Photos from the February 7, 2026 Commissioner Charles Gause No 433 Daughters of 1812 Meeting

 Keith Chipman was our guest speaker for the February 7, 2026 meeting of our 1812 organization. Keith is the husband of our Vice-President, Rebecca Chipman. Keith is a blacksmith as a hobby. Essential blacksmith tools include a forge for heating metal, an anvil for shaping, and a variety of hammers (such as cross-peen or ball-peen) for forging. Other crucial tools include tongs for holding hot metal, a post vise for securing work, and cutting tools such as chisels and punches. 

After watching several episodes of "Forged in Fire" Keith and Reecca decided to ry their hand at forging tools themselves. Keith has worked in the Machine Tool Trade his entire career. Shaping metal, heat treating and producing tools using a variety of machine tools was familar tohoim. Using fire an anvil and hammer toshape metal into tools was new. Keith and Rebecca started by forging a couple of knives thenmoved on to produce seveal decorative items used around thehouse such as canmadle stick holders, wall sconces, decorative mirror and a chandelier to name a few.

Typical clothing worn by a blacksmith includes eye protection, heavy cotton clothing (no polyester), a leather apron, and leather shoes or boots to protect them fromthe sparks that fly while forging metal.

Some of the tools used in a blacksmith shop. Shown is an anvil, a couple of hammers, tongs, and hardy hole accessories. 

Describing a three-pound hammer made in the forge. One end is flat, and the other was rounded off to move more metal while forging. 

The flat end is shown on the right, and the round end is on the left.

Describing a pair of tongs made in the forge out of 5/8" diameter wrought iron. Blacksmiths use a variety of tools made to hold many shapes and sizes of metal. This pair is very useful for holding small-diameter round and square stock in the V-shaped tips forged into the ends of the tong.

Description of using a pair of tongs to hold a knife by its tang in preparation for heat treatment. 

Cutoff tools are one of the many "Hardy Hole" accessories Blacksmiths use in the forge.

Another "Hardy Hole" accessory. This one is used to neck down or reduce the cross-section of a candlestick holder. Repeated heating, rotating the part, and hammering are necessary to form the shape of a candlestick holder.

                   Candlestick holder assembled to the base.

The left hand shows an integral tag on a knife similar to the one on Rebecca's dagger in my right hand.

Describing a knife with a full tang. This one has two wooden scales on opposite sides of the knife held together with rivets to form the knife handle.

At the registration table, committee chairs have placed baskets and containers for members to contribute to their committees. In the front right side is the Wreaths Across America program, where members can donate any amount to purchase wreaths for Wreaths Across America, which will be on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at Wilmington National Cemetery. Each wreath is $17. You can also go to the Wreaths Across America tab on this blog and order a wreath by credit card or by calling the main number. Check this out. Also, you can give Cindy Sellers, our treasurer, a check made out to Daughters of 1812 and order wreaths that way. Tickets are available for purchase at the end of the meeting.The voices given away are 3 gardening books, an 1812 logo mousepad, a pin, an 1812 logo bag and a Valentine surprise basket. 

Our new officers for 2026-2028 were selected at the 1812 meeting on February 7, 2026. The new president will be Suzanne Palmer; the Vice President will be Susan Woodard; the Secretary will be Kathleen Benedict; and the Treasurer, Cindy Sellers, will serve another term. Registrar will be Rebecca Chipman; Chaplain will be Linda Lashley, who will serve another term in office; Historian will be Phyllis Wilson; and Librarian will be Joan Hall. The new officers will be sworn in at the June 2026 meeting.

The voices given away are 3 gardening books, an 1812 logo mousepad, a pin, an 1812 logo bag, and a Valentine surprise basket. 

Thank you so much to our guest speaker, Keith Chipman, for taking the time to add captions to the photos below from his presentation.

   

The Battle of New Orleans 2026

Vice-President Rebecca Chipman and President Michele Russell pose for a photo with the 1812 wreath, which is also in front of the marker. 

  1812 Wreath

Left to right: Kathy Benedict, Pat Tucker, Susan Woodward, Librarian Martha Blacher, Susan DeGroote, Carol Jutte, Registrar Suzanne Palmer, Chaplain Linda Lashley, Anne Boone, Treasurer Cindy Sellers, Phyllis Wilson, Keidra Koenig, President Michele Russell, Vice-President Rebecca Chipman, Carole Weiss, Historian Joan Hall, Secretary Caron Myers, Judy Ward, and Bettie Lettieri absent from photo, but in attendance, guests Judy Caison and Vicki Lauziere

 

                     

"Chapter Member Judy Ward spoke on the War of 1812 and the Battle of New Orleans". 

