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📜 The Palmetto & The Parchment
The Official Newsletter of the Charlestown Society Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.)
Vol 2, Fall Edition, Octoberber 13, 2026, Vol II | South Carolina
🎖️Charlestown Society C.A.R. Celebrates 120 years!
The Oldest C.A.R. Society in South Carolina and one of the Oldest in the United States!
Honoring the Past and Leading the Future.
Charlestown Society C.A.R. Members Celebrate 120 Years (1906-2026)!
C.A.R. Members Celebrate its 120th Anniversary (1906-2026), on October 8, 2026, at the Old Brick Yard Plantation on Johns’ Island, SC, now home to the Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding Association (CATR), on Johns’ Island, SC.
Honoring the Past and Leading the Future.
Wreath Laying Cemetery @ Old Brick Yard Plantation
Honoring the Past and Leading the Future.
We captured beautiful memories and paid tribute with a wreath ceremony right on ancestral ground at the Old Brick House Plantation, on Johns’ Island, now belonging to the Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding Association (CATR).
Just Horsin Around @ the Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding Association (CATR).
🏛️ Exploring National & State Themes
This year, our society is proud to align our work with patriotic youth across the country in both national and state initiatives to honor our heritage:
• 2026-2027 National Theme: “Liberty's Legacy” – The role of youth in Rev. War.
• 2026-2027 National Project: In partnership with the National Park Service to raise $50k for the creation of interactive panels of youth during the Rev. War.
• 2026-2027 SC C.A.R. State Theme: “Legacy of Liberty” – Honoring our enduring freedom.
• 2026-2027 SC C.A.R. State Project: Support our fundraiser to buy a new “Grasshopper” cannon for Fort Moultrie!
• 2026-2027 Local Theme: “Living Liberty’s Legacy” – Honoring the Past. Leading the Future.
🏛️ A Fall Welcome from Our Society President! 🍁🍂
Hello C.A.R. Members, Senior Leaders, and Families!
Welcome to autumn!. Fall is one of my absolute favorite seasons in Charleston—the weather is finally starting to cool down, and it’s the perfect time for us to get active in our community.
Grab your detective hats, because this season we are on a mission to uncover how our own local history connects to the giant, unfolding story of the American Revolution! Many of our youth members are discovering that their family lines stretch far beyond the borders of South Carolina. We can’t wait to dive into these amazing historical mysteries together over the coming months! At the Charlestown Society, we are always Honoring the Past and Leading the Future.
This year, our crew is bringing that mission to life with our youth theme: Unlocking history, living the legacy!
Our society has an exciting fall season planned ahead. From participating in local patriotic events and honor ceremonies to diving deeper into our South Carolina Revolutionary history, there are so many ways for all of us to learn, serve, and lead
I can’t wait to see everyone at our next meeting. Let’s make this fall our best season yet!
For God and Country,
Phoebe H.
Phoebe H., 2026-2027 Charlestown Society President, exploring the Heyward-Washington House, Charleston, SC.
📜 Chaplain’s Corner: A Prayer for our 120th Anniversary: Past and Present
Heavenly Father,
We come before You today with grateful hearts as we celebrate the 120th Anniversary of our society. We look back with deep gratitude on the journey that began in 1906, thanking You for the dedication of our founding members and the brave Patriots who laid the foundation of freedom we stand upon today. Thank You for preserving their stories and guiding our footsteps through over a century of honoring their sacrifice.
Lord, as we look to the present and the future, bless our youth members gathered here. Help us to keep the fire of liberty alive in our hearts, always Honoring the Past and Leading the Future. Grant us the courage and wisdom to serve our community, protect our heritage, and truly bring our mission to life by unlocking history and living the legacy every single day.
Amen.
Paul H., 2026-2027 Charlestown Society Chaplain, SC C.A.R. DAR/SAR/S.R. Relations Chairman
🌟 Look Back: Our Epic September & October Adventures!
We have already had an incredible start to our society year! Here is a quick look at the amazing things our history detectives have accomplished so far:
Battle of Eutaw Springs Commemoration: We kicked off the season honoring real heroes at this historic annual remembrance.
