NJDAR Chapter recently completed a two-year restoration project at the graves of Brigadier General William Maxwell and his two brothers.
General William Maxwell Chapter, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, of Belvidere, celebrated a graveside remembrance ceremony recently at Old Greenwich Cemetery in Stewartsville.
The ceremony was the final stage of a two-year grave restoration project undertaken by the chapter. The graves of Brigadier General William Maxwell, New Jersey's only Brigadier General during the American Revolution and the chapter's namesake, his two brothers, Capt. John Maxwell and Lt. Robert Maxwell, and their respective wives, Mary and Eleanor, were restored. The graves had fallen into a state of disrepair due to the ravages of time, and much work was desperately needed to restore the sites to a respectful and fitting state.
The chapter replaced missing stones with historically appropriate mortar, cleaned the limestone ledgers to reveal the remaining inscriptions, and provided bronze plaques on granite bases at the foot of each grave. The bronze plaques are the exact ledger inscriptions, thus preserving their content. The chapter raised $12,000 toward this project.
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Part of the funds came from their "Preserving History" jam sales, which became a best-selling item in northern New Jersey. The chapter used a commercial jam provider and self-labeled each flavor of jam with a little bit of history from the area. Flavors included "Maxwell's Marmalade," "Shippen Manor Strawberry," and "Patriot Peach." Other monies came from chapter donations and donations from outside sources.
The remembrance ceremony was held in conjunction with the 275th anniversary of Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church.
Participants included chapter members, NJDAR state officers, NJSSAR, the Trenton Barracks Fife and Drum Corps, the 2nd NJ Regiment Helm's Company (Maxwell's Brigade), and local dignitaries. State Regent Connie Olde and several NJDAR state officers attended, along with several Daughters from area chapters.
Gerald DeGroat, National Society Sons of the Revolution, provided the Maxwell Brigade flag.