Grave Dedication Ceremony Honoring Patriot Peter Range (1749-1817)

 

On Sunday, April 26, 2026, the Kings Mountain Chapter performed a Grave Dedication Ceremony Honoring Patriot Peter Range (1749-1817). Also attending were descendants of Peter Range.

"Peter Range served in the 8th Virginia Regiment of Col. Peter Muhlenburg, frequently called the German Regiment, although the roll has never been found. This regiment encompassed volunteers from the Northern Neck of Virginia, the southern and eastern counties of Pennsylvania and the western counties of Maryland. All family records indicate he served in the Revolution along side his brothers John and James."

Chapter members participating the ceremony: David Carr, Fr. Timothy Holder, Rob Richmond, John Neth, Ben Stoncypher, Stephen Kirby and Tom Jennings.

Special Thanks to the Heritage Alliance/SAR Partnership and Compatriot Gordon Edwards.

Johnson City Press: Restored immigrant trail marker finds new home in Jonesborough

Photo courtesy of Johnson City Press

Johnson City Press - April 29, 2026: After years of restoration, the Immigrant Trail historical marker has been rededicated and placed outside the Christopher Taylor House in downtown Jonesborough. The State of Franklin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution restored the marker and held a rededication ceremony at the Jackson Theatre, moved indoors because of rain.

Outgoing Regent Allyson Wilkinson said the marker reflects the DAR mission of historic preservation, education, and patriotism. She noted that the chapter originally recognized the importance of marking the Immigrant Trail in the early 1930s.

This section of the trail began in Philadelphia and followed what is now Main Street in Jonesborough, serving as a route for settlers traveling through the Appalachian Mountains in search of new opportunities in the South and West.

The marker originally stood near Second Avenue and Main Street, but deteriorated over time and was damaged around 2014 when a truck reportedly struck it. Wilkinson said the Town of Jonesborough was a strong partner in relocating and reinstalling the marker. Town staff also landscaped the site with azaleas and lilies so that something will always be blooming in its honor.

Unaccompanied Veteran Ceremony - Mountain Home VA Cemetery

MOUNTAIN HOME VA CEMETERY - On April 15th, at the Mountain Home National Cemetery, the Kings Mountain Chapter of the TNSSAR took part in the Unaccompanied Veterans Ceremony to provide funeral services and honor the deceased veterans with no known next of kin or family available to attend. Father Timothy Holder, Chapter and TNSSAR State Chaplin, provided a blessing for these two veterans we honored. Also attending was Chapter member Stephen B. Kirby.​

Tennessee SAR History Teacher of the Year Award

JONESBOROUGH, TN — On April 14, at the Historic Chester Inn Museum, the Kings Mountain Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) formally presented the Tennessee SAR History Teacher of the Year Award to Jason S. Moore.

Moore, a dedicated history educator at David Crockett High School in Jonesborough, earned the prestigious state-level distinction through a competitive essay contest highlighting excellence in history education. Along with the Tennessee SAR Certificate of Accomplishment, Moore was presented with a $1,500 award from the state organization.

His achievements extend beyond state lines; Moore also received an "Honorable Mention" in the National SAR History Teacher Contest, placing him among the top history educators in the country.

This recognition is one of the most meaningful honors the Society bestows. Unlike student-focused awards, this program specifically recognizes educators whose passion for American history inspires students year after year. The Kings Mountain Chapter sponsored Moore’s entry in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the classroom and his commitment to instilling a deep understanding of American heritage in his students.

Kings Mountain Chapter Color Guard at 5x Patriot Grave Marking in Maryville, TN

Members of the Kings Mountain Chapter participated in the grave marking ceremony for five Patriots: William Blount, James White, William McClellan, Robert Campbell, and James Scott. The event was hosted by the Stephen Holston Chapter and held at the Maryville Church of Christ in Maryville, Tennessee. Representing the Kings Mountain Chapter were Alex Long, Rob Richmond, Chapter President, and Alan Bell, Past Chapter President.

Kings Mountain Chapter SAR Hears Presentation on Melungeon History

The Kings Mountain Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) met on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in the Depot Room of the Food City located at 920 North State of Franklin Road, Johnson City, Tennessee.

Following a meal and regular business meeting, members were treated to a presentation by author and historian Wayne Winkler. Winkler, a retired manager at ETSU public radio station WETS-FM in Johnson City and a former president of the Melungeon Heritage Association, spoke on the topic of "Melungeons in Early America." He is the author of Walk Toward the Sunset: The Melungeons of Appalachia (Mercer University Press, 2004) and the novel Beyond the Sunset: the Melungeon Outdoor Drama 1969-1976, released in 2019.

Winkler traced the origins of the Melungeon people, noting that they appeared in the Appalachian region at roughly the same time as the earliest European settlers. He described the Melungeons as a mixed-heritage people, descended from free African slaves, former indentured servants, Native Americans, and others who lived on the margins of colonial society. These groups formed close-knit communities, began to intermarry, and over time faced considerable discrimination. The Saponi tribe of the Piedmont region of North Carolina and Virginia, Winkler noted, is the Native American group most commonly associated with the Melungeon people.

Winkler shared the colorful story of Mahalia Mullins, a well-known Melungeon figure from the Newman's Ridge area of Hancock County, Tennessee, who gained notoriety as a bootlegger. He also touched on Melungeon cultural traditions, noting that their customs are largely similar to those of other Southern Appalachian peoples, with the notable exception of the practice of building grave shelters — a tradition not widely seen in northeast Tennessee but found in other areas. He cautioned that a great deal of misinformation and folklore surrounds the Melungeon people, and encouraged those interested to seek out reliable sources.

During a Q&A session, Winkler addressed the origin of the word "Melungeon," offering several possible explanations, including the theory that it may derive from the French word mélange, meaning "mixture" — a fitting description of the people it came to identify.

Following the presentation, Chapter President Rob Richmond presented Winkler with a Certificate of Appreciation from the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Photo captions:

Photo 1: Wayne Winkler addresses members of the Kings Mountain Chapter SAR during his presentation, "Melungeons in Early America," on April 9, 2026.
Photo 2: Chapter President Rob Richmond (left) presents Wayne Winkler with a Certificate of Appreciation following his presentation to the Kings Mountain Chapter SAR, April 9, 2026.

Meeting - Wayne Winkler will speak on "Melungeons in Early America"

On April 9, 2026 at 6:00PM Wayne Winkler will be giving a presentation on the Melungeons, which are a historically marginalized, mixed-ancestry group (tri-racial isolates) of European, African, and Native American descent who settled in the Appalachian Mountains, particularly near the Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina border.

We meet on the second Thursday of each month at 6:00PM in The Depot Room located at Food City 920 N State of Franklin Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604. The Depot Room is upstairs on the Mezzanine. Take stairs or elevator across from Starbucks. A Buffet Dinner is served $20/person (pay at door - cash or CC). All Members and Guests are Welcome. Please contact David Carr to make Reservations.

Flag dedication and Season opening ceremony for the Muster Ground in Abingdon VA

 

Our chapter partipated in the Flag dedication and Season opening ceremony for the Muster Ground in Abingdon VA today, April 1. Large audience for Congressman Morgan Griffith to officially open the Muster Ground. In addition to Kings Mountain members, Watauga Chapter provided David Doan, Tom Vaughan and Dan King... Kings Mountain members were John Neth, David Carr, Rob Richmond, and Alan Bell. The color guard fired three musket volleys after the Scouts presented the American flag.