Root, 3d Vice President,
William B. Easton, Recording Secretary,
William H. Mead, Financial Secretary,
James P. Dameron, Treasurer,
William S. Moses, Marshall.

Executive Committee:
Augustus C. Taylor.
James N. Makin,
Alfred S. Iredale.

Cover Sons of Revolutionary Sires Constitution and Bylaws

Certificate of Membership: Sons of Revolutionary Sires

Building festooned for Centennial Celebration

The Centennial Celebration of the Declaration of Independence required a great deal of planning by the dignitaries and citizens of San Francisco. Many of these San Franciscans became founders of the Sons of Revolutionary Sires in 1875 and 1876. The planning of this celebration began on June 17, 1875 and continued through a series of communications until the Centennial Celebration took place in July 1876.

Colonel Richard H. (Henry) Savage, Chief Aid to General John McComb, the Grand Marshal chosen by the citizens of the City and County of San Francisco to provide and in a fitting manner arrange for the celebration of the Anniversary of American Independence, in his address, dated June 17th, 1875, to the people invoking their aid and co-operation, said:

"The near approach of the Ninety-ninth Anniversary of the Declaration of American Independence is the signal to invoke good citizens to aid in perfecting the arrangements for a fitting celebration of the honored day.

"Without partisan or sectional bias, looking only to the glorious national memories of the past and to the prosperous future stretching far before us, let us, dwellers by the Western Sea, send back a loyal greeting to our fellow-citizens nearer the birthplace of National Freedom.

" The first century of American freedom draws to its glorious close. National trials and struggles for existence have not shattered the noble fabric of Republican self-government, cemented as it is by the blood of our Revolutionary forefathers. Looking backward to the early vicissitudes of our National existence, the American citizen sees in the high-souled patriotism of the Revolution the grandest model of duty and self-devotion. Left us fittingly honor the day, the men, the deed.

“The Independence of America! its proclamation gave hope to suffering millions; its achievement has given happiness to a vast nation, in wealth and numbers far surpassing the most sanguine hopes of the many heroes who fought for posterity, who died that we might be free. In peaceful enjoyment of the freedom so dearly purchased, let us, as a grateful body of fellow citizens, forget any dividing line in the one proud boast that we are Americans."

One of the results of Colonel Savage's appeal was the formation and appearance in the procession of a platoon of soldiers in Continental dress, commanded by Captain F. (Frederick Theodore) C. M. Fenn, who subsequently became a member of the California Society of the Sons of Revolutionary Sires.

The Daily Alta (California) of July 6th, 1875, said of Captain Fenn's command: "It was a marked feature of the procession, and as they marched past in their antique uniform, one almost fancied that the procession was a pageant of the 17th century, rather than a celebration of this age of military and civic enlightenment." And further says: "The names of celebrated battlefields and heroes of the Revolution, the separate letters of the words entwined in evergreen wreaths, the whole suspended across the streets, were handsome and were generally admired."

The call issued by Colonel Savage took root in fertile soil, for at about this period a few patriotic and enthusiastic citizens of San Francisco, descendants of the early emigrants and colonists of America, were quietly moving and endeavoring to bring to the notice of their immediate associates of American blood and birth the duty of honoring the founders of the American nation, and of perpetuating the principles for which these heroes "pledged their lives and their sacred honor," and of producing a higher appreciation of the responsibilities and obligations of American citizenship.

Scarcely had the echoes of the celebration of Independence Day died away, when the sentiments aroused on that occasion assumed form and expression. A hundred days later, Friday evening, October 22nd, 1875, a meeting of descendants of soldiers, sailors and patriots of the Revolutionary War was called at the office of Dr. James L. (Lafayette) Cogswell, No. 230 Kearny Street, San Francisco.

Among those present at this meeting were Major Edwin A. Sherman, Deputy U. S. Surveyor General for Nevada, Ira C. Root, Dr. P. W. Randle, Rush R. Randle, Joseph Weed, Dr. Emory L. Willard and others, "who, when convened, did after consultation and due and proper consideration, proceed to formulate a plan of, and take preliminary steps for, the institution and organization of a society composed of descendants of soldiers, sailors and patriots of the Revolutionary War, or more specifically understood and known as the War of 1776, whose deeds of valor in the field and services in the Council Chamber achieved the independence of the Colonies of the United States of America".

