Benjamin Franklin Chapter - PA Dist. 11 - Sons of the American Revolution

03/25/2026

The highest military decoration, and a chance to honor those who sacrificed it all for our freedom.

03/25/2026

In celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution will offer a special reduced registration fee for NEW Member and Jr. Member applications during the month of July 2026.

For applications postmarked between July 1 and July 31, 2026, the National application fee for New Applications will be $76 in honor of the year 1776. That's nearly half off the normal $150 application fee. (There are still other fees that apply and are not being discounted.) It will take some time and effort to get your application ready for submission before the end of July. So, contact our Registrar/Genealogist, Lincoln Todd Fraser, to get started NOW. Some of what you will need is outlined on our website - https://bfc-sar.org/join.php. So, please check it out.

We look forward to adding you to our family of Compatriots!!!!

America 250-Ohio
Ohio Society Sons of the American Revolution
Sons of the American Revolution
National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
The National Society of the Children of the American Revolution

https://bfc-sar.org/join.php

03/25/2026

An American Moment, 250 years ago, March 25, 1776. General Washington to Joseph Reed on the British leaving Boston.

Cambridge,

Mv dear Sir:

Since my last, things remain nearly in statu quo. The enemy have the best knack at puzzling people I ever met with in my life. They have blown up, burnt, and demolished the Castle totally, and are now all in Nantasket-Road, [the area where ships enter Boston Harbor]. They have been there ever since Wednesday. What they are doing, the Lord knows. Various are the conjectures. The Bostonians think their stay absolutely necessary to fit them for sea, as the vessels, neither in themselves nor their lading, were in any degree fit for a voyage, having been loaded in great haste and much disorder. This opinion is corroborated by a deserter from one of the transports, who says they have yards, booms, and bowsprits yet to fix. Others again think that they have a mind to pass over the equinoctial gale before they put out, not being in the best condition to stand one; others, that they are waiting a reinforcement, which I believe has arrived, as I have had an account of the sailing of fifteen vessels from the West-Indies. But my opinion of the matter is, that they want to retrieve their disgrace before they go off, and I think a favourable opportunity presents itself to them.

American Archives, Peter Force, Series 5, Vol. 4, 482.

© 2026 Clifford Olsen/1776 American Moments

03/21/2026

We are excited to announce our upcoming exhibition at the Family Heritage Experience: "Patriots of Color," opening on April 23, at 97 Newbury Street, Boston.

As Boston prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, this exhibition features original documents, interactive displays, and contemporary artwork to shine a light on the overlooked stories of Black, Native, and multiracial individuals who played vital roles in the fight for independence.

Discover how genealogy and archival research help bring these powerful histories back into view. Read more: https://www.americanancestors.org/patriots-color-0

10 Million Names

03/15/2026

This year, say "I did!"

Join the mission: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org

03/14/2026

Did you know? Sponsoring a veteran's wreath supports our entire mission, all year long? In addition to honoring a veteran with a fresh balsam wreath on National Wreaths Across America Day, your sponsorship helps us keep our educational and community/veteran service programs FREE.

Learn more about our programs and sponsor a wreath today:
www.wreathsacrossamerica.org

03/14/2026

03/14/2026

We were honored to have so many veterans join us at the SAR Spring Leadership meetings! Their continued service and dedication to preserving our nation’s history inspire us all. Thank you for your service!

03/14/2026

On the 14th of March, 1776, John Adams would write in his diary, “This Resolution and Order was indeed assuming the Powers of Government in a manner as offensive, as the Measures We proposed could have been,” in discussing the motions of the day in the Continental Congress. Although Adams would not oppose it. The Resolution was calling for the colonies to take control of their governments and their citizens, disarm those opposed, and raise a Continental Army.
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Thursday March 14, 1776. The State of the Country so obviously called for independent Governments, and a total Extinction of the Royal Authority, and We were so earnestly urging this measure from day to day, and the Opposition to it was growing so unpopular, that a kind of Evasion was contrived in the following Resolution, which I considered as an important Step, and therefore would not oppose it, though I urged with several others, that We ought to make the Resolution more general, and Advize the People to assume all the Powers of Government. The Proposition that passed was

Resolved That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions and Committees or Councils of Safety, of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all Persons to be disarmed, within their respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated, and shall refuse to associate to defend by Arms these united Colonies, against the hostile Attempts of the British Fleets and Armies, and to apply the Arms taken from such Persons in each respective Colony, in the first place, to the Arming the continental Troops raised in said Colony, in the next, to the arming such Troops as are raised by the Colony for its own defence, and the Residue to be applied to the arming the Associators; that the Arms when taken be appraised by indifferent Persons, and such as are applied to the Arming the Continental Troops, be paid for by the Congress and the Residue by the respective Assemblies, Conventions, or Councils or Committees of Safety.

Ordered that a Copy of the foregoing resolution be transmitted by the Delegates of each Colony, to their respective Assemblies, Conventions, or Councils or Committees of Safety.

This Resolution and Order was indeed assuming the Powers of Government in a manner as offensive, as the Measures We proposed could have been: But it left all the Powers of Government in the hands of Assemblies, Conventions and Committees, which composed a Scaene of much Confusion and Injustice the Continuance of which was much dreaded by me, as tending to injure the Morals of the People and destroy their habits of order, and Attachment to regular Government. However I could do nothing but represent and remonstrate: The Vote as yet was against me.

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/01-03-02-0016-0075

Image: John Adams, by Mather Brown, 1785.

© 2020-2026 Clifford Olsen/250Years America’s Founding

03/14/2026

As the British were readying to leave Boston, General Washington laid down the law for his soldiers, in a part of the March 13, 1776 General Orders.

General Orders
Head Quarters, Cambridge, March 13th 1776

…. As the Ministerial Troops in Boston, both from information and appearance, are preparing to evacuate that town: The General expressly orders, that neither Officer, or Soldier, presume to go into Boston, without leave from the General in Chief at Cambridge, or the commanding General at Roxbury; as the enemy with a malicious assiduity, have spread the infection of the smallpox through all parts of the town, nothing but the utmost caution on our part, can prevent that fatal disease from spreading thro’ the army, and country, to the infinite detriment of both—His Excellency expressly commands every Officer, to pay the exactist obedience to this order.

If upon the retreat of the enemy any person whatsoever, is detected in pillaging, he may be assured the severest punishment will be his lot—The unhappy Inhabitants of that distress’d town, have already suffer’d too heavily from the Iron hand of Oppression! their Countrymen surely will not be base enough to add to their misfortunes….

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0336

Image: George Washington, Patriae Pater, by Rembrandt Peale, c. 1827. National Portrait Gallery.

© 2020-2026 Clifford Olsen/250Years America’s Founding

03/13/2026

Are you wearing R.E.D. today?

03/13/2026

A tribute to our four-legged heroes. Thank you, K9 veterans!