Members of the Commissioner Charles Gause No. 433 Chapter of the National Society of the United States Daughters of 1812 gathered in Southport on an unusually warm and sunny Wednesday, January 8, 2026, to commemorate the Battle of New Orleans.  This is the 12th year that the chapter has been celebrating this event. There were 21 ladies present. Two guests and 19 members. 

1812 member Judy Ward provided an engaging address at the annual Battle of New Orleans Memorial. Central to her speech was the debate over whether the War of 1812 should be viewed as a direct continuation of the American Revolution or as a distinct and independent conflict. Ward examined arguments on both sides, noting that while the war was shaped by unresolved issues from the Revolution – such as sovereignty and territorial claims – it also reflected new challenges that emerged in the early 19th century. 

Ward then addressed the post-Constitution era, emphasizing that economic policies such as tariffs and ongoing British influence complicated the young nation’s efforts to define its boundaries in North America. She explained that these factors not only strained relations with Great Britain but also affected interactions with neighboring Canada, Spanish territories, and the Native nations whose lands were caught in the crosscurrents of imperial ambition.

 Ward positioned the Battle of New Orleans as a defining moment that encapsulated the broader significance of the War of 1812. She urged continued scholarly debate on whether the war was a postscript to the Revolution or a unique conflict, emphasizing the importance of including all voices in the historical narrative. The last decisive battle of New Orleans, where enslaved men, freemen, and Indians who joined for only a short time, seeing that the war was not beneficial to them, left. So was the War of 1812 part of the American Revolution, or was it just a conflict?

                                   

 

   Chaplain Linda Lashley handed out flowers to all the members to place on the marker in memory of their patriots.

 Public Relations chair, Phyllis Wilson, placed a flower in honor of her patriot, John Merriam, MA.

  Member Susan DeGroote placed a flower in memory of her patriot, Joseph Harris Woolfold from Kentucky.

Susan Woodard traveled with her daughter, Kathy Benedict, from Jacksonville, NC, to attend this event.

1812 Member Pat Tucker attended the Battle of New Orleans event on a beautiful sunny afternoon on January 8, 2026, to honor her patriot, Peter Mumpower from VA.

Below, the marker is adorned with flowers placed by the members who attended. Linda Lashley came back after lunch and arranged the flowers more attractively, and took a photo for our blog. Great idea, Linda.

After celebrating the Battle of New Orleans, members visited Oliver’s Restaurant for refreshments, which gave everyone an opportunity to reflect on the day’s commemorations.

Thank you, 1812 members Caron Myers and Linda Lashley, who took photos on January 8th. Plus, Linda went back to the site, rearranged all the flowers, and took a photo for the blog. Thank you, Linda. Also, a special thanks to Vicki Lauziere, a friend of Phyllis Wilson's, who came to take a group shot so Phyllis could be in it. 

Wreaths Across America 2 for 1 Sale was changed to December 13, 2025 to December 31, 2025. Order Now!

 

Due to the short time left to order wreaths for the 2-for-1 sale, it is suggested that you go to  www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/nc0025p  (click on website- This is a direct website for our 1812 chapter to sponsor a wreath.

Call the main number.  877-385-9504 for Wreaths Across America to order with a credit card. You need the Locator Number, which is NC0025P, and the Location, which is Wilmington National Cemetery. If you need help, email me at par4wilson@gmail.com.

Thanks.

Phyllis Wilson 

Wreaths Across America Attended Event by Commissioner Charles Gause Chapter US Daughters of 1812 for 2025

 Front row: Judy Caison, Rebecca DeSilva, Carole Weiss, Paula De Silva, and Caron Myers.

Back row: Carol Jutte, Rebecca Chipman, Pam Gordon, Phyllis Wilson and Keidre Koenig

1812 members posing for a photo at the Wreaths Across America Wreath Laying Ceremony

The two gentlemen in the photo below are very important to the smooth operation of the Wreaths Across America Wreath Laying each year. This year, there was a problem with the wreaths being delivered in a truck that was too large to enter the Wilmington National Cemetery. Luckily, thanks to TV advertising and outreach to the sponsorship groups, there was enough manpower and trucks to move the wreaths to the proper locations at the cemetery in time for distribution, a little after 12:30, when the program was over. 

