Chapter Profile

The Hudson River Patriots Chapter, NSDAR, was organized on October 6, 2001, when three chapters merged. The three chapters - Tarrytown Chapter, the Keskeskick Chapter of Yonkers, and General Jacob Odell Chapter of Hastings - were all located along the Hudson River, which was the site of many engagements between the British and the American patriots during the American Revolutionary War. Many members of the former Mt. Pleasant Chapter transferred to Hudson River Patriots as well.

 

Keskeskick Chapter, NSDAR, was organized on June 12, 1895 by Miss Ellen Hardin Walworth, Honorary Vice President General of the Society.  The first regent was Miss Kate Prime (Mrs. Jessup). There were 13 charter members. The Keskeskick Chapter was named after the area of Yonkers known as Keskeskick meaning stony place by the Algonquin Indians. It was the 14th chapter organized in New York State and the second in Westchester County. At Manor Hall in Yonkers, New York, a reception was held by the Keskeskick Chapter on February 22, 1896, with over 200 people in attendance.

 

The Tarrytown Chapter was founded on October 25 1925 by the National Society DAR, with Mrs. Lesley V. Case (Sarah Grey) as Organizing Regent. Tarrytown is upon the site of an Indian village called Alipconck, which in the Delaware language signifies the “Place of Elms.” In Tarrytown, Major John Andre was captured by 3 patriots: John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams. There were 42 original members, many from families who settled along the Hudson Valley. 

 

The General Jacob Odell Chapter was organized December 31, 1932 in Hastings with Mrs. John P. Simmons as the Organizing Regent. The original charter for General Jacob Odell Chapter is at Hastings Historical Society. General Odell was born in 1756 and at the age of twenty-one went into the military. General Odell once owned property in the Saw Mill River Valley which is now part of Hastings-on-Hudson.

 

The chapters in Westchester of NSDAR participate jointly in presenting flags to new citizens as they go through the naturalization ceremony in White Plains, New York, and encourage the flying of the American flag.

Each chapter supports scholarship funds through the National Society of the DAR as well as individually presenting DAR Good Citizens' medals to deserving high school students, and supports outstanding teachers of American history.  Special awards are presented within the chapter for outstanding community service and conservation efforts, with the approval of the National Society. 

As the DAR is a patriotic organization, the Hudson River Patriots Chapter supports veterans of all wars through their support at veterans’ hospitals.  The chapter also supports troops in action by sending gift boxes of needed supplies to soldiers in the field and the wounded in hospitals.

The Hudson River Patriots Chapter also participates in efforts of historic preservation within our own communities.  New York had seen a great deal of action in the Revolutionary War; and there are many historic sites located within our communities, such as Washington's Headquarters, located on Virginia Road in White Plains, New York. 

 

 

The chapter has placed a plaque at the Odell Tavern in Irvington, New York, home of the family of Jacob Odell, whose four sons participated in the Revolution.  Built in 1690, the house is still standing in the town. 

 

 

 

 

Members participated in the 225th Anniversary of the Revolution in New York and the re-enactment of the capture of Major Andre.  The entire program in Tarrytown, New York, was arranged by one of our members, Dr. Sara Mascia, and included lectures at the theater and the re-enactment of the capture at Patriots’ Park .

The chapter participated in the re-enactment of the capture of Major Andre for the 225th Anniversary of the Revolution in New York at Patriots Park, Tarrytown, New York.

 

 

 

The chapter has presented an historic preservation medal to Rob Yasinsac, who has recorded many of the decaying structures in the Hudson Valley.  He has written several books, the latest "Hudson Valley Ruins," with Thomas E. Rinaldi.

 

 

 

For further information about Hudson River Patriots Chapter or the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, please contact Philomena Dunn, the Regent of Hudson River Patriots Chapter, or Carole Cass, Chapter Registrar.

To visit the National Society, please click on the following link: NSDAR. To visit the the New York State Organization, please click on the following link: NYDAR.