[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7856-7857]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO THE GENERAL FRELINGHUYSEN CHAPTER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE 
                          AMERICAN REVOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 10, 2006

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor The General 
Frelinghuysen Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. On 
May 10, 2006, the General Frelinghuysen Chapter of the ``Daughters of 
the American Revolution will be celebrating their 110th anniversary.
  In 1896, sixteen ladies formed the General Frelinghuysen Chapter of 
the Daughters of the American Revolution with Mrs. E.E. Batcheller as 
the first Regent. The Chapter was named for a native of Somerset County 
who held the highest military rank in the state, that of Major General 
and Commander-in-Chief of New Jersey and Pennsylvania state troops 
under George Washington--Frederick Frelinghuysen. He was born at the 
First Dutch Reformed Church Parsonage at Somerville, then Raritan, New 
Jersey, on April 13, 1753. He was sent to Continental Congress in 1775 
and was later a United States Senator. He fought at the Battles of 
Trenton and Monmouth. He is buried in the Weston cemetery, which is 
maintained by the Chapter.
  Through the years, this chapter has been a very hardworking group of 
ladies who held their meetings first in various members' homes in the 
Somerville area, later at the Wallace House, and then at the Old Dutch 
Parsonage. The gavel used by the Chapter was made from a locust tree 
grown on the grounds of the home of General Frelinghuysen at Millstone, 
New Jersey.
  Restoring the Wallace House was one of the major projects early in 
the chapter's history. Former members also contributed to the 
Continental Hall in Washington, D.C., including a chair presented by 
Senator Frelinghuysen in honor of his mother, Victoria, in 1927. In 
1932, a 103 year old painting, painted by Elizabeth Frelinghuysen when 
she was 13 years old, was presented to the chapter and placed on 
display in the Wallace House.
  Also in 1896, it became known that a real live daughter was to become 
a member of the chapter: Miss Elizabeth McIlroy, daughter of William 
McIlroy, a Soldier of the American Revolution. She lived to be more 
than 100 years old, but died soon after having been made a member of 
the Chapter.
  In 1932, U.S. Senator Joseph S. Frelinghuysen made a gift of the Old 
Dutch Parsonage to the General Frelinghuysen Chapter. The Old Dutch 
Parsonage was built by the Reverend John Frelinghuysen in 1751, of 
bricks brought from Holland. The first class of the Theological 
Seminary of Rutgers University was held in this building. When the 
railroad was being put through, the Frelinghuysen family saved the 
parsonage from being demolished by moving it a short distance to its 
present site. In 1947, the Old Dutch Parsonage was deeded to the State 
of New Jersey as a historic shrine, as was the Wallace House.
  In 1995, The General Frelinghuysen Chapter merged with the Old White 
House Chapter to become the Old White House-General Frelinghuysen 
Chapter. Philanthropic works, in addition to caring for the Wallace 
House and The Old Dutch Parsonage, have included providing scholarships 
to students of local high schools who have demonstrated knowledge and 
insight concerning historic events, supporting Native Americans, 
placing markers along Washington's line of march from Princeton to 
Morristown (after the Battle of Princeton), and contributions of books 
to the Somerville Public Library, the Library of Memorial Continental 
Hall in Washington and to the New Jersey Historical Society.
  The objectives of the General Frelinghuysen Chapter of the Daughters 
of the American Revolution continue to be: To perpetuate the memory and 
spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence, and To 
promote as an object of primary importance, institutions for the 
general diffusion of knowledge, and To cherish, maintain, and extend 
the institution of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love 
of country, and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of 
Liberty.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating the members of the General Frelinghuysen Chapter of the 
Daughters of the American Revolution on the 110th anniversary of the 
chapter and for their continuing good works.

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