I know there are many opinions about the Daughters of the American Revolution organization. Some people think it is elitist, snobbish; some people think it is a waste of time. Some people think it is a point of pride that they are descended from someone who fought in the American Revolution. Frankly, I am sure being descended from someone who fought in the American Revolution is not something you have much control over; it is all on your ancestor's heads or merit or what have you.
I have recently been considering filling out the incredible paperwork to become a DAR. We, the descendants of Anna May Lines Lilley, have a few pathways to choose from, should I decide to pursue this course of action. I am following the path of Daniel Womelsdorf, our 4th Great Grandfather. He was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. His son, Peter Womelsdorf, was the father of Rebecca Womelsdorf. Sound familiar yet? Rebecca was the wife of Daniel Boyer Siegfried, who were the parents of Henry W. (Womelsdorf) Siegfried who was the father of Hattie Siegfried Lines who married Elmer Ellsworth Lines. Hattie and Elmer were the parents of Anna May Lines, who married William Arthur Lilley, and you know the rest.
One of the reasons I find the DAR organization so fascinating is their passion to keep history alive, not just as it pertains to their 'illustrious' ancestors, but to learn about and keep in perspective a period in our nation's history that seems to be dwindling from the public eye. It is true that some attention is being paid to the romance of the period with a number of TV shows this season such as Sleepy Hollow and Sons of Liberty. There is also the Discovery Channel's
"epic three-part series, "THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION" chronicles the war the changed the course of history and defined the American character. "
At the DAR meeting I recently attended a member gave a presentation on the trials and tribulations of the people who lived through that period. And if there is pride in the thought that one of their ancestors helped in the making of our nation, that is not a bad thing. When your child does something good and creative you are filled with pride. When your spouse or your parent are recognized for an achievement, there is pride for you in that achievement and that recognition. The members of DAR might, in general, be overabundant in their pride, perhaps, or have a tendency to be elitist, but the women (and one man) I met at the recently held DAR meeting were not. They welcomed me and seemed eager to help me in my attempt to 'file my claim' to membership. And it will be a monumental task for someone who is not at all enamored of paperwork.
It has been proven by other applicants that our ancestor, Daniel Womelsdorf, was a Captain in the American Revolution. We are descended through Daniel Womeldsorf and his wife, Anna Eva Weiser, through his son Peter Womelsdorf. We are descended from Peter and his wife, Catherine Jegley, through (this name you will recall, I am sure) Rebecca Womelsdorf. Rebecca Womelsdorf and her husband Daniel Boyer Siegfried were the parents of Henry Womelsdorf Siegfried, who married Barbara Alice Boyer and were the parents of Hattie Siegfried, who married Elmer Ellsworth Lines and became the parents of Anna May Lines Lilley. Now what I need to prove is our descent from Peter. I know where Peter and Catherine are buried; in Womelsdorf in the Zion Lutheran Reformed Church cemetery, as is Daniel Boyer Siegfried, Rebecca's husband. Peter was Burgess of Womelsdorf, which is a mayor, in early 1800's. What I need is wills from Daniel and Peter Womesldorf naming their children. They should be, according to my DAR mentor, in the Berks County Court House. I am hoping, anyway.
So it might be a long haul. Knowing, in genealogy, is having legitimate sources and not just hearsay.
Okay, I admit to a bit of snobbishness/pride regarding my ancestry. From my parents onward (backward?) I feel lucky to belong to my tribes. And feel the same joy and pride in my family; my husband, my children and grandchildren, in my siblings and their families and their children's families and their children's children's families. We are blessed.
I have recently been considering filling out the incredible paperwork to become a DAR. We, the descendants of Anna May Lines Lilley, have a few pathways to choose from, should I decide to pursue this course of action. I am following the path of Daniel Womelsdorf, our 4th Great Grandfather. He was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. His son, Peter Womelsdorf, was the father of Rebecca Womelsdorf. Sound familiar yet? Rebecca was the wife of Daniel Boyer Siegfried, who were the parents of Henry W. (Womelsdorf) Siegfried who was the father of Hattie Siegfried Lines who married Elmer Ellsworth Lines. Hattie and Elmer were the parents of Anna May Lines, who married William Arthur Lilley, and you know the rest.
One of the reasons I find the DAR organization so fascinating is their passion to keep history alive, not just as it pertains to their 'illustrious' ancestors, but to learn about and keep in perspective a period in our nation's history that seems to be dwindling from the public eye. It is true that some attention is being paid to the romance of the period with a number of TV shows this season such as Sleepy Hollow and Sons of Liberty. There is also the Discovery Channel's
"epic three-part series, "THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION" chronicles the war the changed the course of history and defined the American character. "
At the DAR meeting I recently attended a member gave a presentation on the trials and tribulations of the people who lived through that period. And if there is pride in the thought that one of their ancestors helped in the making of our nation, that is not a bad thing. When your child does something good and creative you are filled with pride. When your spouse or your parent are recognized for an achievement, there is pride for you in that achievement and that recognition. The members of DAR might, in general, be overabundant in their pride, perhaps, or have a tendency to be elitist, but the women (and one man) I met at the recently held DAR meeting were not. They welcomed me and seemed eager to help me in my attempt to 'file my claim' to membership. And it will be a monumental task for someone who is not at all enamored of paperwork.
It has been proven by other applicants that our ancestor, Daniel Womelsdorf, was a Captain in the American Revolution. We are descended through Daniel Womeldsorf and his wife, Anna Eva Weiser, through his son Peter Womelsdorf. We are descended from Peter and his wife, Catherine Jegley, through (this name you will recall, I am sure) Rebecca Womelsdorf. Rebecca Womelsdorf and her husband Daniel Boyer Siegfried were the parents of Henry Womelsdorf Siegfried, who married Barbara Alice Boyer and were the parents of Hattie Siegfried, who married Elmer Ellsworth Lines and became the parents of Anna May Lines Lilley. Now what I need to prove is our descent from Peter. I know where Peter and Catherine are buried; in Womelsdorf in the Zion Lutheran Reformed Church cemetery, as is Daniel Boyer Siegfried, Rebecca's husband. Peter was Burgess of Womelsdorf, which is a mayor, in early 1800's. What I need is wills from Daniel and Peter Womesldorf naming their children. They should be, according to my DAR mentor, in the Berks County Court House. I am hoping, anyway.
So it might be a long haul. Knowing, in genealogy, is having legitimate sources and not just hearsay.
Okay, I admit to a bit of snobbishness/pride regarding my ancestry. From my parents onward (backward?) I feel lucky to belong to my tribes. And feel the same joy and pride in my family; my husband, my children and grandchildren, in my siblings and their families and their children's families and their children's children's families. We are blessed.