Real Daughters

Our Chapter's Real Daughters

• Mrs. Hannah Macomber Hess
• Mrs. Nancy Macomber Hawkins

Real Daughters are those ladies who were a single generation removed from the Revolutionary War. The Harrisburg Chapter was blessed with two Real Daughters who are sisters. They were descendants of Zenas Macomber, who according to Hannah’s application was a lifeguard under General George Washington. In an article written by Caroline Pearson, Historian, read at the annual meeting on Thursday, May 19, 1904, Zenas was referred to as Dr. Macomber. 

Hannah was born December 13, 1816, and Nancy Macomber Hawkins was born July 25, 1818. Hannah was 81 years old and Nancy 84 years old when they were admitted to NSDAR. The Real Daughters were offered pensions from NSDAR as well as gold souvenir spoons. The September/October 2007 issue of “American Spirit” reprinted the letter of thanks sent by Hannah Hess upon being accepted into the Daughters of the American Revolution and receiving her spoon.

This chapter has also had other members of note. They were Mrs. Gertrude Vandergrift Hoak, descendant of John Hart, New Jersey Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the first Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, and Miss Florence L. Gallagher, descendant of George Ross, Pennsylvania Signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The Harrisburg Chapter has gathered a few artifacts which are on display at the John Harris Mansion Museum, one of which is the John Harris gavel. The gavel was made from the tree to which John Harris was tied by Indians when they attempted to burn him in 1720. The gavel was presented to the Harrisburg Chapter by Caroline Pearson, one of his descendants, on December 16, 1896.

Charter Members

Mrs. Francis Wyeth (First Regent)
Mrs. Elizabeth R. Kunkel
Mrs. Levi B. Aldricks
Miss Ellen W. Hall
Miss Martha Buehler
Mrs. Hugh Hamilton
Miss Caroline Pearson
Mrs. M.W. McAlarney
Mrs. Caleb Henry Carlton
Mrs. George Wolf Buehler
Mrs. Jacob Haldeman
Mrs. Francis Jordan