What is the DAR?
Welcome to the Kings Mountain Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR). Click here to visit the DAR website where you will find information about the history of the DAR, how to join and how to research to find the Patriot in your family tree.
Our Chapter
The Kings Mountain Chapter, NSDAR, was the only DAR chapter to have held possession of an American Revolutionary War battlefield site. The history of this chapter cannot be told without giving some background of the Kings Mountain Battlefield.
The Battle of Kings Mountain
On October 7, 1780, the Battle of Kings Mountain was fought on this mountain in what is now known as Blacksburg, South Carolina. Although it was a relatively brief but decisive all-militia battle, it was the first major Patriot victory of the Southern Campaign. The Kings Mountain battle was the turning point in the American Revolutionary War.
To ensure a successful centennial in 1880, the Kings Mountain Centennial Association (KMCA) was formed in 1879, composed largely of men from the towns of Kings Mountain and Yorkville, currently known as York. The KMCA bought 39 ½ acres of the battleground ridge from the Goforth family for $197.50 in 1880.
The centennial celebration of the Battle of Kings Mountain was held on October 7, 1880. The main event was the unveiling of the 1880 Kings Mountain Centennial Monument.
After the 1880 celebration, the historic ground fell into neglect and the mountain became a no man’s land and a nest for bootleggers.
Kings Mountain Chapter, NSDAR, is Born
Because of patriotic interest, this chapter was organized on March 24, 1898, and approved by the NSDAR on October 1, 1898. The first state regent of South Carolina appointed a chapter regent. The Kings Mountain Chapter, NSDAR, was the seventh chapter in the state to be organized.
Our chapter’s charter members were unanimous in their desire to be known as the Kings Mountain Chapter, NSDAR. Kings Mountain is only about eighteen miles from York, South Carolina, where the chapter is located, and it was in sight from the homes of many Daughters whose ancestors had taken part in that important and decisive action.
In 1899, one year after the chapter was organized, Judge I. D. Witherspoon, invited Major A. H. White of Rock Hill to speak to the ladies at his and his daughter's home. During a social time after his speech, Major White was asked about his thoughts on how the Kings Mountain Battlefield should be preserved. Without hesitation, he suggested it should be turned over to the chapter that carried its name and lived within its shadow.
Letters were written to surviving members of The Kings Mountain Centennial Battlefield Association and they agreed to relinquish their rights to the 39 ½ acres of land including the battlefield, to the Kings Mountain Chapter, NSDAR.
Judge Witherspoon helped the ladies incorporate the Kings Mountain Centennial Battlefield Association. Though the members of the association consisted of the same members of the Kings Mountain Chapter, NSDAR, it was to function as a separate organization.
In 1899, the chapter became the owner of the battlefield property and the work to preserve this land was of utmost importance to the chapter.
These patriotic ladies used their influence to win the support of the United States Congress. Congress appropriated $30,000 on June 16, 1906, for the erection of the 1909 Kings Mountain Centennial Monument.
At this time, the War Department was the steward of all national military parks and battlefields. They insisted that the battlefield lacked distinctiveness and would not commit itself to establishing a national military park. The ladies of the chapter called out its commemoration troops.
There were many debates in Washington, D.C., as to whether the Kings Mountain Battlefield should be made into a national park. Eventually, the longstanding goal of making Kings Mountain Battlefield into a national park was realized. Bill H.R. 6128 was finally passed and received presidential approval in March 1931.
On September 24, 1935, the Kings Mountain Chapter, NSDAR, donated the battlefield acreage to which the chapter held the title. This was the nucleus of the park, and additional lands acquired between 1936 and 1940 raised the total holdings within the area to the present 4,012 acres.
Along with participating each year at the anniversary of the Battle of Kings Mountain, the chapter is active in many DAR initiatives such as veterans affairs, American Indian awareness, community service, historic preservation and membership.
