Dedication of Mary Amis Rogers grave by the Mary Amis Rogers NSDAR Chapter

DAR Grave Marker Dedication of Mary Amis Rogers hosted by The Mary Amis Rogers Chapter of Rogersville, TN.  Pictured L-R:  TN State Registrar Rob Richmond, State of Franklin SAR Chapter President Don Hills, Stephen Kirby, TN State VP Ben Stonecypher, Bob Waugh and Bill Pettis.  The ceremonies were held in the Rogers Cemetery in Rogersville, which is also the burial site of Davy Crockett's grandparents.

Who was Mary Amis Rogers?

"Mary Amis Rogers was a true Daughter of the American Revolution, as her father served our fledgling country in several capacities. She was born around 1768/70 in North Carolina to Thomas Amis and Alice Gale, the original settlers of the Amis lands on Big Creek, just north of Rogersville. When Mary was a child, her father served as a member of the Provincial Congress, then served in several regiments of the NC Continental Troops, as well as a superintendent of commissary in the 3rd Regiment of the NC Continental Line.

After the war Thomas was granted land and moved his family west to what would later be known as Hawkins County. He built a home and fort, as protection against attacks, and later established a store, blacksmith shop and forge, distillery, grist and saw mills, post office, tavern, and a school. Later Thomas Amis purchased the land that had belonged to David and Elizabeth Crockett, grandparents of Davy Crockett.

Joseph Rogers was working on her family’s homestead and the rumor was that Thomas Amis did not approve of Joseph courting his daughter.

Mary and Joseph fell in love and were married about 1785. Her father gifted the newlyweds with a large tract of land nearby where Rogersville was founded as the county seat for Hawkins County in 1787, and chartered in 1789.

Mary and Joseph had at least 14 children together and some of their descendants still live nearby. The Rogers also established the Rogers Tavern that hosted many important people, including William Clarke, of the Lewis & Clark Exposition, and the future President Andrew Jackson. While it is in the process of architectural investigation, that building still stands today as one of the oldest structures in the state of Tennessee.

The spirit of love shared between Joseph and Mary Rogers was so strong that when Joseph succumbed to a fatal illness in 1833, Mary followed only a few short weeks later.

It is said that she died of a broken heart. Their final resting place is just behind the Old Tavern in the Crockett Cemetery, Rogersville.

Mary helped build this town, along with her patriot father and her loving husband. Thus, the initial organizing members of our chapter thought Mary Amis Rogers deserving of the honor to have our chapter be her namesake."

Refn: The Rogersville Review, Feb 23, 2004, by Staff Report

Meeting - "Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site, the site of the Battle of the State of Franklin, and home to Revolutionary war Patriot Colonel John Tipton" - April 10, 2025

 

An over view of this area via a brand new video. Presented by Board member John Neth.

If you interested in attending this event, we meet on the second Thursday of each month in The Depot Room located at Food City 920 N State of Franklin Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604. Please contact David Carr to make Reservations.

New Members - Three new Compatriots sworn-in

 

Had a great March 13th meeting at the Depot Room inside Food City. Installed three new members: Larry Justis, James Morgan and Dylan Shaffer. President Ben Stonecypher administered the Oath and VP Stephen Kirby penned them with the SAR Rosette. Congratulations Compatriots !!

244th Anniversary of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse

President General Darryl Addington and First Lady Mary Addington, TN State Registrar Rob Richmond and TN State VP Ben Stonecypher at the National Battlegrounds of Guilford Courthouse.  Statue of General Nathaniel Green in the background.

Meeting - "The Other Revolution - How We Changed the Way We Talk" - March 13, 2025 @ 6:00PM

Dr. John Wakefield will provide an interesting description of another revolution that took place in colonial America—the revolution in how we talked. And we often spoke differently than our friends and family in England. We think of the Melting Pot happening in the late 1800s, but it really started in colonial America. At that time, New York City had more people speaking German than anywhere in the world but Vienna. New York City had more Irish than anywhere but Dublin. The colonists didn't know they were carrying out another revolution, but they were. John will speak about how this happened, and what it means for us today.

