General David Humphreys Branch No. 1 Sons of the American Revolution New Haven, Connecticut Founded May 22, 1891 Meeting Summary April 2016 April 2017 April 11 President Towle gave out a 10-year service award to John Long. Towle also spoke about the Coast Guard endowment fund and we approved a $500.00 donation. Bill Fenn & Ethan Stewart went to the New Haven Historical Museum and brought back pictures of item that General Humphreys owned. Our guest speaker was Amy Durbin from the New Haven Historical Museum. She said that 500 people from Mass. came to New Haven and were all Puritans. New Haven was the first planned city in CT. and was the Co Capital of CT. for 100 years. 20 people attend our meeting. May 9 President Towle presented 2 certificates and Medals at Yale for the ROTC. They were Midshipman 2 nd Class Noah P. Baily and Cadet 2 nd Class Isabelle W. Allen. President Towle gave a 30-year service award to Marshall Robinson. Our guest speaker was Katharine Dimancescu who spoke about Witch trial in CT. 11 people were hung in CT. Ethan Stewart said that we have given out 13 Outstanding Citizenship awards this year to juniors in New Haven Area High Schools. 18 people attended our meeting. June 9 Joint meeting with the Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter DAR. President Towle introduced two C.A.R. members, Anna & Molly Nichols. President Towle also inducted two new members Thomas Mulcahy, Jr. and Bryan Donahue. President Towle gave Bradford Gesler a certificate of appreciation for his 7 years of service as our Treasurer and Donald Hayden a 10-year service award. Our entertainment was a reenactment of American Heroine Deborah Samson Gannett by Judith Kalaora from Boston. It was fantastic. 65 people attended our joint meeting. July 4 We had our 64 th annual ceremony at Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven. Joining us was the Second Company Governor s Foot Guard, 6 th Conn. Reg t Company of Light Infantry, Ct. Mayflower Society and Charles Merriman Society, C.S.C.A.R. Damien Cregeau gave a speech at Roger Sherman s grave site. David Loda upon his horse at the Humphreys grave site gave a speech. 100 + people attended.
September 12 President Towle welcomed two new members; Richard Legg and Simon LaPlace. President Towle gave a 20-year service award to John Crowell. State President Ethan Stewart told us about his trip to Congress, The Humphreys Branch was recognized for our Law Enforcement Award last year. We also received a Banner for our flag for achieving the goal of 20% Patriot Ancesters Biographies. Ethan also purchased a portable PA system for our July 4 th ceremony. Our guest speaker was John Banks. He is senior editor at ESPN. John has written two books about the common soldier from CT in the Civil War. His talk was mostly about the 16 CT. Regiment. The books were CT. Yankees at Antiem and Hidden History of CT. Union Soldiers. 29 people attended our meeting. October 10 - Ethan Stewart spoke about a community service project. It has to do with the upkeep and repairs to the Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery in Stratford. William Samuel Johnson one of the signers of our constitution is buried there along with Revolutionary Soldiers and Privateers. This cemetery also has a seedling from the Charter Oak planted in the 1930 s. Ethan also wanted to include in the project the Freelove Baldwin Stow and Sarah Riggs Humphreys-Mary Silliman Chapters of the DAR. All Branch members agreed to this idea. Ethan Stewart reminded us about our joint meeting next month with the Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter. We will also have a meeting the following week on the 17 th with the Second Company Governor s Foot Guard in Branford. There will be a separate notice for this event. Barbara Stewart spoke about Wreaths Across America being on December 17 th at 12 noon. Some of our members attend every year. Ethan Stewart made a motion to donate 10 wreaths at a cost of $150.00 and was seconded by Rich Kendall. This was accepted. John Towle was our speaker. He spoke about finding your Royal Ancestry. John spoke about his genealogy and his wife going back to Royal lines. He also passed out books to help in finding connections. 