Battell and Read Chapter, NSDAR

09/17/2026

Sunday, Sept. 20 at 4 pm.

09/11/2026

09/01/2026

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!

September 17 marks the start of Constitution Week and is also known as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. In celebration of this week our chapter decorates one of the showcase windows in the foyer by the front door of the New Castle Library. If you get the chance, please stop by and take a look!

Thank you,
The Constitution Committee
Tracy and Denise

06/08/2026

Are you ready for Separation Day in New Castle? 🎆🎇🧨

DELAWARE SNAPSHOT 📸
Burning Up for Separation Day
On June 15, 1776, nearly three weeks pre-Fourth of July, our three counties’ reps voted unanimously at New Castle Court House to reject being ruled by the Penns, Pennsylvania and the Crown. They declared “The Delaware State” and celebrated by publicly burning a portrait of King George III, shown here. But Separation Day wasn’t celebrated annually for a long time. The exact date of the vote “was not accepted until recently,” The Morning News reported in 1973, crediting the late “Dr. John A. Munroe of the University of Delaware, whose research led to formal recognition of Separation Day.” Annual celebrations began that year, thanks to Munroe.
– Compiled by robin brown, Writer in Residence
Delaware Public Archives
State Reports Collection
Portrait: Undated, hand-tinted
ID: 1325-003-147_K

03/07/2026

The first seating sold out! Be sure to get your tickets for the second seating at 8 PM!

Jessop’s Tavern and Prestige-LeDroit DistributingInvite you to join us onMarch 30, 2026, at 8 p.m. at Jessop’s Tavernfor an exclusive and immersive...

03/03/2026

Meet African American Revolutionary war soldier Edward “Ned” Hector and hear his fascinating story! Hector was from Conshohocken, PA, and fought at the Battle of Brandywine. He was an artilleryman and a freed man. Portrayed by re-enactor Noah Lewis, this entertaining and interactive event is perfect for all ages.

This program is presented by the New Castle Historical Society and the Battell and Read Chapter, NSDAR. This lecture is made possible through the generosity of the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation. $5 per person (NCHS/NSDAR members are free).

Registration required. Please click below.

Lecture: Meet Revolutionary War Hero Ned Hector – New Castle Historical Society, Wed Apr 1, 2026 - Living historian Noah Lewis will discuss the life and accomplishments of Edward “Ned” Hector, an African-American Revolutionary War soldier who fought at the Battle of Brandywine as an artillerym...

03/01/2026

Celebrating Women's History Month 🇺🇸

Join us on March 13 at noon for a presentation by Dana Niemeyer from the Delaware Public Archives. She will examine documents from the Delaware Public Archives’ collections to discuss Catherine Bevan and Sarah Kirk and the changing legal system of a new Delaware.

When Delaware declared its independence in 1776, it prompted a plethora of changes pertaining to its government and legal system. As the state grew and evolved, it reflected on crime and punishment in this new era. One crime that the new government reviewed was petit treason, which was treasonous acts committed against a person of authority other than the government.
Throughout its history, two Delaware women were tried for petit treason: Catherine Bevan in 1731 and Sarah Kirk in 1787. While their charges were the same, their punishments were not.

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Image Description: Text reads "Women Scorned: Petit Treason and Punishment in 18th Century Delaware," "March 13, 2026, 12:00 PM, New Castle Court House Museum," and "archives.delaware.gov." Delaware Public Archives logo in top right and image of woman with dark hair in bottom left corner. Background is made up of photo of fire and page about treason from law book.

Image Credit: Blackstone, W., Burn, R., Parker, J. (1764). Conductor generalis, or, The office, duty and authority of justices of the peace, high-sheriffs, under-sheriffs, coroners, constables, gaolers, jury-men, and overseers of the poor: as also, the office of clerks of assize, and of the peace, &c.. Woodbridge, in New-Jersey: Printed and sold by James Parker. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009471975.

03/01/2026

DELAWARE SNAPSHOT 📸
Honoring Women of Achievement
Welcome to Women’s History Month, grown from a one-week California event in 1978. Two years later, National Women’s History Week was cited by presidential proclamation. Then, in 1987, Congress created the monthlong recognition. Today we honor the late Mabel Lloyd Ridgely, who died in 1962. Shown at her Dover home, she was a founder of a garden tour that became Dover Days, our capital’s biggest history and heritage celebration, set for its 93rd year this May 1-2. Ridgely also was a key advocate for creation of the Delaware Public Archives, one of the nation’s oldest. Her portrait hangs in the archives and its research room is named for her.
– Compiled by robin brown, Writer in Residence
Delaware Public Archives
General Photograph Collection
Photo: 1957, Dover Days, hand-tinted
ID: 1325-003-036_04371n

02/14/2026

As we commemorate America 250, the Battell and Read Chapter, NSDAR proudly honors the often-forgotten Black patriots of the American Revolution whose courage helped secure our nation’s independence.

During the Revolutionary War, thousands of African American men—both free and enslaved—answered the call to serve. Among the most distinguished was the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, known for its extraordinary bravery. This integrated regiment, which included a large number of Black soldiers, played a pivotal role in the Battle of Rhode Island, holding the line against repeated Hessian assaults and demonstrating unwavering commitment to the cause of liberty.

We also remember patriots such as:

▪ Prince Greene – who served with honor in the Rhode Island Regiment.
▪ Jack Sisson – who helped capture British General Richard Prescott in a daring nighttime raid.

These men fought for the promise of freedom at a time when that promise was not yet fully extended to them. Their sacrifices remind us that the story of America’s founding is richer, more complex, and more inclusive than often told.

As Daughters of the American Revolution, we are committed to preserving and sharing the stories of all Patriots who supported the cause of independence. This Black History Month, we proudly recognize the legacy, service, and sacrifice of these courageous individuals.

🇺🇸 America 250: Remembering the Patriots Who Helped Build Our Nation. 🇺🇸