Community Corner
DAR presents Author Jackson Kuhl
On Saturday, November 23, Sarah
Whitman Hooker Chapter, NSDAR, will present Jackson Kuhl, author of
"Samuel Smedley, Connecticut Privateer". The presentation will begin at 1pm in the Community
Room at the Noah Webster Library in West Hartford.
At age 23, Samuel Smedley became captain of the Connecticut state ship Defence during the American Revolution. He
captured more than a dozen prizes, survived smallpox and shipwreck, saw his home burned to the ground by the British, and was twice caught and imprisoned by the enemy. And while he commanded two
crews of "gentleman volunteers" -- privateers -- Smedley learned his
profession onboard the ship Defence. But was there really a difference between the
state navy and the privateers who fought for profit? With Smedley at the helm, what began "for
the Defence of the sea-coasts" of Connecticut soon transformed into
something else.
Jackson Kuhl is a writer, photographer, and historian. His journalism has appeared in Connecticut
Magazine, Hartford Courant, New York Post, Reason, and
other publications. Kuhl is also a
frequent contributor to Calliope and Dig, magazines about history
and archaeology for middle-grade readers. He lives in coastal Connecticut.
The Sarah Whitman Hooker Chapter,
NSDAR was founded in West Hartford in 1906. Some of the chapter’s achievements over the years include marking and
mapping soldiers’ graves in the Old North Cemetery, planting numerous trees
throughout the town, assisting with the restoration and furnishing of the Sarah
Whitman Hooker House, and donating the building for the town’s first library in
1917.
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The DAR is a volunteer service
organization based on lineage to someone who fought or gave aid to the American Revolution. We preserve historic
buildings and artifacts; provide contests, awards and scholarships; support
schools and develop good citizens while celebrating the exceptional events in
our American history. Any woman 18 years
or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove
lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible.
Guests and Prospective Members are encouraged
to join us for the presentation and to learn more about DAR.
Please RSVP to SarahWhitmanHookerDAR@gmail.com.
