Washingtonburg Update: December 29, 2024

Greetings Washingtonburg Chapter,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe holiday season thus far. This is the last update for 2024,
and we have lots of information to share. As we turn the calendar to 2025, I am predicting this
coming year will be the best year in Washingtonburg history. We are poised to build on programs
that we started in 2024. Many 250th Anniversary events will take place this year, and some are not
too far away.

Membership Update: Washingtonburg is approaching 60 members and will likely eclipse that
number this year. Several candidates’ applications are processing at the national office, and we
have several more prospective members who have expressed interest in joining. It is exciting to see
our membership grow; however, I, like many other compatriots, do not know everyone in the
chapter. With that in mind, I have a project to put faces with names. I am requesting that each
compatriot send me a photo (of yourself only, from the shoulders up) so that I can compile a
pictorial directory. Feel free to wear your 18th-century attire in your photo. I will crop photos to get
the correct size, so don’t worry about that. Junior members will need parental permission to be
included. Below is a sample of Compatriot Sam Russell. Let me know if you have any questions.
Email or text photos to me, Secretary Ray Mowery: raymondmowery@hotmail.com or 717-830-
1888.

Washingtonburg is hoping to join our sister DAR chapter in Cumberland County for a combined
event to honor George Washington’s birthday. A potential date is Saturday February 22, 2025. More
details will follow when they become available.
For the first time ever, Washingtonburg will host a PASSAR Board of Management (BOM) meeting—it will be from Friday January 31 to February 1, 2025, at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, PA.
Friday evening is a reception only. The business meeting will be Saturday, and two of our
compatriots will be guest speakers: Doug Cubbison and Sam Russell. The registration form is
attached. Please send your completed form and registration check (write checks to
“Washingtonburg SAR” and write “BOM” in the memo) to Treasurer Steve Burd at 101 TeeBird Lane, Newville, PA 17241 by Friday January 17. We would like to have great attendance to support Doug and Sam and to show our chapter’s strength. Currently, we only have a handful of members who have registered. If you are not able to attend in person, there is a Zoom option. It is also a great
chance to see how our state society operates.

SAR encourages each chapter to present Flag Certificates to deserving individuals, families,
businesses and organizations in their area that fly the US flag properly. It would be nice if we could
present at least one Flag Certificate each month in 2025. We need your help to identify deserving
recipients. Please send names and addresses of deserving recipients to me, Secretary Ray Mowery,
so that I can work to arrange the details.
Our Wreaths Across America sponsorship page is active for 2025. For every wreath sponsored
from today until January 17, we will get a second wreath to place at our location for free. We
are already up to 8 wreaths sponsored. Here is the link:
https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/181029/Overview/?relatedId=0. In addition, here is
the link to a digital photo album that I created for our WAA:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qUva2CPUnD_7exCFPOI883G9ooVI1C6po31A_hW
QbgE/edit#slide=id.g31a970e15f4_0_0.
As a thank you for our chapter’s generosity in sponsoring Washingtonburg Founder and Past
President John Fralish’s lifetime SAR membership, he would like to complete an 18th-century
census project to publish and sell through our chapter. It is an identification project for the
Cumberland County schedule of the 1790 U.S. Census (present-day Perry and Cumberland
Counties), a project that connects the census to Revolutionary War service records. The first
edition of the results is a book (a publication of our chapter) setting forth the original census but
adding township divisions lacking in the original and also numbering the households
sequentially for reference (there are 3,019). John hopes to finish this project this winter and is
willing to take on serious volunteers with related experience in this type of work and research. If
you have a serious interest in assisting John, please contact Secretary Ray Mowery for more
information.
For our chapter web site, we would like to add short biographies for each of our patriot
ancestors. Mine is below, and you may use that as a guide. Include as much information as you
can. I will edit your ancestor’s biography to fit our web site. Attach photos if able.