20 people attended our meeting. Nov. 14 - Our 6 th joint meeting between the Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter & General David Humphreys Regent Stewart & President Towle recognized all our Veterans and State SAR Officers. President Towle and Flag Chairman Timothy Wilkins gave Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter the Flag Award. Accepted by Barbara Stewart, Chapter Regent. Ethan Stewart spoke about the Derby Historical Society with their educational program at the Humphreys house. Ethan made a motion that we give them a donation for their educational program of $500.00 for the year 2017. It was seconded by Richard Kendall and was voted in. Bill Lane announced our slate of officers, President - William Fenn, Vice President - Richard Kendall, Secretary - Ethan Stewart, Treasurer - Bruce Bathrick, Asst. Treasurer Ethan Stewart, Registrar - Ethan Stewart, Chaplain - Bill Lane, Historian - Michael Chuckta and Necrologist Doug Lemay. Chairman Heads, Eagle Scout Award - Tim Wilkins, Outstanding Citizenship Awards- Ethan Stewart, Flag Award - Tim Wilkins and Law Enforcement Award - Marshall Robinson. President Towle introduced our guest speaker Colonel Dr. David Towle his brother. David spoke about Colonial medicine. When the Europeans came to America they brought many diseases, one being Small Pox. Colonial Physicians were considered the
pillar of Society. More people died under Doctors care than in battle. 37 people attended our meeting Nov. 21 - We had a meeting with the Second Company Governor s Foot Guard and various sick. The event was enjoyed by all. 6 members attended. Meeting ended at 8:30. Veteran s groups in a joint review at the Branford Armory. President Towle handed out two Good Citizenship Medals and Awards to SGT Belinda Cargill and SGT Stephen Kenny. Unfortunately, Stephen was home Dec.12 President Towle recognized our former Branch Presidents, Carlton Haddad, John Crowell and Tim Wilkins and all State Officers. Special guest State Regent Alice Ridgway, Vice Regent Christy Hendrie and ladies from Freelove Baldwin Stow & Sarah Riggs Humphreys-Siliman. President Towle gave out three 10 Year of Service awards to Rich Forselius, Rowland Hine and Michael Chuckta President Towle inducted our new officers; President William Fenn, Vice President Richard Kendall, Secretary Ethan Stewart Sr, Treasurer Bruce Bathrick, Asst. Treasurer Ethan Stewart Sr., Registrar Ethan Stewart Sr., Chaplain Bill Lane, Historian Michael Chuckta and Necrologist Doug LeMay. President Towle also announced our chairman heads; Eagle Scout Award, Tim Wilkins, Outstanding Citizenship Awards Ethan Stewart Sr., Flag Award Tim Wilkins and Law Enforcement Award Marshall Robinson. That evening we were entertained by the Bennett Family. They presented many spiritual Christmas songs. 38 people attended our meeting Jan 9 Mike Chucka gave us an historical moment on January 8, 1779. George Washington s letter to Deputy Clothier Gen. George Measam asking for supplies. Washington also gave a stirring speech on December 30 th to quell attempted muting at the Huntington s Camp. President Fenn inducted our new member Bruce Johnson who was sponsored by Ethan Stewart. Secetary Stewart talked about a Branch Color Guard and Mike Chucka agreed to take lead in this endeavor. President Fenn presented Past Branch President with a Certificate of Appreciation for being our President for the last two years. Vice President Kendall introduced our guest speaker Dave Loda. He gave us a presentation about the life of David Humphreys. He grew up in Derby and went to Yale. Humphreys was friends with Benjamin Tallmadge and Nathan Hale. He became the Superintendent of Schools in Wethersfield. He also traveled back and forth to New York a lot. He was at Washington s aide de camp during the Revolution and when Washington became President he made David a diplomat to Portugal. While there he trained John Q. Adams to be a diplomat. When Jefferson became President, he replaced Humphreys in Spain. While in Spain Humphreys married, and ask the King if he could buy some of his Merino sheep. He did and brought them back and started Humphreysville with a woolen mill. 26 people attended our meeting
Feb 13- President Fenn recognized our Branch Presidents, Tim Wilkins and John Towle. All DAR members We were presented with a large picture puzzle, all put together about the American Revolution by Tom Mulcahy friend Jill. President Fenn & Vice President Kendall handed out roses to all the ladies present. Mike Chuckta gave us an historical moment about David Humphreys in the 2 nd Regiment. Mike also spoke about our Color Guard. We already have 5 members in the State Color Guard and there is an event on May 5 th. VP Kendall asked for a donation to the 6 th Regiment to help pay for a plaque to honor Meigs Raid from Guilford on May 23 rd 1777. A motion for $200.00 was put forth by Rich Kendall and