Colonel Haslet Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution
DOVER, DELAWARE
Home
Colonel Haslet Chapter
Dover, Delaware
The chapter was named for Colonel John Haslet, a stalwart Whig and commander of a regiment of the Kent County Militia during the Revolutionary War. Colonel Haslet was born in Ireland; he was a Dover resident, a Presbyterian minister, and a practitioner of medicine. Events moved swiftly in the new state following the Declaration of Independence. Because Delaware had participated for many years in the colonial wars and had a well-organized militia, a number of excellent officers were available and some of the militia units were ready to march. The first regiment of 800 men under Colonel John Haslet took part in the battles of Long Island (August 27, 1776) and White Plains (October 28, 1776). Colonel Haslet fought bravely under the command of General Washington with less than one hundred men at the Battle of Trenton on Christmas Day, 1776. He was killed in the line of duty at Princeton, New Jersey, on January 3, 1777. Colonel Haslet's body was moved to its final resting place in Dover Presbyterian Cemetery on February 22, 1841.
The first meeting of the Colonel Haslet Chapter, NSDAR, was held at the home of the organizing regent, Mrs. Elizabeth King Anderson on State Street, Dover, Delaware, on January 14, 1897. The twelve charter members were:
Mrs. Elizabeth K. Anderson
Mrs. Mary H. Henderson-Beers
Mrs. Harriet C. Kenney
Mrs. Rebecca May
Miss L. Elizabeth Best
Miss Frances C. Penn
Mrs. Mary M. Best
Miss Emma M. Pennewill
Mrs.Deborah S. Davis
Mrs. Maria E. Sypherd
Mrs. Miriam R. Fisher
Mrs. Mary S. Watkins
The original minutes stated, "The meeting opened with the Lord's Prayer in concert." This was the invocation used until the 1960s. The office of chaplain became an elected office in 1932. The members created a mission statement during this first meeting. The statement taken from the minutes is as follows:
"...to preserve the memory of the spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence, to promote education, and to cherish and maintain American Freedom, Patriotism, and Love of Country."
Current Officers 2010-2013
REGENT:-----------Donna W. Josefowski
VICE REGENT:----Nancy G. Lewis
CHAPLAIN:--------Sandra Titus RECORDING SECRETARY:---------Nancy Boyle
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY:--Marlene Koutoufaris
TREASURER:------Joan Rumsey
REGISTRAR:------Barbara Culver
HISTORIAN:----- -Claire Senato
LIBRARIAN: ------Sharon Burge
Marking Revolutionary Soldiers Graves Project. Flags were placed on graves or monuments by July 4, 2010. The pilot project will be in Dover cemeteries only.
- Christ EpiscopalChurch: John Banning, Vincent Loockerman Jr., Francis Many, Charles Nixon, Caesar Rodney, Dover.
- Presbyterian Church: James Clark, John G. Fisher, John Miller, John Marim, John Haslet, William Killen, John Miller, John Marim, and John Patten.
- OLD Methodist Cemetery: Joseph Harper
Colonel Haslet Graves Project Committee: Nancy Boyle, Sharon Burge, Claire Senato,
Donna Josefowski, Patricia Marshall, Ann Happoldt, and Molly Revels.
Flags were donated by Caroline Abbott.
Meetings are held on :
Sept. 10, 2011 Nov. 12, 2011
Jan.7, 2012 March 10, 2012
May 12, 2012
For More information comtact:
The Colonel Haslet Chapter:
Attended the ceremony honoring Caesar Rodney, signer of the
Declaration of Independence, July 4, 2010, at Christ Church,
Dover, Delaware.
Sponsors the John Dickinson Society, Children of the Revolution.
Placed a wreath honoring Veterans on Memorial Day at The Triangle,
Dover, Delaware. 2009.
Presents ROTC medals to cadets at local senior high schools.
Sponsors the DAR Good Citizen Award Program and Scholarship. 2010.
Sponsors DAR contests essay for fifth to eighth grades.
Supports American Indian programs at Indian schools.
Hosts receptions for naturalization ceremonies.
Celebrates Constitution Week, September, 17-23.
Promotes soil and water conservation.
Commemorates Flag Day, June 14th.
Provides services to veteran patients in Delaware hospitals.
Supports the Berry College and the six other DAR schools.
The memory of Colonel John Haslet lives on in the accomplishments of the United States. In remembering the battles Colonel Haslet fought under General Washington's command, let us recall the words of Washington's inspiring address to the Continental Army before the Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776:
"The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them. The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die." If you would like more information or would like to become a member of the Colonel Haslet Chapter, please email us at: jewelq@comcast.net Last Update: July,2011
Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsiblity of
NSDA, the state organizations,
or individual DAR chapters. http://www.dar.orghttp://www.dar.org/natsociety/chapters.cfm?=DE
For more pictures go to top of page and click, Page 2
