TREADWAY FAMILY REUNION

First of all I would like to apologize for not keeping up with this blog, but life seems to have a way of getting in my way. I promise I will try to do better in the future.

Treadway Reunion 2016 Crown Point, New York permission for use by Renate Treadway Girard

On July 16, 2016 my daughter Lisa and I traveled to Crown Point, Essex County, New York for our first Treadway Family Union. My thoughts before preparing to go was “jitters”, anxiety, and excitement all rolled into one.

First, if my mother was alive would she approve or not approve of me touching base with her biological father’s family.

Second, would I be an outcast.

Third, excitement to finally meet Marcia & David Treadway (my 1^st cousin once removed) that I only had corresponded with via telephone and e-mail, since our DNA test had connected us.

Lisa and I arrived at home of Cyril & Gerri Treadway at around 2 PM and were greeted by Bonnie that said we looked a lot like a Treadway. She introduced us around to some of the other Treadway’s and we felt like “family” right away. It was quite exciting being the new people because it appeared everyone wanted to get to meet us.

Marcia & David arrived along with Kathie Sutherland, and David Glenn and his wife Lynne, cousins who I had corresponded with when we were all trying to become DAR (me) and SAR (David & David) members through Jonathan’s son William Darwin Treadway. The bottom line is we all succeeded in our membership quest.

I really enjoyed talking to everyone but it was hard to keep them all straight.

Why Join a Lineage Society

When I first started doing genealogy 15-20 years ago, I never dreamed or wanted to join the DAR or Mayflower Society. I just didn’t get the concept of what was the big deal about having ancestors that came over on the Mayflower or fought for America’s freedom from the British in the Revolutionary War.

I guess that and the fact that my mom couldn’t understand why I wanted to dig into the lives of her family, especially since they had spent lots of time and effort hiding the family secrets. Out of respect to my mom, the most wonderful person in my universe I did very little digging into her family. My Mom died 4 years ago this last February. At first when I started researching the biological side of my mother’s father I was guilt stricken every time I found something. Then I opened an e-mail from Marcia & David Treadway stating that I was either a 1st or 2nd cousin to him, from the FTDNA testing. As we started sharing family history back and forth the guilt started getting less and less.

David really wanted to become a SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) member and kept reminding me that neither one of us was getting any younger. That is when I decided to look into becoming a DAR member and what the organization was really about. So I contacted Ginger Carter, and found out that she is the Registrar for the Worcester Chapter of DAR. I knew Ginger through our affiliation in MSOG (Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc.) the Worcester Chapter. Ginger is a wonderful advocate for the DAR.

I found that it appeared that I had gotten the wrong impression of what it really meant to become a DAR member. It is an organization that forms lifelong bonds with other members that network together to honor their revolutionary ancestors, and promote the preservation of American history, education and patriotism in our community.

 

Genevieve R Vaundell DeHaan receiving my DAR pin from Ginger Carter, Registrar,  Linda Munroe, Regent looking on

     Photo by Jennifer Willson, Curator

These are all the reasons why I had become a genealogist and family historian in the first place. I’m PROUD to be an AMERICAN and be able to honor my ancestors who were so instrumental in ensuring that we would have all the freedoms we enjoy today.

That is why I am proud to say I’m a DAR member. I also believe that my mom would be alright with it.

First DAR Meeting

I went to my first DAR meeting on Saturday February 13, 2016. Here in Massachusetts and the rest of North East United States we were experiencing very cold and brutal weather. The temperatures were well below zero. The wind chills in Worcester were -17 degrees F. They were advising us to wear layers of clothes and not expose our skin to the weather for any length of time. When I read the e-mail from Ginger Carter, Registrar of the Colonel Timothy Bigelow Chapter of the DAR in Worcester Immediately I decided that it was time to go to a meeting even if the weather was bone-chilling cold. I am not a winter person. Thus I have to force myself out.

I got to the Chapter House (The Timothy Paine House,) “The Oaks” built circa 1774 early. As I walked around the first floor I got the feeling that I had made a mistaken the time, but thought there were cars out front. The next person that came in the building was the Chaplain, Judith Wood , the Chapter Chaplain and she greeted me very warmly; then took me under her wing and brought me upstairs and introduced me to Linda Hart, Regent. I felt at home at once thanks to these wonderful women.

From there I was introduced to several women and we went downstairs to have coffee; I felt very embraced and lucky to be in their company. Then the meeting started and I was sworn in as an official member of the DAR. 

Me (Genevieve Vaundell De Haan, L-R, Judith Wood, Chaplain, Ginger Carter, Registrar, Linda Hart, Regent

Photo taken by Jennifer Willson

During the meeting I heard about all the wonderful projects this Chapter is participating in. They are a busy bunch and there is quite a diversity of projects. It was a very exciting experience. After the business meeting there was a presentation of the Chapter's major project. Restoration of the their home "The Timothy Paine House" circa 1774. I love old houses and think we should preserve more of them, after all they are our history along with the people who built and maintained them.
My Revolutionary soldier is Jonathan Treadway born in Connecticut.

My Quest For DAR Membership

Sorry it’s been awhile since I posted anything. I guess I didn’t think I had anything important to blog about. You know how life seems to get in the way.

Since my last blog in May 2015 I have been researching and trying to get all the documentation on my Revolutionary Soldier Jonathan Treadway and his descendants.

I will write more on my ups and downs a little later, but right now I want to tell the world that I was successful.

Ginger Carter, Registrar for the Colonel Timothy Bigelow DAR Chapter, Worcester, Massachusetts has been my hero. Without all her wonderful help and assistance I do not think I could have become a DAR Member. 

The following is a chronological list of my quest for DAR membership.

1)   End of April 2015 after talking to a CT DAR member at their booth at the NERGC (New England Regional Genealogical Conference) held in Providence, RI I decided to reach out to Ginger Carter a member of the Worcester DAR Chapter.

i)      She sent me an application form. Also she gave me all the guidelines and what I needed to send in with my application form. We were in  contact via e-mail.She was there when I needed her.

2)   Kept in touch and kept sending her my documents.

3)   October 9, 2015-met with Ginger at “the Oaks” the Worcester Chapter Dar's meeting house in Worcester, MA. and went through what I had for documentation. Ginger wanted to check just one thing with the MA DAR Registrar.

4)   October 17, 2017-Ginger stated that my application was ready to go as soon as I sent my application fee.

5)   November 12, 2015-Ginger notified me that my application was posted as being received at the DAR headquarters in Washington, DC and we just had to wait while they verified it. I took this as a good sign as it was my Mom’s birthday (she would have been 101).

6)   January 10, 2016-Ginger notified  that DC had verified my application and I would be voted in as a DAR member at the National Board of Management in DC on February 5, 2016.

7)   January 5, 2016- I was voted in and given my own national DAR number. Ginger notified me.

  

8)   February13, 2016-I was sworn in as an official member of the Colonel Timothy Bigelow DAR Chapter and received my DAR pin. and yearbook. Also received my new member’s packet and certificate in the mail.