Chancellor Livingston Chapter NSDAR
Rhinebeck, Northern Dutchess County, NY
located in the oldest house in the Rhinebeck village, 77 Livingston St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572

What is the NSDAR?     What is the Chancellor Livingston Chapter?    History     How to become a member
Meetings                         Links                 Our Patriot Ancestors

What is the NSDAR?

The "National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution" is an organization that was started in 1891. It is a lineage organization that enables its members to serve God, family, and their nation through the preservation of American Heritage, the promotion of educational opportunities, and the encouragement of active citizenship.  The DAR has over 170,000 national members.  The organization is headquartered in Washington DC. The NSDAR has its own web site, magazine, insignia, museum, and a library. There are numerous Chapters throughout the United States and in foreign countries, such as France, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. It holds contests for programs to promote literacy, education, scholarships, and youth organizations. The NSDAR is involved with commemorative events, such as World War II Memorial Challenge and George Washington Bicentennial Tribute.

The State Organization is made up of  local Chapters that carry on its ideals. They too, do their best to be involved in all aspects of the country and their communities. Chancellor Livingston is one of those "local" Chapters.

What is the Chancellor Livingston Chapter?

This Chapter was formed in 1918 by Mrs.Theodore de Laporte. It is located in the General Montgomery House. The house is an accredited Museum and is listed on the NY Revolutionary War Heritage Trail.  It is open to the public Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4^th, the first Saturday of December, and every Friday and Saturday, 2:00-4:00 PM, Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Chapter’s purpose is to promote the objectives of the NSDAR.

Regular meetings are held each month at the Chapter House.   Meetings often feature guest speakers. The annual program includes field trips, a banquet, and a picnic. There are twelve Chapter Officers and sixteen Chapter Committee Chairmen with National recognition.

Gen. Montgomery House, circa 1917 with Victorian porch & dormer
           
                                                                                                                                                 House restoration c. 1930 with colonial porch & roof line

History of the DAR House

In the 18^th Century, the house was owned by Judge Henry Beekman, the patentee. At the marriage of his granddaughter, Janet Livingston, to Major General Richard Montgomery in 1773, Judge Beekman gave the newlyweds this house to live in while their "Grasmere" estate house was being built.

Richard Montgomery, a Revolutionary War hero, lost his life leading the assault on Quebec, December 31, 1775. In 1929, the owner of the property on Montgomery St., also known as the Post Road or Route 9, wanted to replace this house for one of a newer style. The house was moved about 1868 to Livingston Street.  Mrs. de Laporte, founder of the local DAR Chapter, purchased the house and had it restored. In 1930, after its restoration, the house was deeded to the DAR Chapter. In addition to managing the historic property, the Chancellor Livingston Chapter maintains a large computerized archival collection that is available for public research.

The Chapter is named for Chancellor Robert R. Livingston who was the brother-in-law of General Montgomery.  He served with Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence.  After the Revolutionary War, as Chancellor of New York State, he was selected to administer the Oath of Office to our nation's first President, George Washington.  The Chancellor's home, originally at the northern boundary of Rhinebeck was destroyed by fire.

How to Become a Member

Eligibility: An applicant for membership must be no less than 18 years of age. She shall prove lineal, blood line descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence by participating in acceptable service. The National Society accepts service generally for the period between April 17, 1775 (Battle of Lexington), and November 26,1783 (withdrawal of British troops from New York). She must provide documentation for each statement of birth, marriage & death in generations leading back to the patriot. Application papers are available from the Chapter Registrar, who will assist in the process.

For further information contact the Chapter Regent or Registrar.

Regent: Pat Coon, crewmom@hvc.rr.com or phone 845-876-5940
Registrar: Nancy Kelly, kinship@hvc.rr.com or phone 845 876-4592

Links

NSDAR National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution

NY State Organization

Columbia Mid-HudsonValley  Sons of the American Revolution

Consortium of Rhinebeck History - including a database of Chancellor Livingston Chapter archives and artifacts

Chamber of Commerce, Rhinebeck, New York

Etching showing Chancellor Robert Livingston, front right  
with Franklin and Jefferson, members of the committee to draft                                 
the Declaration of Independence.  Livingston was a brother-in-law
of General Richard Montgomery.    

                                      
                                                                                                                               Chancellor Livingston shown administrating the Oath of Office to
                                                                                                                                           George Washington, first President of the US

                                 
 
 Webmaster - Nancyy Kelly                                             Last Update- Nov 2, 2006

Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters. The DAR Insignia is the property of, and is copyrighted by, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.