Speaker Series: Genealogy—DAR Membership and Beyond. Mon Oct 18, 2pm

The 2021 speaker series of the Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution continues on Zoom on October 18 at 2pm. Gretchen Maresco, the chapter’s Registrar, will recount some of her interesting experiences helping women find their patriot ancestors. She will make observations about the DAR application process and how it enables women to realize their own identity, to establish their importance as American citizens, and to discover their ancestors’ role in the events that formed our nation.

Gretchen Maresco is a lineage researcher who has been a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution since 2006. She has proven 22 of her ancestors as patriots who served in various roles during the Revolution. Most of these ancestors were her maternal ancestors, who resided in Ulster County, New York. Her father was from Mississippi, and she has proven her lineage to three of his ancestors who served in the southern colonies during the Revolution. 

She has been researching her own family history since 2004 and has helped dozens of women join the DAR—in her own chapter, across New York State, and in many other states. She served as Chairman of the New York State Organization DAR Lineage Research Committee for six years and still serves as a Vice Chairman. She has held many lineage research workshops for women—and men—who want to learn about their family history and frequently volunteers to help people solve some of the “brick walls” in their family history.

Maresco holds a masters degree in educational psychology from the University at Albany. Before her retirement, she worked as an editor for the New York State Education Department for over 30 years, where she supervised the editorial office for the Regents examination program. She credits her experience as an editor for giving her the attention to detail and the research skills that helped her become an accomplished genealogy researcher.

The talk will be presented on Zoom. Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvceyvqz8vH9ZMi9yhaJ6rpm5rq6Qtqzpp

The Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the DAR was chartered 125 years ago in 1896. A nonpartisan organization welcoming eligible women without regard to race, creed, or religion, it includes 130 members who trace their lineage back to a patriot in the American Revolution–whether serving as soldier, shopkeeper, or seamstress. In accordance with the National Society DAR, members work to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the women and men who achieved American independence, to promote the development of an enlightened public opinion, and to foster patriotic citizenship.

The chapter owns and maintains its meeting house, the Historic Robert Jenkins House, at 113 Warren Street in Hudson. The chapter and the chapter house can be accessed at hudson-dar.org, facebook.com/HudsonDAR, instagram.com/robertjenkinshouse, hendrickhudsonchapterdar@gmail.com, and (518) 828-9764.

Robert Jenkins House tours, library, and chapter in-person activities are resuming. The Speaker Series continues to be available virtually via Zoom.