Raymond Mowery IV and Raymond Mowery V’s (and soon-to-be member Alexander
Mowery’s) patriot ancestor: Barnabas Doyle, an Irish-Catholic whose family
immigrated to Path Valley in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in the early 1700s. As
the Doyle family expanded, they founded the town of Doylesburg, which is in present-
day Franklin County. Barnabas was born in 1750 to Felix and Sarah Doyle. Barnabas
married Mary Catherine McElhenny in 1771, and they had 3 sons who were deeded
land that is now present-day Doylestown (Franklin County). During the American
Revolution, Barnabas served as a private in the 6th battalion of the Cumberland
County militia under Captain Thomas Askey’s company under the leadership of
Colonel James Dunlop from 1779-1781. On July 16, 1779, the 6th Pennsylvania was
part of the force commanded by “Mad” Anthony Wayne that stormed the British
fortifications at Stony Point, NY, in a surprise nighttime attack. This victory helped the
Continental Army control the Hudson River. They spent the rest of the year in garrison
at West Point and probably wintered at Morristown. The next year, the regiment took
part in several small engagements in New Jersey and again wintered at Morristown.
After the war, Barnabas returned home to farm his land. He died on November 23,
1797, in Fannett Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He was buried at St.
Mary’s Catholic Church (now called Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Mission) in
Doylesburg, Pennsylvania, on land his family once owned. Barnabas’ original
gravestone pictured left; his new gravestone pictured right.

On a personal note, I am planning to attend the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or
Death” speech in Richmond, VA, on Sunday March 23, 2025, at the historic St. John’s Church.
Tickets are $25 each, and the event is likely to sell out. This is the link to purchase tickets:
https://www.historicstjohnschurch.org/events/250th-anniversary-m2pt9. I will likely spend
one night in Richmond. There are several historic Revolutionary War-related sites in the area,
including the church where George Washington got married. Let me know if you would like to
attend with me. I am happy to drive. This event is for personal interest cannot be included
toward SAR 250th Anniversary Medals until approved by President Jen La Marca, who will give
us an approved list of 2025 events in the near future.

So, your homework includes these items:

Send Secretary Ray Mowery a photo of yourself for a pictorial directory at your earliest
convenience.
Send Treasurer Steve Burd your registration form and check for BOM by January 17.
Send Secretary Ray Mowery a short bio of your patriot ancestor (include a photo of your
patriot, the grave, a historical marker, or a homestead if able) at your earliest convenience.
Send Secretary Ray Mowery names and contact info for deserving recipients of Flag
Certificates at your earliest convenience.
Sponsor wreaths for our 2025 Wreaths Across America ceremony if you desire (by January
17 to give our chapter double the wreaths).
Contact Secretary Ray Mowery if you are interested in joining him for Patrick Henry’s
“Liberty or Death” speech reenactment the weekend of March 23, 2025.
Contact Secretary Ray Mowery if you have a serious interest in assisting John Fralish in his
census project.

That’s all for now. Please contact me with questions or ideas.
Ray Mowery

Washingtonburg Chapter Holiday Dinner at Two Mile House in Carlisle

Past President and current Genealogist Dale Leppard with wife Susan Riley
(photo by Anthony Ebersole)

Despite a few last-minute cancellations due to inclement weather and illness, approximately 50 members and guests of Washingtonburg Chapter gathered at historic Two Mile House in Carlisle on the 15th of December 2024 for the annual Holiday Dinner. The annual event encourages 18th century attire, which was worn by nearly half of those attending. The meal was catered by Chef Mark Little of New Bloomfield and featured an 18th century fixed plate menu, which was supplemented by hot and cold period punches prepared by Compatriot Brian Engle. Colonial era music was provided by Forbes Road Frolic, attired in 18th century clothing with period instruments. Carriage rides in the light snow were provided by Benchfield Farms of Newville, whose drivers and attendant were in colonial attire. A toast to His Excellency George Washington was made using Rye made at Mount Vernon according to the recipe of Our First President and Commander-in-Chief. Those attending signed the guest list in the form of a reproduction Revolutionary War Militia roster using a quill pen and ink well. Each setting included a souvenir program and menu as well as a tavern bill customized to Two Mile House. Reproduction newspapers dating from the period were circulated among the guests. The Two Mile House property was owned in the late 18th century by Ephrain Blaine, Commissary General of the Continental Army. The house is predominantly of Georgian construction, but a part of the kitchen dates to the late 18th century consistent with the ownership period of Blaine.

A photo gallery documenting the event may be found here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dVASb-gCCFQe2XHVG

E4HhxJa_M5E9fKJg66RZfygHL4/edit#slide=id.g2a4941db549_0_739

Washingtonburg Chapter Honors Revolutionary War Patriots

The Washingtonburg Chapter, PASSAR sponsored a grave marking ceremony, which recognized the contributions of five Revolutionary War Patriots buried in the Big Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Newville, Pennsylvania. The Patriots who received the SAR Grave Markers are: Capt. Thomas Buchanan, Major William McFarlane, Sgt. William Denning, Artificer William Ferguson, and Pvt. Peter Tritt.

Washingtonburg Chapter President, Dale John Joseph Leppard officiated at today’s ceremony.

