By Maria Dorman Maroon
Local historian and writer Shirley Richards (1930-2004), teachers Margaret Lee Tawes (1912-2009), Sara Blueford (1925-2003), Elsie Tawes (1924-2016), and Barbara Bloodsworth (1931-2022) — these ladies represented Somerset County’s finest. They were also members of the Nanticoke Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). Established in 1932, the Nanticoke Chapter is celebrating its 90th year of service with several initiatives planned for 2022 and beyond.
Are you our Semiquincentennial Sister?
A big word for a big event, the 250th anniversary of the United States is coming soon, and the nation is already planning (visit America250.org). Nanticoke Chapter is heralding this momentous occasion by seeking four Semiquin-Sisters: Four new, local members by the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026. What a thrill to commemorate America’s 250th by establishing your Revolutionary War ancestry!
How do you know if you are eligible to join DAR? The first step is to complete a family lineage chart that shows the ancestry of both your father and mother. Then using the DAR Genealogical Research System, you can search for Patriot ancestors (those who aided the cause of the American Revolution). Or you can see if you have a close blood relative who was a DAR member.
The final step can be the most daunting — providing the documents that verify each generation. This can be as simple as a birth certificate, or it may involve hunting down census and land records, military and pension lists, or obituaries and wills. Fortunately, each DAR chapter has a designated Registrar who offers her expertise to help you complete the membership application process.
An enduring sisterhood
A former Nanticoke Chapter Registrar, Suzanne Coons is celebrating 60 years in the DAR. Also reaching an amazing milestone is Dorothy “Dot” Wilson, who…