Sons of the American Revolution Elisha Raymond Chapter

At the Racine County Fair, July 23-27, 2025, Elisha Raymond Chapter joined the Racine DAR Chapter manning an information booth. President Bruce Laine inducted Compatriot Larry Adams. The following were present DAR Members; Regent Jeannette Lederleitner, Pat Fellner, Kathy Adams, Linda Frank, Registrar Pat Tindall. Elisa Raymond Compatriots; Secretary/Treasurer Brian McManus, Joe Arthur, Larry Adams and President Bruce Laine

From our May 2025 Meeting. New members Benjamin, Richard and Joseph Arthur received their membership certificates and were sworn in by Secretary/Treasurer Brian McManus

Meeting on Saturday November 15, 2025.
Castlewood Restaurant, Sturtevant WI, Noon.

Person to Know Thursday ⸻ Job Williams, the Tory ringleader, who lead the charge to cut down the Liberty Tree in Boston. On September 1, 1775, enemies of American Liberty cut down the Boston Liberty Tree, but its spirit was felt all through the Colonies afterward. Williams is known all through history for one thing, destroying the Liberty Tree, but he could not destroy what it stood for.

September 1, 1775 —The enemies to liberty and America, headed by Tom Gage, lately gave a notable specimen of their hatred to the very name of liberty. A party of them, of whom Job Williams was the ringleader, a few days since repaired to a tree at the south end of Boston, known by the name of Liberty Tree, and armed with axes, &c., made a furious attack upon it. After a long spell of laughing, and grinning, sweating, swearing, and foaming with malice diabolical, they cut down a tree, because it bore the name of liberty. Be it known to this infamous band of traitors, that the Grand American Tree of Liberty, planted in the centre of the united colonies of North America, now flourishes with unrivalled, increasing beauty; and bids fair in a short time to afford under its wide-spreading branches, a safe and happy retreat for all the sons of liberty, however numerous and dispersed.
Constitutional Gazette, September 9. (1)

It was on the 14th of August, 1765, that this tree was devoted by the "Sons of Liberty," to expose on it the effigies of the men who had rendered themselves odious by their agency in procuring or favouring the passage of the Stamp Act: And on the 11th of Sept. following they fixed a copper plate, 2 ft. and a half, by 3 ft. and a half in dimensions upon it, bearing the description, in gold letters, The Tree of Liberty, Aug. 14, 1765. Ever after, most of the popular meetings of the "Sons of Liberty" were held in the square round this tree (called Hanover square,, probably in honor of the Royal family) until they were obliged to leave the town in the time of the siege.

The British made it an object of ridicule. The soldiers made poor Ditson, whom they tarred and feathered, parade in front of this tree before they would let him go, and one of their greatest exploits during the siege was the felling this famous eye-sore. This was effected about the last week in August, 1775. One Job Williams was the leader of the party that accomplished the feat, leaving nothing but the stump above ground; the root they could not touch. One of their comrades lost his life by accident on the occasion. This tree bad been planted 119 years, viz. (say the Pemberton MSS.) 'in 1646, and bore the first fruits of liberty in America!

We are informed by an old and reputable inhabitant who was present at the time, that the tree, when cut, made fourteen cords of wood, For a long time after the revolution the place was designated by the name of “Liberty Stump,” and is now marked by a post bearing a sign with the representation of the Tree, to inform the public that a house of entertainment is kept in the ancient dwelling by Mr. J. Clark. (2)

(1) Diary of the American Revolution. From newspapers ... v.1. Frank Moore, 1860.
(2) The City Record and Boston News-Letter, Vol. 1, December 31, 1825.

Image: Liberty Tree, Boston. “The world should never forget the spot where once stood the Liberty Tree, so famous in your annals.” LaFayette in Boston.

© 2022 Clifford Olsen/250YearsofLiberty

During the WISSAR Annual Awards Meeting, held October 10th, four of our Chapter compatriots were recognized:
+ Compatriot Stuart Schramm received the Silver Roger Sherman Medal for extensive work on the NSSAR Patriot Research System Project.
+ Compatriot Terry Cowles also received the George Washington Lapel Pin for the Century Club (significant additional donation to Wreaths Across America program).
+ Chapter President Sam Keith received the State Distinguished Service Medal, and both he and Past Chap. Pres. Brian McManus received the Silver Roger Sherman Medal for service to the WISSAR Board of Directors.
Congratulations, gentlemen!

Southeast Wisconsin Patriot Pioneers. This September, we remember David Janes, born in 1762. On July 22, 1779, he enlisted in Capt. Joshua Shaw's company, Col. Elisha Porter's (4th Hampshire Co.) regiment. He was 17 yrs. old, 5 ft. 9 in. tall, with a ruddy complexion.
After service at New London, Connecticut, he was discharged Aug. 27th. That fall, he enlisted for a month in Capt. Caleb Keep's company, Col. Israel Chapen's regiment, serving at Claverack.
The following spring, he agreed to reinforce the Continental Army at Brimfield. He arrived at Springfield on July 10th, and marched to camp the next day under command of Ensign Bancrof. He served as a private in Capt. Abel Holden's (Light Infantry) company, 6th Mass. regt. He also served in the Colonel's company, commanded by Capt. Benjamin Pike, Col. Thomas Nixon's (6th) regt. He was reported sick in flying hospital in Oct., 1780 and was discharged Dec. 3, 1780.
He enlisted again in Brimfield, in spring 1782, serving in Capt. Killom’s Company in Col. Rufus Putnam’s 5th Mass. of the Continental Line. He transferred to Col. Joseph Vorst’s regiment, where he served until discharged in late 1783.
He and his wife, Betsey, had four children, who survived infancy: Lewis (1791-1858), John M. (1798-1878), Mary Janes Potter (1798-1864), and Sarah Janes Sturtevant (1799-1883).
He applied for a pension in 1818.
In 1843, David Janes certified before a Milwaukee Justice of the Peace that he intended to spend his remaining years with his son, Lewis, in Walworth County.
He died in LaGrange Township on September 29, 1848, at age 86, and was buried in Little Prairie Cemetery at Little Prairie, Walworth County, Wisconsin.

George Dill was born in Germany and came to the U.S. in 1776 as a private in a Hessian Regiment. In June 1782, he deserted and consequently served with the American forces in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and Goshen, New York. He was discharged in March 1783. He lived in Montgomery, NY and Jackson, Penn., before moving to Milwaukee in the early 1840s to be with his children. On July 4, 1845, he spoke at the city's Independence Day celebration and was quoted in the Milwaukee Sentinel. His words, which appear here, are worthy of reflection 175 years later.

Standing ready.

Rendering honors to the fallen.

Marching to their post.