“Celebrate Constitution Week” Joint Meeting: We gathered with Susannah Smith Elliott DAR Chapter members and SC C.A.R. officers, Will V., Preston H., and Phoebe H., to celebrate the bedrock of American liberty regarding the 2026 SC C.A.R. State President’s Project, “Legacy of Liberty.” Members spoke with DAR members about the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island and the Legacy of Sergeant William Jasper.
"Lothrop Leaders" Training: Our rising officers built up their leadership superpowers! We teamed up for an awesome regional online training session focused on character, teamwork, and George Washington's classic "Rules to Live By." [1]
"Palmetto & Parchment" Scavenger Hunt: We unlocked massive amounts of history combing through the Revolutionary War galleries at the Charleston Museum!
Our 120th Anniversary Dedication: To celebrate the Charlestown Society’s BIG 120th milestone anniversary of our founding in 1906, we captured beautiful memories and paid tribute with a wreath ceremony right on ancestral ground at the Old Brick House Plantation, on Johns’ Island, now belonging to the Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding Association (CATR).
🎖️Charlestown Society Celebrates 120 years!
C.A.R. Members Celebrate its 120th Anniversary (1906-2026), on October 8, 2026, at the Old Brick Yard Plantation on Johns’ Island, SC, now home to the Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding Association (CATR), on Johns’ Island, SC. The colonial Stanyarne family owned this property, and they were relatives by marriage to both Rev. War Patriots Susannah Smith Elliott and her maternal Aunt, Rebecca Motte. We are so grateful for the Rebecca Motte DAR Chapter, Charleston, SC, founding the Charlestown Society Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.) and being “adopted” by the Susannah Smith Elliott DAR Chapter, Summerville, SC. he at the historic CATR facility! [1]
🎮 Palmetto & Parchment "Scavenger Hunt at The Charleston Museum: We unlocked massive amounts of history combing through the Rev. War galleries at the Charleston Museum while having a fun Scavenger Hunt!
🎮 “Scavenger Hunt at the Charleston Museum” by Phoebe H. (12 yrs old)
🏛️ SC C.A.R. and Susannah Smith Elliott DAR Joint Meeting
We gathered with Susannah Smith Elliott DAR Chapter members and SC C.A.R. officers, Will V., Preston H., and Phoebe H., to celebrate the bedrock of American liberty regarding the 2026 SC C.A.R. State President’s Project, “Legacy of Liberty.” Members spoke with DAR members about the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island and the Legacy of Sergeant William Jasper.[1]
SC. C.A.R. State President, Will V., and SC C.A.R. and Charlestown Society C.A.R. officers at Joint Meeting with Susannah Smith Elliott DAR Chapter members during “Celebrate Constitution Week”
"Lothrop Leaders" Training: Our rising officers built up their leadership superpowers! We teamed up for an awesome regional online training session led by N.S.C.A.R. Vice President of the Southeast Region, Noah T. The Zoom meeting focused on character, teamwork, and George Washington's classic "Rules to Live By," [1], and members even had fun doing an in-home Scavenger Hunt.
🎪 245th Commemoration of the Battle of Eutaw Springs 2026
Members of the South Carolina C.A.R. and North Carolina C.A.R. joined members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) from near and far to mark the 245th anniversary of the Battle of Eutaw Springs in Orangeburg County, SC, on Saturday, September 5th. Standing in the sweltering 110-degree heat for an hour gave me new appreciation for the brave men who sacrificed their lives, fortunes, and comfort in the fight for independence. Earlier this year, it was discovered that Jim Capers, the Black Drum Major for General Francis Marion, is my 6th-great-grandfather from this same town. History isn’t just a collection of dusty papers in a museum; it’s the blueprint of our freedom. As the next generation, it is our job to keep that story alive, learn from it, and pass it on, - because the future of our country depends on how well we remember the past. As descendants of Revolutionary War Patriots, we truly are living members of the state theme, “Legacy of Liberty.”
Paul H., 2026-2027 Charlestown Society Chaplain, SC C.A.R. DAR/SAR/SR Relations, Chair
🗓️ Look Ahead: Mark Your Calendars!
