Mount Ariel Chapter DAR to honor Revolutionary War Patriots at America250 ceremony on May 24
May 11, 2022
The Mount Ariel Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will dedicate an America250 marker honoring 35 Revolutionary War Patriots buried at Greenville Presbyterian Church in Donalds at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 24.
The event, which is free and open to the public, marks the first America250 marker to be placed in the Lakelands and only the second to be dedicated in South Carolina. The marker is part of the nation’s upcoming observance in 2026 of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding in 1776. Bonnibel Glasgow Moffat, regent of the South Carolina Society Daughters of the American Revolution, will speak at the event.
Greenville Presbyterian Church is located at 205 Greenville Church Road in Donalds.
Helen Nazzaro, regent of the Mount Ariel Chapter, said the marker is a tribute to the role that communities throughout the Lakelands had in fighting for the nation’s freedom and specifically recognizes the contributions of the Patriots buried at Greenville Presbyterian Church.
“This beautiful, rural cemetery has the most Patriots buried in one location than any other site in the seven-county region of the Lakelands,” she said. “The 35 Patriots are among 150 veterans buried at Greenville Presbyterian Church. They represent our state and nation’s enduring legacy of liberty, and the Mount Ariel Chapter is honored to be able to recognize these Patriots.”
Many Upstate families are related to the Patriots buried at Greenwood Presbyterian Church, which sent 75 men from its congregation to fight in the American Revolution, Nazzaro said.
The Patriots include Samuel Agnew, George Brownlee Sr., Samuel Cross, James Dunn, John Files Sr., Robert Haddon Jr., Robert Haddon Sr., William Haddon, Elisha Jarvis, Francis Johnson, Edmund Keeling, Samuel Pharr, Henry Purdy Sr., Christian Rasor, James Richey Jr., James Richey Sr., John Richey, Robert Richey, William Richey, Andrew Seawright Sr., James Seawright, Edward Sharp, Moses Smith, Wyatt Smith, William Stewart, John Swain, Robert Swain Sr., Hugh Wardlaw, John Wardlaw Jr., John Wardlaw Sr., Andrew Webb, James Webb, John Weir, George Wilson and William Wyatt.
“We hope that the descendants of these Patriots will join us for the marker dedication,” Nazzaro said. “All of the Patriots had their own stories of service, and we will recognize each of them at the ceremony.”
To attend the event, please send your RSVP to [email protected].
For ongoing information about the marker dedication, check out the Facebook page, Greenwood Wreaths Across America, managed by the Mount Ariel Chapter.
Visit america250.org to learn more about the America250 observance.
