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/462055
WINTER 2014-2015 23 CONNECTICUT SOCIETY Col. Benjamin Hinman was honored in Southbury on Oct. 18, 2014, as the Gov. Oliver Wolcott Sr. Branch presented a ceremony at his grave in the Old Back Cemetery. The event was well attended by Hinman descendants, Southbury officials and members of the general public. Benjamin Hinman was a prominent military commander and ardent Patriot. He was born in Southbury in 1720, the son of Benjamin Jr. and Sarah Sherman. At a young age, he lost both parents to a smallpox epidemic and was raised by relatives. Hinman established his reputation as a bold military field commander during the French and Indian War. From 1755 to 1759, moving through the ranks from quartermaster to colonel, he saw action against the French as a Connecticut provincial militia officer at Fort Niagara, Ticonderoga, Crown Point and Canada. In 1775, his home colony of Connecticut called upon him to be the commander of one of eight newly created provincial regiments. Assigned by Gov. Jonathan Trumbull to lead the 4th Connecticut Regiment, Hinman was given the task of protecting the Connecticut coast from British invasion. In May 1775, Hinman, along with his regiment, was sent to take command of the forces at Crown Point and Fort Ticonderoga, relieving Ethan Allen and Seth Warner after their bold capture of the two forts. In December 1775, Hinman was given the command of the 13th Connecticut Militia that saw action the following year in the Battle of Long Island. Following the disappointing loss at Long Island and New York, Hinman was again with his State Troops, guarding and defending the front lines of Connecticut along the coast and the Westchester area for the remainder of 1776 and into 1777. In April 1777, Hinman and his troops were trying to repel the British in their raid on Danbury. He was wounded in the Battle of Ridgefield but by the fall of that year had recovered enough to head a company of Rangers in the Bennington area during the Battle of Bennington and was at Saratoga for the surrender of Gen. John Burgoyne and the British forces after the decisive American victory. Due to exhaustion and ill health, Hin- man exchanged his military command for political leadership when he was elected to the Connecticut legislature for an almost continuous period from 1780 through 1788. He was a member of the Connecticut Convention that adopted and approved the United States Constitution in 1788. Hinman died in 1810 at the age of 90. It was through Col. Benjamin Hinman's bold efforts in the field of battle and through strong legislative leadership on behalf of his home Colony of Connecticut, along with the sacrifices of his fellow Connecticut patriots, that the formation of the State of Connecticut and the creation of the United States of America came to fruition. Gov. Oliver Wolcott Sr. Branch #10 The Gov. Oliver Wolcott Sr. Branch #10 of the Connecticut Society was represented at the 49th Annual Massing of the Colors. The flag of our Color Guard—Gen. Wolcott's Sixth Militia Brigade—was displayed in the procession. Each year, many of the hereditary and patriotic societies in Connecticut are invited to bring their organization's flag to the Massing of the Colors in honor of their ancestors. This year's ceremony was held at the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Conn. Built in 1761-1764, the First Church of Christ is a rare surviving brick Colonial meetinghouse. In 1774, John Adams visited Silas Deane and wrote in his diary: "We went up the steeple of Wethersfield meeting-house, from whence is the most grand and beautiful prospect in the world, at least that I ever saw." George Washington and Count Rochambeau attended services there on May 20, 1781. This year, Larry Buckbee carried our flag in the procession and Ken Buckbee had the honor to be the "presenter," unfurling each flag for the audience. What made the event even more special for the Buckbee brothers was that they were both baptized in this church and have ancestors buried in the cemetery behind it. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SOCIETY Philanthropist David M. Rubenstein was presented the Sons of the American Revolution Gold Good Citizenship Medal by the District of Columbia Society on June 16, 2014, in recognition of his substantial support for the preservation of national landmarks. Rubenstein provided half of the $15 million cost to repair the Washington Monument, which was severely damaged and closed for more than 2½ years following the Aug. 23, 2011, earthquake near Washington, D.C. Other recent contributions include $12.3 million to restore Arlington House, the home of Ceremony honoring Col. Benjamin Hinman at his gravesite. Coachella Valley Chapter The Coachella Valley Chapter, chartered Nov. 5, 1994, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a luncheon. Compatriot David L. Grinnell, Coachella Valley Chapter secretary, presented a Memorial Certificate to Joan Sholl, wife of former Chapter President John Elsworth Sholl Jr., who passed away on May 18, 2014. Looking on is Chapter President H. Lee Walker.