WEEMS—The Richard Henry Lee Chapter (RHLC), Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution (Virginia SAR) hosted a luncheon meeting on Tuesday, April 9, at Historic Christ Church in Weems. The meeting was well attended by compatriots of the RHLC, Norfolk Chapter, the Virginia Society Governor of the Order and Founders of American Patriots and other guests.
Compatriot Philip Barnard, first vice president of the Richmond Chapter, Virginia SAR, presented “The Price of Patriotism: A Tale of Two Patriots.” The two patriots are ancestors of Barnard.
Barnard shared a poignant perspective describing how one, Joel Barnard, was quickly forgotten in the family history, while the other, John Guliker, was remembered by descendants for generations to come, reported RHLC president Michael Rhodes.
Patriot Joel Barnard was a “Minuteman” in Marlborough, Mass. Private Barnard joined Captain Cyprian Howe’s Company to march to Cambridge, Mass., in response to an alarm on April 19, 1775. His service continued until August 15, 1775, when he died of camp fever while performing critical reconnaissance work for the Continental Army at Dorchester Heights, Mass.
He died at the age of 43, leaving behind a wife and nine children. He is buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Marlborough/ Middlesex, Mass.
Patriot John Guliker’s story was very different. Born in 1738, he was a Boston mariner who became a commander of the Massachusetts Privateers, with authorization to capture British vessels and cargoes for a portion of the bounty, often 50% of the value of the cargo. The primary sea-lane for targeting ships was between the Boston, Mass., area and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Guliker was captured six times, escaping four times and freed in a prisoner of war exchange twice. He died at his home in Marlborough in 1789.
Joel Barnard’s son would later marry the daughter of John Guliker. They chose to honor Guliker by naming their first-born son John Guliker Barnard. This began a tradition which lasted four generations. In 1850, just before he left for the California gold rush, John Guliker Barnard preserved the family history in a letter to his first-born son entitled “A Sketch of My Parentage.” The sketch is filled with memories of John Guliker’s heroic escapades but contained no mention of his paternal grandfather or his patriotic service. Joel Barnard’s name had been forgotten.
The next RHLC luncheon meeting will be held May 14. The keynote presentation will be an American 250 SAR chapter event, Part 1 of 3, covering national, colonial and local events that happened in 1774.
The luncheon meeting is open to the public by reservation only. Make a reservation via email: stukramer@gmail. com. The lunch fee is $20. Relay special dietary restrictions to Stu Kramer upon signing up. The meeting will start at 11:30 a.m.; lunch will be served at noon.