seconded by Tim Wilkins. This motion was revisited latter in the meeting because there wasn t any discussion. After the discussion, it was approved again. Secretary Stewart told us that he sent out 14 applications for the Outstanding Citizenship Awards. Stewart also said that he has found 15 Patriots in the Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery. VP Kendall introduced our guest speaker Paula Norton from the Derby Historical Society. She spoke about the life of a boy in 1762. This is a program that they run for school children in the Valley and surrounding towns. Paula spoke about the ongoing renovations to the Humphreys house. The Humphreys Branch gave the Derby Historical a check for $500.00 to go towards their programs for school children. 20 people attended our meeting March 13 - The Branch #1 Color Guard is still in the planning stages and under consideration. President Fenn has many questions that need to be clarified before moving forward. Tim Wilkins mentioned his support for the Colored Guard formation. A general discussion followed about state CTSSAR Color Guard events and the types of events we could do locally with our own CG. Scout Award Tim Wilkins presented several awards and check to our Eagle Scott winner Bradley Charles Kozikowski. Young, Mr. Kozikowski read his patriotic essay that won him first place. He was present with his father Charles and mother Julie. Tim Wilkins open a discussion of our July 4 th Grove Cemetery event and President Fenn indicated we are exploring new ideas to create more interest in the annual event. Rich Kendall introduced our speaker for the evening, Robert Hubbard, who has researched and written extensively about the life of Gen. Israel Putnam. 20 People attended the meeting. April 10 - Secetary Stewart spoke about the cemetery clean up and that we are going to have a meeting at the DAR Chapter House in Milford on April 26 th at 7:00. He also said that there will be a State grave marking along with the State DAR on August 26 th at 1:00 at Christ Episcopal Church in Stratford, CT. Secetary Stewart brought in a book published by the Humphreys Branch on May 29, 1893. This is a book of Revolutionary War Songs. Rich Kendall introduced our guest speakers for the 6 th Regiment Craig Reynolds & Ross Kenney. They spoke about Miegs raid from Sag Harbor in Gilford. This was a raid
against the British for their attack on Danbury CT. They destroyed 12 British ships and captured 90 prisoners. The 6 th Regiment is raising money to install a plaque at Sag Harbor in 2018. We donated $200.00. 26 people attended our meeting. 5 New Members, 9 Certificates of Appreciation, 2 ROTC Awards, 1 Eagle Scout Award, 2 Good Citizenship Medals and Awards, 1 Flag Award, 7 Year of service Certificates and 13 Outstanding Citizenship Awards, $ 1,300. in Donations, Banner for 20% Patriot Ancesters Biographies. We had an average of 29 members and guest at each meeting. Certificates of Appreciation: Amy Durbin, Katharine Dimancescu, John Banks, Dr. David Towle, Dave Loda, Paula Norton, Robert Hubbard, Craig Reynolds and Ross Kenney. Eagle Scout Awards: Bradley Charles Kozikowski Good Citizenship Medal and Award: SGT Belinda Cargill and SGT Stephen Kenny Years of Service Certificates: John Long 10 years, Marshall Robinson 30 years, Donald Hayden 10 years, John Crowell 20 years, Richard Forselius 10 years, Rowland Hine 10 years and Michael Chuckta 10 years. Flag Award: Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter DAR Outstanding Citizenship Awards: Madeleine Lagarde, 5/24/2016 Sacred Heart Academy, Hamden, CT. Edmund Huminski, 5/27/2016 Daniel Hand High, Madison, CT. Dalton Childs, 5/23/2016 Branford High, Branford, CT. Charles Sedore, 5/12/2016 Notre Dame High, West Haven, CT. Austin Rivera, 5/18/2016 East Haven High, East Haven, CT. Alexandra Tolla, 6/2016 Lyman High, Wallingford, CT. John Duenzi, 6/1/2016 Hamden High, Hamden, CT. Lindsay Knight, 5/19/2016 North Haven High, North Haven, CT. Theodore Hague, 5/18/2016 Amity Regional, Woodbridge, CT. McKayd LaRose, 5/31/2016 Guilford High, Guilford, CT. Alexis Alfano, 6/1/2016 Morgan School, Clinton, CT. Aaron Ang, 6/9/2016 Hamden Hall Country Day School, Hamden, CT. Cara Sagnella, 5/19/2016 North Branford High, North Branford, CT. Donations: $500.00 to the Coast Guard Endowment Fund, $150.00 to Wreaths Across America (10 Wreaths), $500.00 to the Derby Historical Society for their Educational Program and $200.00 to the 6 th Regiment for a Plague to Honor Meigs Raid. Respectively Submitted Compatriot: Ethan A. Stewart, Sr. Branch Secretary