If you interested in attending this event, we meet on the second Thursday of each month in The Depot Room located at Food City 920 N State of Franklin Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604.  Please contact David Carr to make Reservations. 

In the News - Battle of the State of Franklin re-enacted at historic site

Local re-enactors Rob Richmond, left, Phillip Cooper, Thomas Miller and Dustin Odom converse before the start of the Battle of the State of Franklin at Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site on Saturday.

This article from Johnson City Press highlights the annual re-enactment of the 1788 Battle of the State of Franklin held at the Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site in Johnson City, Tennessee. Visitors learn how Col. John Tipton and John Sevier — opposing figures in the frontier’s bid to form a separate state named Franklin — turned Tipton’s property into a dramatic battleground. After moving from Virginia, Tipton became a loyalist to North Carolina, while Sevier served as governor of the fledgling State of Franklin. Tensions mounted for years, primarily over disputes about taxes owed to North Carolina. Matters culminated when the North Carolina sheriff, under Tipton’s orders, seized some of Sevier’s property, prompting Sevier to march on Tipton’s home with around 100 men on February 27, 1788.
For several days, Tipton, his family, and a small contingent of supporters withstood Sevier’s siege. Reinforcements arrived for Tipton during a heavy snowstorm, and when firing began, Tipton rallied his men to defend his cabin. After only about ten minutes of fighting, Sevier and his Franklinites retreated. Although the conflict was brief, it effectively thwarted Franklin’s hopes, and the would-be state dissolved a year later. Ironically, both principals went on to shape Tennessee’s future: Tipton helped the region become the 16th state, while Sevier became Tennessee’s first governor.
Today, the Tipton-Haynes site preserves this pivotal piece of Tennessee history. Situated on 45 acres, it features 11 historic buildings, a cemetery, a limestone cave, and a nature trail, offering visitors a window into the region’s frontier past.

Help transcribe military pension files from the Revolutionary War!

The National Archives owns thousands of records from the Revolutionary War period that haven't been processed.  They are enlisting people from all over the country to process these documents.  The documents will be of use to historians and genealogists.  The documents are in cursive and in their original form.  Here is the site to get you into the project.  Revolutionary War Pension Files Transcription Mission

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, the National Archives and the National Park Service are collaborating on a special project to transcribe Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, ca. 1800 - ca. 1912. These Revolutionary War Pension Files consist of applications and other records pertaining to claims for pensions and bounty land warrants. 

These records may contain valuable details about Revolutionary War veterans and their families, such as rank, unit, period of service, age, residence, date and place of marriage, and date and place of death of spouse. Also within these records, you may find copies of marriage or other family records, information pertaining to military activities or details about soldier’s lives, along with letters, diaries, or family trees. 
 

Eagle Scout Medal for winning essay

 

Eagle Scout Nathaniel received Eagle Scout Medal for his winning essay. Pictured with his father, Bob Waugh, Dr. Bill Bridgforth (compatriot), and Ben Stonecypher.

Meeting - Presidents Day Presentation - Feb 13, 2025 @ 6:00PM

 

Susan Kirby, wife of SAR member Stephen Kirby, and a DAR Member of the John Sevier - Sarah Hawkins Chapter will present a program on Presidential Graves. Susan and Steve Kirby have visited each grave from George Washington to George Bush. Through vacation pictures she will take us on a quick trip around the country to see the Presidents graves, their homes, some of their libraries and maybe an interesting fact or two.

"The Great Valley Road" Presentation by Rob Richmond

 

Kings Mountain Chapter member, Rob Richmond, gave a presentation to The State of Franklin DAR Chapter in Jonesborough, TN about "The Great Valley Road". Which is the present day Rt #1, and Interstate 81 running through Virginia. He also talked about the other Colonial roads running from north to south. The sign being displayed was on a busy intersection and was hit by a car. It was been repaired and re-welded. The sign will be put in a more secure location. The road mentioned actually ran through the town of Jonesborough, TN.