President Leppard provided the backdrop regarding the significance of those who were honored.

Washingtonburg Secretary/Treasurer, Steven Scott Burd, was our guest speaker.

Secretary/Treasurer Burd places a SAR Marker on the grave of a Revolutionary War Patriot.

SPCO Todd Allen Hockensmith, USN (Retired) places a marker on the grave of a Revolutionary War Patriot.

The SAR Grave Marker that was placed on five Patriot graves today.

Associate Member Raymond Andrew Mowery IV, Washingtonburg Chapter, PASSAR and Jeffry Peter La Marca, President Jockey Hollow Chapter, NJSSAR carry wreath honor all of the Revolutionary War Patriots buried at the Big Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery (including Patriots whose graves have not yet been marked).

Associate Member Mowery and President La Marca, adjust wreath.

(Left to Right): Jockey Hollow President La Marca, Washingtonburg President Leppard, and Associate Member Mowery in authentic 18th Century garb.

Following today’s grave marking ceremony, Washingtonburg Chapter Members and guest attended a BBQ and Chapter Meeting at the William Denning State Park.

President Leppard led today’s meeting. In addition to Washingtonburg Chapter business, he also discussed the Intolerable Acts in recognition of events that eventually sparked the revolt against the British.

Secretary/Treasurer Burd receives the Bronze Henry Knox Medal from President Leppard in recognition of his outstanding service to the Washingtonburg Chapter.

Compatriot Steven Pearson Messner receives the Bronze Henry Knox Medal from President Leppard in recognition of his outstanding service to the Washingtonburg Chapter.

Compatriot Steven Lee Dedmon and Associate Member Glen Halliman are related to Danel Boone! However, both men are descended from two of his sisters.

Washingtonburg Chapter Receives PASSAR Award for Largest Membership Growth!

May 4, 2024 – The Washingtonburg Chapter received the Trimble Trophy, the PASSAR award for the chapter with the largest growth over the past year (200 percent) at this weekend’s Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Board of Managers meeting!

Pictured (left to right): Washingtonburg 1st VP Jeff La Marca, President Dale Leppard, PASSAR President Eric Troutman.

The Washingtonburg Chapter, PASSAR also received the Keystone Award for Small-Sized Chapters!

New 2024-2025 PASSAR officers for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania including Washingtonburg President Dale Leppard (who will be serving as both the PASSAR 2nd VP and Secretary).

December 17, 2023 Quarterly Meeting & Holiday Dinner

On December 17, 2023, the Washingtonburg Chapter held its first Holiday Dinner at the historic Two-Mile House at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Guests were encouraged to wear period dress!

EPHRAIM BLAINE, WASHINGTONBURG, AND TWO MILE HOUSE.

Ephraim Blaine was born in 1741 in Londonderry in the Kingdom of Ireland. He immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1745 with his parents and settled in Toboyne Township, then in Cumberland but today in Perry County. He was commissioned an Ensign in the Royal American Regiment and served with distinction at Fort Ligonier as commanding Lieutenant during the French and Indian War. After the war he settled in Carlisle and focused on commercial activities in the Indian trade, with mills, etc., until his election as Sheriffof CumberlandCounty. He lived at the house still standing at 4North Hanover Street, next to the First Presbyterian Church where he worshipped. As tensions with the British increased, he was once again commissioned a Lieutenant, this time of a Company of Associators. As a result of the closing of the Port of Boston, the citizens of Carlisle, including Ephraim Blaine, Francis Allison, John Armstrong, Robert Callendar, Jonathan Hoge, and James Wilson, met at the First Presbyterian Church on July 12th, 1774, to denounce the tyranny of the British in what is sometimes called the “Carlisle Declaration of Independence”. As a result, Ephraim Blaine was appointed to a Committee of Correspondence. During this time he was also engaged in diplomatic efforts with the Indians. He went on to serve as Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel of Cumberland County Battalions of Militia. He was further appointed County Lieutenant and subsequently Commissary, then Deputy Commissary General of Purchases, and finally Commissary General, by Congress. During the American Revolution Washingtonburg served as the main source of ordnance and commissary supply for the Continental Army during the Mid-Atlantic Campaign. In the late 18th century, Ephraim Blaine owned the property upon which Two Mile House was erected. It is believed that the kitchen and an adjacent section of the dwelling date to the ownership of Ephraim Blaine, but proof remains lacking. The Georgian stone architecture dates to circa 1820 and is currently in the possession of the Cumberland County Historical Society.