Don Jose de Ortega Chapter

National Society Daughters of the
American Revolution

American Revolution Stories

We thought it would be fun and interesting to share some of our chapter's ancestors stories regarding their American Revolution War Service. Since we must research our ancestors war service to become members of the DAR, we decided to include female patriots. Not many people know that you can join the DAR with the service of female ancestors. Yes, they were active, strong and fearless even in the early history of our country. Heroines!

Mary Sparhawk Gardner was born 3 Jan. 1731/32 at Cambridge, MA, the daughter of Thomas Sparhawk and Mary Oliver Sparhawk. Mary's husband, Isaac Gardner Jr. was active in public affairs and was the major of the Brookline Militia of Minute Men. On April 19, 1775, her husband called his troops to go with him to Cambridge to meet the British Regular soldiers who were marching back to Boston from Lexington and Concord. As Isaac left his home, Mary got up to kiss him. She had been sitting at the table with other Brookline women, making cartridges. As an example of what the women did: they melted down lead, poured it into molds, and then wrapped each bullet in oiled paper with the right amount of gunpowder for a musket charge. Her younger daughter Hannah, reported that she wondered why they had no supper that day!

Dr Daniel Greenleaf lived in Bolton, MA. He had a daughter, Elizabeth who was fascinated by her father's medical skill in treating and curing the sick and hurting. Because he was flattered by her interest, he taught her many of his skills, especially binding up the wounded and nursing them back to health.

Elizabeth married Petter Joslin of Lancaster; they had a large family. Years passed and when the Revolution began, Peter and two of their sons joined the Continental Army. At White Plains, New York, they encountered a great many sick soldiers gathered in a primitive hospital setting. Peter sent word to Elizabeth that conditions were grim and doctors were few. Elizabeth gathered all the medical supplies she could get on her horse and rode for White Plains. It is related that she brought much comfort to the suffering soldiers and saved many lives.

Margaret Dozier Strozier and her husband Peter had a farm in Wilkes County, Georgia, when the Revolutionary War began. Most of the neighboring farmers were Tories. When Peter went to volunteer under Gen. Elijah Clarke in 1779, the neighbors punished Margaret by destroying her real property and "anything of value." Rather than betray her patriotism, in January of 1781 she fled through South Carolina with her small children, reduced to begging and exposed to cold, her clothing rapidly turning into rags

This fierce patriot rejoined her husband after the battle of King's Mountain in North Carolina. They went back to Wilkes County to face the neighbors and rebuild their lives. When Peter died, Margaret remained, farming for thirty-three years. She rode a mule at the age of 95 to be with her son Ruben in Meriwether County, Georgia. She died two years later, in 1842.

Story told in Brooks of Honey and Butter, a History of People and Plantations of Meriwether County. Margaret Strozier was the ancestor of Rosalind Johnson Edmondson, cousin of member Lillian Rosas.