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NEWBERRY — The recent dedication of the American Revolution Patriot Monument in Newberry Memorial Park comes an expanded and renewed interest in The American Revolution.

Documented battles in the area of present day Newberry County show Indian Creek, William’s Plantation, Watkins and Mud Lick Creek. Leaders of these militia patriots were Barry, Captain John, Blassingame, Captain Thomas, Collins, Captain John, Dillard, Captain James, Hayes, Col. Joseph, Lawson, Captain John, McJunkin, Major Joseph, McWhorter, Captain Robert, Nisbett, Captain Samual, Ridgeway, Captain John, Ridgeway Sr., Captain John, Roebuck, Col. Benjamin, Simons, Cornet James, Thomas, Captain Robert, Washington, Lt. Col. William and White, Lt. Col. Henry.

Hundreds of patriot militia serving in the above battles are unnamed here and in large measure unknown.

Research is required and is ongoing to make identifications. All chapters of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) are actively involved in such research.

The South Carolina Society Sons of the American Revolution has authorized a process to reestablish a SAR chapter within Newberry County. On Feb. 22, 2011, a meeting was held at the Newberry Library by Dr. Redding I. Corbett III, Vice President for Chapter Formation and Development of the South Carolina Society.The State President, Rev. Dr. Ted Morton was in attendance.

Newberry County has many men with ancestry that can be traced to the American Revolution, but active membership in the SAR has been very limited. Interest has been expressed by some in the Newberry County population, but traveling to surrounding chapters seems prohibitive for some.

Thus, it appears that there is a need for a local chapter of the SAR situated in Newberry County. Formerly such a chapter existed, the Philemon Waters Chapter. This chapter was chartered in 1924 as one of the original SAR chapters in South Carolina. It became defunct in 1984.

The chapter formation process provides interested persons with timely application and genealogical assistance without hindering the recruitment process of surrounding chapters.

While the focus of recruitment is primarily on men who live in Newberry County, all those others who have an interest in the Revolutionary War history of this county or whose ancestry is in the county, may apply for membership either as a primary member or as a dual member with another chapter.

This process is not intended to entice members from surrounding chapters, especially the General James Williams Chapter, since a proposed chapter for Newberry needs to be built on a significant number of new members to the SAR.

For more information, you may contact Dr. Redding I. Corbett III who is in charge of South Carolina Society Sons of American Revolution Chapter Formation. His e-mail is SCSSAR_ChpForm@bellsouth.net and his number is 779-3931.

A local contact is Compatriot Jim Livingston, vice president General James Williams Chapter SAR, at jim_livingston@yahoo.com with the subject SAR or by phone at 321-2039.