The SAR MAGAZINE is the official quarterly publication of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution published quarterly.
Issue link: http://sar.epubxp.com/i/258013
William Lanier Washington were accompanied by affidavits purporting authenticity, similar to the affidavit that accompanies the signet ring now owned by the SAR. At this time, it is unclear how the signet ring owned by the SAR passed from William Lanier Washington to President General Messmore Kendall. So, did the Washington signet ring owned by the SAR ever belong to George Washington? We cannot say with certainty that it did. Forrest Proper and others attest that some of the items sold by William Lanier Washington were authentic and at one time belonged to George Washington. But it is impossible to determine at this time which items sold by him were authentic and which were simply late 18th or early 19th century artifacts he merely claimed were owned by his illustrious fourth-great-granduncle. References American Art Association (1920). William Lanier Washington's Collection of Relics and Memorabilia of George Washington. New York: American Art Association. American Art Galleries (1922). Relics and Memorabilia of George Washington Inherited and Collected by his great-great nephew Mr. W. Lanier Washington. New York: American Art Galleries. Anderson Galleries, Inc. (1917). Historical Relics of George Washington Inherited and Collected by Mr. William Lanier Washington. New York: The Anderson Galleries. Henry, R.B. (1935). Genealogies of the Families of the Presidents. Rutland, VT: The Tuttle Company. Kendall, M. (1958, August 20). Copy of Last Will and Testament of Messmore Kendall late of Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County, New York. NSSAR Archives, Louisville, KY. Mount Vernon. Catalogue Entry for Washington Seal Ring, #W-2423. Mount Vernon, VA. Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon Ladies' Association: A Brief History. "Washington's relics sold on birthday." (February 23, 1922). New York Times. WINTER 2013-14 15 WINTER_14_sar5-17 copy.indd 15 2/4/14 11:08 AM