The West Virginia State Society of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution chapter Development and Revitalization Commission hosted a workshop on Saturday, March 4 at Hacker’s Creek Pioneer Descendant’s Genealogy Library in Horner, for WVDAR Chapter Registrars and other members interested in genealogy.
Ruth Mooney, WVDAR Chapter Development and Revitalization Commission Chairman, opened the workshop with an introduction of the HCPD Executive Director, Patty Lesondak, who explained the purpose of the library and future genealogy workshops. She introduced her volunteers who assisted her in providing a luncheon for the day’s participants.
Chairman Mooney introduced the WVDAR State Regent, Malinda “Mindy” Davis and Chapter Development & Revitalization members who were present: Jane Larke, State Organizing Secretary; Brends Cheuvront, State Registrar; Lee Eddy, Lineage Research Chairman; Margaret Ways, Volunteer Genealogist Chairman and Randi Gray, Junior Membership Co-Chairman. She also recognized Weston’s Trans-Allegheny Chapter members wh were in attendance.
State Registrar, Brenda Cheuvront, presented an overview of the DAR application process to the representatives of 21 of 37 WVDAR Chapters. Discussion of resources applicants may use as documentation for providing lineage to a Revolutionary War Patriot followed with a question and answer session. Many experienced Chapter Registrars added their suggestions and expertise of the application process.
State Organizing Secretary, Jane Larke, reviewed ways to avoid a pre-letter or an Additional Information Requested (AIR) letter from the DAR genealogists. She discussed correct signatures, costs, paper, correct data and format, check writing procedures and other pertinent information relating to the application process. To conclude the presentation, Mrs. Larke asked the 46 participants true/false questions based on a collection of DAR Horizons videos about genealogy they had previously been instructed to view before attending the workshop.
Blye Grove, of the Ohio Chapter, gave grace before the HCPD volunteers served lunch. Following the luncheon, State Registrar, Brenda Cheuvront, presented a power point program on the use of the new Build an Application on the DAR website. The use of this app saves many hours in the preparation of the four page application. If the prospective member is tying into an established member’s completed application, the Registrar may assist the applicant by securing the member’s number and after locating their data on the DAR website, they may download the app and begin to complete the prospective member’s application using some or all of the established member’s information.
The first page of the four page application consists of the prospective member’s personal identification information, the Chapter Registrar’s information, and locations for signatures. Page two contains the names, locations, dates, marriages, etc., of each generation from the prospective member to the Revolutionary War Patriot. Page three is the documentation page where all names, dates, locations, marriages, etc. stated on page two are supported with copies of actual birth, death and marriage records or other documents accepted by DAR. Page four is the Revolutionary War Patriot page which cites the Patriot’s name, his or her residence during the Revolutionary War, service And documentation proving his or her service and residence. Also, his or her spouse is listed and children, though this information is not required. Following a question and answer session, the workshop concluded.
The 46 WVDAR Chapter members who attended the workshop were, as follows: Anne Bailey – Patsy Adkins, Patty Montgomery; Anne Royall – Patricia Casper, Sandra Harper, Lora Ingram; Blackwater – Wanda Booth, Sue Silk; Blennerhassett – Randi Gray; Buford – Linda McMahon; Captain James Allen – Jewell Field, Samantha Shleser; Col. Zackquill Morgan – Becky Davis; Daniel Davisson – Charlotte Orrahood; Elizabeth Ludington Hagans – Col. John Evans – Anna Chandler, Susan Arnold; Elizabeth Zane – Georgette Ward; Elk River – Elizabeth Stewart, Meg Ashby, Mary Stewart, Ruth Mooney, Gen. Andrew Lewis – Karen McClung, Sandy Cowan; James Barbour – Diane Davide; John Hart – Cheryl Kane, Barbara Tedford; John Young – Wanda Dettinger, Brenda Durham; Ohio Valley – Mary Lamp, Tine Seese, Susie Rogers, Blye Grove, Lee Eddy, Mindy Davis; Old Hickory – Brenda Cheuvront, Geneal Bailey, Sandy Isner-Johnson, Carolyn Flinn; Shenandoah Valley – Sally Ann Greenfield, Margie Ways; Trans-Allegheny – Theresa Blake, Christina Rumbach, Pat Goodwin, Kelly Goodwin and Woodburn – Joan Gibson, Jane larke and Carol Mills.
