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The Founding of Colonel Jonathan Bayard Smith Chapter

A group of Middletown women organized the Colonel Jonathan Bayard Smith Chapter, NSDAR, to protect and preserve their American Heritage, and to honor those who had served their country in achieving that heritage.

The group, descendants of Patriots, Heroes, Soldiers, and Sailors of the War of the American Revolution, listed as its objectives, those of our National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. At their first organization meeting, held August 27, 1903 at the South Main Street home of Mrs. Helen Bayless Peters, the group listed these objectives:

To perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence
To carry out the injunction of General Washington in his farewell address to the American People
To cherish the Institutions of American Freedom and aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty.

At this meeting, temporary officers were elected with Mrs. Peters being elected Regent. Having been a member in her former home in Des Moines, Iowa, Mrs. Peters was an efficient organizing regent.

She gave freely of her time in making the new organization one which has progressed in its activities and grown from the twenty-six members listed on its charter to sixty-two at one time and now has forty-three in 2025.

A tentative outline of yearly programs was suggested that proved so satisfactory that few changes have had to be made over the years. The program opened the season with a dinner meeting in October, a holiday party in December, George Washington's Birthday observance in February, annual business meeting in May.

On June 14, the observance of Flag Day would hold a special meeting, in respect to our national emblem. A joint meeting with other chapters was suggested.