At this provisional meeting, Dr. P. W. (Peter Wilkins) Randle was elected President. Dr. Randle was born at Sparta, Georgia, November 9th, 1806. His sire was Captain Josias Randle of the Virginia Line, who, for a time, served as Aid-de-camp to General Washington. With his father he removed to Illinois in 1810, and later received his education at Transylvania College, Kentucky. He served with Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hawk War and was a Surgeon in the Mexican War and during the War of the Rebellion. On December 19th, 1849, he arrived at San Francisco in the ship Arkansas, and in the latter years of his life, was connected with the U. S. Mint at San Francisco, where he died, January 13th, 1884. His remains were committed to mother earth by George H. Thomas Post, No. 2, G. A. R., of which he was a member, in accordance with the ceremonies of the Grand Army of the Republic.

The provisional organization thus initiated, known as the Society of Sons of Revolutionary Sires, was held well in hand, when, on the 26th day of June 1876, Centennial Year, the following card from a lady whose name is unknown appeared in The Daily Alta California:

Editor Alta:

Wouldn't it be a most novel but strikingly interesting idea in the programme of the procession for our City Centennial Celebration, to have represented our grandparents of the Revolution by the grandchildren now living, residents of this city? There might not be a single living son or daughter, but no doubt there might be a score or more of real grandchildren.

Wouldn't it be splendid if enough could be found to represent every State in the Union, to ride in a car sufficiently large to carry them all, each one carrying a small flag with the name of the State they represent, and the car designated The Revolutionary Grandchildren?"

The writer of this is such a one, an elderly lady 55 years of age. I am the granddaughter and the step-granddaughter of six who passed through that bloody struggle inaugurated by the Declaration, the anniversary of the signing of which we have celebrated for 99 years, and now are about to give unusual éclat to the Centennial Anniversary.

Two of those grandparents lived to be 93 and 96 years of age; both received pensions from the U. S. Government; one of them never laid on a bed after that terrible struggle for our liberty, being deprived of that privilege through the asthma contracted from taking colds, sleeping out in snows and rains, suffering and exposure.

If the writer could be transported back to my native home in good old Massachusetts, almost in sight of Plymouth Rock, I could (I think it is so fresh in my memory) put my feet on the very spot where I have stood with one of my grandmothers when she toId me there was where my grandfather dropped his plow, rushed into the old farmhouse, shouldered his musket, kissed her and his infant child (which only died two years ago, just 100 years old), mounted his farm nag just unhitched from the plow, and while the terrible sound of the horseman, To Arms!

To Arms! was ringing in my grandmother's ears, he was away to Boston as a volunteer. All honor to our glorious, noble grandparents to-day. I could tell many, many incidents that they all have related to me, so green and fresh and heart-stirring to-day to me as when a child I heard them from their own lips, which I have told myself to many a dear little child in this city to try to explain what the 4th of July or Independence means. These things must be kept before the minds of our young and rising generation, for from some of them, at least, must come the future support of the whole fabric so dearly won by those martyred heroes, whose cry Liberty or Death went up to the ears of a willing Merciful Father to relieve us from tyranny and oppression, making a home for all to worship as they choose, and to buy, sell and get gain, and send it where they list.

If the General of the day thinks anything of this for I know you will let him see it tell him I want to go and carry the old Bay State Flag, my dear native home, which I have not seen for fourteen years. I am the poor widow of one of the victims of the privateers of our last war, living in obscurity. Yours, etc.,

To the unknown correspondent of The Alta Dr. (James Lafayette) Cogswell replied in the following communication:

Editor Alta:
"The idea suggested by the granddaughter of one of our Revolutionary Sires seems a capital one; and as I belong in the same category with your correspondent, being the grandson of one of the Revolutionary heroes, I shall be happy to have all who belong to this class call at my office, No. 230 Kearny street, and organize for the occasion."

Signed, J. L. COGSWELL.
San Francisco,
June 26th, 1876.

The issue of The Alta of June 28th contained the following local item (written by George B. (Bowen) Mackrett, Journalist):

"The grandchildren of Revolutionary Heroes have been invited to meet at the office of Dr. Cogswell, 230 Kearny street, and organize for the proper celebration of the day which their grandfathers fought to make the Republic's great national holiday; and it is not likely that any will be lax in the display of their patriotism through any proper channel that may be open to them. This is the time to arouse the enthusiasm and fire the patriotism of every son of freedom."

