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How the Capt Joshua Gray - Jonathan Hatch Chapter, NSDAR celebrates America 250! on Cape Cod!
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Graphic design by Chapter Board Member and Artist Susan Kilmartin.

Our 2026 America 250! event highlights American Revolutionary history as it happened on Cape Cod and the Islands.  

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We hope you will join us on Saturday June 13 for this speaker series, as well as considering supporting our event through a sponsorship.  Proceeds fund our chapter's historic preservation grants.  Questions?  Please click on Contact us above.

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A collaboration of Cape & Islands historians edited by our own chapter Historian Karen Fojt.

David S. Martin is past president of the Marstons Mills Historical Society and of the Cape Cod Genealogical Society. He has written several books and coordinated the 2020 Symposium on Cape Cod’s importance in the Plimoth Colony.

Ron Petersen is chair of the Orleans Historical Commission and serves on the Orleans Historic District Study Committee. He frequently writes and lectures about local history.

Nancy Viall Shoemaker is vice-chair of the Barnstable Historical Commission and historian of the Barnstable and West Barnstable Historical Societies. Nancy is a printer and graphic designer who has published over 70 books for local authors.

 

This book can be securely purchased online from our chapter by clicking "Buy 250th Book" above.

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Saturday, January 24, 2026, at the 13th Annual Joint Meeting and Luncheon of the Capt Joshua Gray-Jonathan Hatch Chapter of the DAR and the Cape Cod and Islands Chapter of the SAR, our guest speaker was Norman Desmarais, Professor Emeritus at Providence College, and expert on the American Revolution and the role of France in the War. Professor Desmarais delivered a presentation about the French in Boston.

 

At the meeting, pictured right, Professor Desmarais was presented with the DAR America 250! Commendation Medal and Certificate by Regent Kathryn Illo in recognition of his "extraordinary efforts to honor our Franco-American friendship" during the American Revolution. 

Saturday, July 26, 2025, our chapter, in collaboration with the Falmouth Historical Society, hosted the Cape & Islands in the Revolution America 250 Symposium. Following introductory remarks by Falmouth Historical Society Executive Director, Rachel Lovett, and our Chapter Regent, Kathryn Illo, Dr. David Martin, President of the Marstons Mills Historical Society, introduced the program speakers. Ron Petersen, Chair of the Orleans Historical Commission and member of the Orleans Historic District Study Committee, delivered a presentation called "The Tea Party on Cape Cod: The Wreck of the William." Nancy Shoemaker, Town Historical Commissioner and historian of the Barnstable and West Barnstable Historical Societies, discussed West Barnstable’s Otis family and the September 27, 1774 march to the Court of Common Pleas. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, the Falmouth Historical Society staff, Nancy Krug, our former Chapter Regent for her leadership in making this event happen, and everyone who joined us for this memorable occasion. 

Our Event Sponsors 

Booje Calfee – In memory of the Halletts, “Falmouth was fortunate that Dudley & Julia Hallet were so instrumental in the Museums’ growth and played such a huge role in keeping Falmouth’s past alive.”

Since its founding in 1890, DAR has admitted more than one million members!  Do you need help researching your family history?  Do you know that you have a Revolutionary ancestor?  Your membership begins with selecting and contacting a NSDAR Chapter.  A family member's application can be used as a basis for your application. Email Chapter Registrar at CapeCodDarRegistrar@gmail.com  or Chapter Regent at CapeCodDarRegent@gmail.com who can guide the completion of your family research and will support you with your DAR application.  We’re here to help and look forward to seeing you soon.  

Massachusetts DAR 

​National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution

​The content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of the NSDAR. Hyperlinks to other sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters.  All photos appear courtesy of Chapter Members.  Questions about the site?

Email the webmaster @ WebmasterCaptgrayhatch@gmail.com.

Updated: March 1, 2026

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