The adventure doesn’t stop here. We have some fantastic events lined up through mid-December to keep us moving forward:
• October 24 – Southeast Regional Joint C.A.R. Meeting: Get ready to team up with fellow history-makers for a giant regional gathering in Augusta, GA! [1]
• November 14 – "Celebrating America's Heroes": We are learning all about the legendary bravery of Sergeant William Jasper!
• December 19 – Wreaths Across America Volunteering: We will wrap up our year by giving back and honoring our fallen veterans by placing wreaths at the gravesites.
Thank you all for your continuous support of our incredible youth as we keep the fire of freedom moving forward!
🎉 Society Announcements
A Salute to Prospective New Member: Miss CHARLOTTE (sponsored by her Grandmother, Gail S.).
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🔍 Genealogy Corner: Unlocking Your Tree for Free
Are you trying to help a friend or family member join the C.A.R. or DAR? You do not need an expensive paid subscription to discover your roots! Here are three free ways to advance your lineage research this season:
• Use our “Find A Patriot” Worksheets: Worksheet 1(a) and Worksheet 1(b)
• FamilySearch: Create a free account to access millions of global birth, marriage, and census records.
• Family Search App: Check out their new features: “Relatives Around Me,” and “Notifications” (of famous relatives)!
• DAR GRS: Use the public Daughters of the American Revolution Genealogical Research System to view pre-proven Patriot lines.
• Local Libraries: Visit local branches to access Ancestry Library Edition completely free on their public computers.
📜 Patriot Spotlight: General William Moultrie (1730-1805)
Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina
Service: Colonel & Major General, Continental Army
Key Contribution: Commander at the Battle of Sullivan's Island (June 28, 1776) and designer of the Liberty Flag
Who Was General William Moultrie?
Born in Charleston in 1730, William Moultrie was a South Carolina planter, military leader, and devoted patriot. When the Revolutionary War broke out, he was tasked with defending Charleston Harbor against incoming British warships attempting to capture the city.
The Defender of Sullivan's Island
In early 1776, Moultrie was ordered to construct a fort on Sullivan's Island to guard the harbor entrance. Lacking standard building supplies, his men constructed double walls out of spongy palmetto logs and filled the gap with sand.
On June 28, 1776, nine British warships—carrying over 250 guns—opened fire on the unfinished fort. What seemed like a fragile wooden structure turned out to be nearly indestructible: the soft palmetto logs absorbed the heavy British cannonballs instead of splintering! Moultrie's garrison successfully repelled the fleet, securing the first major naval victory for the American colonies.
The Origin of the South Carolina Flag
Before the battle, Colonel Moultrie designed a flag for his troops to fly over the fort:
• A deep blue field, matching the color of his regiment's uniforms.
• A white crescent moon in the upper left corner, inscribed with the word "LIBERTY".
During the height of the bombardment, a British shot severed the flagstaff, sending the banner tumbling outside the fort. Sergeant William Jasper famously leaped over the wall under heavy fire to retrieve the flag, attaching it to a sponge staff to raise it again. After the victory, the palmetto tree was added to the flag's design in honor of the fort that held the line—creating the iconic South Carolina flag we know today.
Did You Know?
• Fort Moultrie: The fort on Sullivan’s Island was officially renamed Fort Moultrie in his honor shortly after the battle.
• Prisoner of War: When Charleston fell to the British in 1780, Moultrie was captured and held as a prisoner of war for two years until he was exchanged in 1782.
• Post-War Service: After the war, he served as the Governor of South Carolina for two separate terms and wrote a detailed two-volume memoir of the Revolution in the South.
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💡 Share Your Story!
Do you have a unique Patriot story or a cool genealogical breakthrough to share? We want to feature our members' hard work in the next issue!
If you want to contribute to the Autumn edition, please let us know:
• Your Patriot's name and state of service
• Any cool facts or family legends you have uncovered
• Photos of your recent historic travels or society service work.
📞 Contact & Membership Information
To learn more about joining, tracking your ancestry, or attending an event, contact us:
• N.S.C.A.R. Website: www.nscar.org
• Society President: Phoebe H.
• President Email: charlestownsocietyscscar@gmail.com
• Senior Society President: Holly H.
• Senior President Email: charlestownsocietyscscar@gmail.com
• Charlestown Society Website: www.CharlestownSocietyCAR.com
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