Jerry Ford is the Wreaths Across America Location Coordinator for the Wilmington National Cemetery. He is responsible for planning and coordinating all the activities associated with the ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery. Ed Valleau is a member of Civil Air Patrol and a senior member of the Cape Fear Composite Squadron. He oversees one of the wreath distribution areas: wreath arrival, unpacking boxes, and assisting in the distribution for laying of the wreaths.

Lt. Col. Patty Kelley, USAF (ret)

Caron Myers, secretary with keynote speaker.

This is the truck that brought all of the wreaths to Wilmington National Cemetery. Unfortunately, the large truck could not enter the cemetery.  So extra trucks and men were needed to help load them and bring all the wreaths to the cemetery by 12:30, so the wreath-laying ceremony would still be on time.

               

The substantial size of these graves reflects the gravity of their sacrifice.

People are just beginning to lay the wreaths on the graves.

Carol Jutte at Wreaths Across America before everyone started to lay all the wreaths. Fortunately, all 5,172 wreaths were placed on the graves of Veterans, unless a Star of David is on the tombstone.

 This is a photo of Carol Jutte in 2017 at Wreaths Across America. Look how beautiful the cemetery is with all the wreaths placed on the graves.

               Phyllis Wilson, WAA manager of four sponsorship groups. The Brunswick Town DAR Chapter, The US Daughters of 1812, The Lord Craven Colonial Dames Chapter, and The Daughters of Colonial America

Thank you, Alan P. Curtner, Webmaster & Road Captain CMA Knights of the Light, Wilmington, NC, for sharing some photos for our blog. Thank you, Caron Myers, Rebecca Chapman, and Keidra Koenig, for your photos. Other photos taken by blog manager Phyllis Wilson.

Photos from the Cape Fear Scottish Immigration Memorial Dedication at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson in Winnabow on November 14, 2025

 

The Cape Fear Scots Memorial held a dedication ceremony on November 14th at 2:00 pm. If you attended the October 4th meeting or read the minutes, you will know that our chapter is donating $ 2,000.00 for a 12 x 18 engraved brick, which may be ready in time for the dedication. 

Why is this cairn here?

​Brunswick Town was the “First Footing” for many early Highland Scottish Immigrants, with more than 20,000 stepping foot on American soil less than 100 yards from this spot. The Cape Fear area and the Scots who came here were fundamental in establishing the cultural and political foundations of North Carolina. It is the beginning of the North Carolina Scottish Immigration Trek, representing the journey of many of the first settlers. The stones around the base are actual ballast stones from Scotland.

A cairn is a human-made pile or stack of stones, often used as a memorial. Cairns have been used throughout history in many cultures and can be found in various locations around the world. They serve a practical purpose, like guiding travelers or marking a significant spot, but can also have a symbolic or ceremonial meaning. They are common in areas where there aren't obvious paths to help people find their way.

When did they come?

The major migration of Scots from Scotland to North Carolina occurred between the 1730s and the early 1800s. The first wave began in 1739 with the Argyle Colony, granted land and support by Royal Governor Gabriel Johnston. Thousands arrived in the 1760s and early 1770s, often settling in communities where other Gaelic speakers already lived. Scottish immigration slowed after the American Revolutionary War, partly due to changing British emigration policies.

Why North Carolina?

​North Carolina, particularly the Cape Fear River Valley, offered cheap land, community, cultural freedom, and opportunity, all supported by a colonial government eager to welcome them. Highland Scots, many of whom were poor tenant farmers in Scotland, were attracted by the chance to own and farm their own land. Early settlers sent letters back to Scotland, encouraging others to join them. This created a chain migration effect, where families followed relatives or clan members. North Carolina became the most concentrated Highland Scottish settlement in colonial America.

                                         

Former 1812 President Carol Jutte presented a $2000 check to Bob McLeod, president of the Scottish Immigration Memorial Fund, for the purchase of a paver with the chapter's name on it.

A cairn is a human-made pile or stack of stones, often used as a memorial. Cairns have been used throughout history in many cultures and can be found in various locations around the world. They serve a practical purpose, like guiding travelers or marking a significant spot, but can also have a symbolic or ceremonial meaning. They are common in areas where there aren't obvious paths to help people find their way.

Information provided by the Brunswick Town website.

This photo shows some 1812 and Lord Craven members who attended the November 14, 2025, Cape Fear Scottish Immigration Memorial Dedication at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson in Winnabow, NC.