Camp Middlebrook Chapter, NSDAR
Boundbrook, New Jersey
Who are the Camp Middlebrook Chapter, NSDAR, Daughters
Today's DAR
Members of the Camp Middlebrook Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR), are women a lot like you. Our common bond is our lineal descent from Patriots of the American Revolutionary War. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove this lineage is eligible to join. For more information about membership in this historic and vibrant organization check out Become a Member on the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution website. We will be pleased to assist you with the membership process and help you find ways to document your lineage
What We Do
New Jersey Daughters are descendants of ordinary women and men who achieved extraordinary things, share a common bond of ancestry and are proud of their heritage and the role of their ancestors, who risked their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor in establishing our great country. We honor their sacrifices through the volunteer work of our members.
PatriotismDAR members support American veterans and active-duty military personnel by providing many hours of volunteer service and financial support, along with award-winning handmade quilts. Care packages, phone cards, letters, and cards are sent to servicewomen and servicemen abroad.
Learn more about how DAR members support patriotism. |
EducationDAR members are passionate about education through the promotion of the Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.), DAR Good Citizens, and Junior American Citizens. The National Society DAR and New Jersey State Society, NSDAR, also provides scholarships and awards to outstanding students, teachers, and members who work tirelessly to support their local schools. Learn more about how DAR members support education.
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Historic PreservationDAR members support historic preservation efforts through awards, grants, and contests.
Members participate in various projects to help preserve the cultural heritage of the United States, including preserving documents, buildings, and placing markers at locations of historic significance. We especially value the importance of our state house, the Isaac Watson House. Learn more about how DAR members support historic preservation. |
Camp Middlebrook Chapter, NSDAR, Daughters
Become a Member |
Our History
The name of our chapter comes from Middlebrook Encampment where General Washington stationed his troops in 1777 and 1778-1779 to protect the Somerset and Middlesex Counties area from the 17,000 British soldiers garrisoned across the Raritan River in New Brunswick. A series of encounters known to history scholars as “The Forage Wars,” including the Battle of Bound Brook, weakened British efforts to secure provisions for their troops. Also, the placement of so many men at Middlebrook hampered overall British strategy and caused disruptions that favored the American cause.
Celebrating America's Independence
A section of the encampment called Washington Camp Ground is on the National Register of Historic Places. Historians believe that the first American flag authorized by the Continental Congress, the 13-star flag, was flown for the first time at Camp Middlebrook in 1777. By an Act of the United States Congress, a replica of this flag flies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is replaced annually in a special ceremony held on the Fourth of July holiday and the Battle of Bound Brook. This United States flag copies the 13-star flag flown at Camp Middlebrook during the summer of 1777. It was our nation's first official flag. By Act of U.S. Congress, on July Fourth the old flag is lowered and a new one raised.
Camp Middlebrook Chapter, NSDAR,
Real Daughter Gravesite
Sarah Van Arsdale
1788-1893
with
1913 DAR Insignia Marker
East Millstone, New Jersey
Real Daughter Gravesite
Sarah Van Arsdale
1788-1893
with
1913 DAR Insignia Marker
East Millstone, New Jersey
We are also one of those chapters blessed with a Real Daughter. Sarah Van Arsdale Van Nostrand was the daughter of John Van Arsdale who served as a drummer boy. She was one of our charter chapter members, joining in 1893. Sarah died only a few months later on December 15 of the same year at age 105 and is buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery in East Millstone, New Jersey.
Click the link to see a New York Times article written at the time of her 105th birthday celebration, on December 16, 1893.
In 1913, our chapter recognized and honored her special status as a DAR Real Daughter by placing a commemorative plaque on her gravestone. As part of a national effort to remember our Real Daughters, a chapter gathering was held at Sarah's gravesite with one of her descendants present to keep this very special charter member within our circle.
A DAR Real Daughter is a woman who joined the DAR whose father (and/or mother)
was a an American Revolutionary War Patriot.
Click the link to see a New York Times article written at the time of her 105th birthday celebration, on December 16, 1893.
In 1913, our chapter recognized and honored her special status as a DAR Real Daughter by placing a commemorative plaque on her gravestone. As part of a national effort to remember our Real Daughters, a chapter gathering was held at Sarah's gravesite with one of her descendants present to keep this very special charter member within our circle.
A DAR Real Daughter is a woman who joined the DAR whose father (and/or mother)
was a an American Revolutionary War Patriot.
Camp Middlebrook Chapter, NSDAR, Patriots
As the third oldest chapter in New Jersey, our Patriots go back to our 1893 charter members.
These are Patriot ancestors of current members.
These are Patriot ancestors of current members.
A
Jeptha Abbott, Pennsylvania
B
Morris Barto, New York
Peter Bellinger, Sr., New York
John Benson, Jr., New Jersey
D
John Dickinson, Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Joseph Doty, New Jersey
William Dove, Virginia
Rawley Duncan, Virginia
E
Moses Emerson, New Hampshire
F
John Fuller, Massachusetts
G
John Greer, Pennsylvania
H
Enos Hemingway, Connecticut
Memucan Hunt, North Carolina
J
John Jones, South Carolina
K
Anthony Kurtz, Pennsylvania
L
Duncan Livingston, Pennsylvania
M
Jacob Mead, New Jersey
Furman Mulford, New Jersey
P
Paul Potter, New Jersey
Q
Joakim Quick, New Jersey
R
John Reynolds, Rhode Island
S
Ebenezer Shepard, Massachusetts
John Shirts, Jr., New Jersey
Thomas Shores, Maryland
David Stoddard, New Hampshire
Daniel Swayze, New Jersey
T
Samuel Wilson Thurber, New Hampshire
V
William Van Doren, New Jersey
W
Jerome Waldron, New Jersey
Neverson Warren, Massachusetts
Johan Erhard Weiss, Pennsylvania
Benjamin Wilson, Virginia
Jeptha Abbott, Pennsylvania
B
Morris Barto, New York
Peter Bellinger, Sr., New York
John Benson, Jr., New Jersey
D
John Dickinson, Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Joseph Doty, New Jersey
William Dove, Virginia
Rawley Duncan, Virginia
E
Moses Emerson, New Hampshire
F
John Fuller, Massachusetts
G
John Greer, Pennsylvania
H
Enos Hemingway, Connecticut
Memucan Hunt, North Carolina
J
John Jones, South Carolina
K
Anthony Kurtz, Pennsylvania
L
Duncan Livingston, Pennsylvania
M
Jacob Mead, New Jersey
Furman Mulford, New Jersey
P
Paul Potter, New Jersey
Q
Joakim Quick, New Jersey
R
John Reynolds, Rhode Island
S
Ebenezer Shepard, Massachusetts
John Shirts, Jr., New Jersey
Thomas Shores, Maryland
David Stoddard, New Hampshire
Daniel Swayze, New Jersey
T
Samuel Wilson Thurber, New Hampshire
V
William Van Doren, New Jersey
W
Jerome Waldron, New Jersey
Neverson Warren, Massachusetts
Johan Erhard Weiss, Pennsylvania
Benjamin Wilson, Virginia
Do you have an American Revolutionary War Patriot in your family tree?
Guests and prospective members are warmly welcomed at our meetings. If you are interested in attending, please contact us.
All images on this website are courtesy of the Camp Middlebrook Chapter, NSDAR, members and friends.