Hendrick Hudson Chapter is proud to have had two Real Daughters (those whose fathers served in the American Revolution) in its ranks. The National Board of Management accepted the applications of Mary Rolland Thomas Whitbeck in 1899, and Rachel Elting Ferguson in 1901.
The Hudson Weekly Gazette of December 27, 1906, proclaimed that Mary Rolland Thomas, Hudson’s “real” Daughter of the Revolution, died December 19 at her home on Green Street, where she resided with her son Richard M. and daughter Nancy. Mary, who was the oldest member of the Hendrick Hudson Chapter, was in her 95th year and retained her mental faculties to the last. Her native place was Champlain, Clinton County, NY, but she resided in Connecticut for a number of years. She lived in Hudson for 19 years. She graduated from a college for women at Albany.
Mary was the daughter of Caleb Thomas and Lucy Rolland, and married John Whitbeck. Her father Caleb was born January 10, 1764, in Chatham, NY. He was a private in the Albany County Militia. Caleb died April 16, 1825, in Kinderhook, NY, and was buried in the Chatham Rural Cemetery.
Rachel Elting was the daughter of John Elting and Cornelia Hallenbeck. Rachel married Elias Ferguson of Dutchess County, NY, in June 1825 in Manorton, NY.
Rachel’s father was born in Kingston, NY, and died in Greenport, Columbia County, NY, on November 2, 1838, at the age of 77 years, 9 months, and 25 days. He was a private. Pvt. Elting was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Greenport.
Hendrick Hudson Chapter, NSDAR 