In the summer of 1920, Mrs. James T. Morris, Chairman of Historic Spots of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, visited Yorktown, Virginia.  Her scheduled overnight visit was extended to nearly two years after meeting a long-time member of the DAR residing in Yorktown, Mrs. Emma Leake Chenoweth.  Upon her return to Washington, DC, Mrs. Morris urged Mrs. Chenoweth to consider organizing a DAR chapter in Yorktown.  Later Mrs. Chenoweth wrote “She put forth in very plain terms the solemn duty owed both the people of Yorktown and the Society of DAR, as a daughter of over twenty-five years standing (Mrs. Chenoweth) in engaging in the work.”

 

A year elapsed and in June 1921 the President General, Mrs. George Maynard Minor, and the National Chairman of Historic Spots, Mrs. James T. Morris, visited Yorktown.  Accompanying them were Miss Jean Coltrain, Historian General, Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett, State Regent of Virginia, and a number of distinguished DAR daughters.  Much to her regret, Mrs. Chenoweth was away at the time of their visit.  However, these visitors were soon heard from, with renewed pleas for a chapter at Yorktown.  Mrs. Chenoweth was the only member of the DAR in the locality at the time the matter was again taken up.

 

On June 24, 1921, the following letter was received from Mrs. James Reese Schick, State Vice Regent of Virginia:

 

“My dear Mrs. Chenoweth:

 

Mrs. Barrett writes me you are a member of the DAR and she thinks you would be willing to organize a chapter at Yorktown.  As this is my especial work in the state, assisting in organizing chapters, am writing to offer my assistance in any and all ways needed.  All information will be given you, and I trust you will be able to find at least twelve good women who will be interested in and will enjoy the work.

 

Yorktown, of all places in the State, should have plenty of good material, and now the National Society is working upon the fortification, standing at Yorktown, with the hopes soon they may be ours.  It may inspire interest in the organization.  Please let me hear from you whether you will undertake the work or not.

 

    /s/ Mrs. James Reese Schick”

 

Mrs. Chenoweth replied:

 

“My dear Mrs. Schick:

 

Replying to your letter of the 24^th, I would say I have been a member of the Society of the DAR since 1894.  I have resided in Yorktown about two years, holding my membership in my old chapter in New Jersey.

 

After considering the matter for sometime and the urgent request of some of the National Officers, it appears my duty to take up the work of organizing a chapter in Yorktown.  I feel quite sure many more than twelve members could be secured here at once, as the families here have a wealth of historic and ancestral connections.

 

  Most Sincerely yours,

 

/s/ Mrs. George Durbin Chenoweth

 

In a few days application blanks were received and immediately distributed to eligible persons for completion.  In November of 1921 Mrs. Chenoweth received the appointment as Organizing Regent.  Her task was beginning.

 

The first business was to secure a name.  There was a great deal of discussion and the following names were among those suggested:  Old Yorktown Chapter and Founders and Patriots Chapter.  When the name “Yorktown” went to Washington for approval by the NSDAR it was found that there already existed a chapter in Pennsylvania with that name.  Mrs. Chenoweth then decided to name the new chapter “Comte de Grasse” after her favorite Revolutionary War hero and as she always wrote, “the forgotten man.”  National Headquarters immediately notified Mrs. Chenoweth that this name was acceptable and assigned number 1525 to the new chapter at Yorktown.

 

Years later Mrs. Chenoweth wrote the following record of the first year of Comte de Grasse Chapter.  “On the first Friday in February 1922 the Comte de Grasse Chapter was organized at the Yorktown Hotel with Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett, our State Regent, present.  The following officers were elected:  Mrs. Chenoweth, Regent; Mrs. Genforth, Vice Regent; Mrs. Catchings, Recording Secretary; Mrs. P. B. Smith, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. Sydney Smith, Historian.

 

Click here for more information about Comte de Grasse

 

Current Chapter Information

The Comte de Grasse chapter, NSDAR, has over 160 members and holds regular chapter meetings at the Custom House in Yorktown, Virginia.

 

 

The history of the Comte de Grasse Chapter was compiled by Mrs. Charlotte Hughes Brown from minutes of the chapter, letters written by Mrs. Emma Leake Chenoweth, and articles written by various members of the chapter.  The book “A History — The Chenoweth Years 1922-1957“ was published by the chapter in 1984.

Chapter History

Comte de Grasse