Pursuant to the call, a number of descendants of Revolutionary soldiers and sailors convened at the office of Dr. Cogswell and agreed to connect themselves with the Society "planned and formulated" on the previous 22nd day of October 1875, and to participate in the Centennial Anniversary of American Independence, the celebration of the day having been entrusted to a General Committee of leading citizens of San Francisco. At the request of the assembled Revolutionary descendants the Grand Marshal issued the following invitation:

1776. 1876.
ATTENTION DESCENDANTS OF REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOTS!
Headquarters Centennial Committee, 212 Kearny Street.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 28th, 1876.

You are hereby requested to meet at the Headquarters of the Grand Marshal, No. 212 Kearny Street, at 8 o'clock p. M., on Thursday, June 29th, for the purpose of making arrangements to participate in the celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Nation's Independence.
CHARLES L. WIGGIN, Chief of Staff to the Grand Marshal

On the same date of the issuance of the above invitation, The Alta, through its local column, called attention of descendants of Revolutionary Sires to the approaching celebration in these words: "The descendants of the Revolutionary patriots in this city are requested to meet at the Headquarters of the Grand Marshal, No. 212 Kearny Street, at eight o'clock this evening, for the purpose of making arrangements to participate in the Centennial Celebration."

The foregoing request met with a hearty response, there being present about twenty-five persons claiming the distinction and honor of being enrolled as descendants of Revolutionary Sires, and arrangements were perfected for having a parade on Independence Day following. An adjournment to meet at the Palace Hotel Saturday evening, July 1st, was then taken.

At the adjourned meeting, the action to have a parade on July 4th was concurred in by almost thirty additional eligibles for membership who were present, the whole forming a nucleus for a promising parade on Independence Day.

When the glorious day arrived, there were no less than eighty-eight names enrolled, eight of whom were actual Sons of Revolutionary Soldiers; but at the present writing only one of these John R. Robinson is borne on the rolls. Since that date two more have been enrolled, John C. B. Rutherford and Milton Andros.

The parade attracted a great deal of attention, the line of march starting from the Palace Hotel at 9:30 A. M. and passing through the principal streets, everywhere receiving that homage which would naturally fall to the descendants of those whose services destroyed the yoke of tyranny and made the glorious Stars and Stripes the symbol of a land of freedom in perpetuity. After the parade, the little band returned to the Palace Hotel and there joined in, and more fully completed its organization as planned and formulated October 22nd, 1875.

Now a word as to the objects of this society. From its very inspiration the promoters of the California Society planned that the organization should be made National in its attributes, and among other objects its first constitution provided for the organization of " auxiliaries, co-equal branches and representative bodies." The California organization was perfected July 4, 1876, or seven years prior to the formation of any similar organization in any State in the Union.

This plain statement of existing facts should forever set at rest its claim for dominance in point of life, and as all permanent bodies must possess parentage, so did the California organization become the sire of all assimilated branches and will forever remain as such despite all quibbling to the contrary.

The National Society early recognized the services of the California Society, by the adoption of, at the first National Congress, at Louisville, Ky., April 30, 1890, the following resolution: "

Whereas: The Society of the Sons of the American Revolution was first organized in the State of California on the Fourth of July 1876; and

Whereas: To Colonel A. S. (Adolphus Skinner) Hubbard, of the California Society, is due in a large degree, the credit of organizing that Society, and, in a still greater degree, the credit of maintaining that Society through trials which would have discouraged a less patriotic man; now, therefore,

Resolved: That in the publication of the names of the Presidents General of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the name of Colonel A. S. Hubbard be hereafter included. Resolved, That the Secretary General be, and is hereby, instructed to inform Colonel A. S. Hubbard of the honor which this Congress has conferred upon him.”

At the third National Congress, at New York City, April 30, 1892, on motion of Mr. Henry Hall, Historian General, it placed on record the following tribute to the memory of the late General Albert M. Winn:

Resolved: That the name of A. M. Winn, first President of the California Society, shall hereafter appear in the roll of Past Presidents General of this Society.

Resource History, constitution, by-laws, membership, California Society of the Sons of the American Revolution at San Francisco: instituted at San Francisco October 22nd, 1875, as Sons of Revolutionary Sires. 

Reference:
https://archive.org/stream/historyconstitut00sonsiala/historyconstitut00sonsiala_djvu.txt