ccharlottesar Laurens

2021 Summer BOM meeting at Ft Laurens Bolivar, Ohio

July 24th 2021 was the OHSSAR board of management meeting which was conducted at Ohio’s only Revolutionary War fort.

The Americans completed the construction of Fort Laurens—named after Henry Laurens, president of the Continental Congress—in early December 1778. The fort was to serve three purposes. First, the Americans hoped to use Fort Laurens as a base to attack the British garrison located at Detroit. Second, it would hopefully deter American Indians loyal to the British from conducting raids against American settlers in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. And finally, by offering protection to the neutral Christian Delawares, the Americans might convince them to forsake their neutrality and join the patriots’ cause.

In total, 21 soldiers lost their lives at Fort Laurens before it was abandoned in 1779. Later, part of the fort was demolished during the building of the Ohio and Erie Canal. Currently none of the original fort remains above ground, but the outline of the fort is visible.

ccharlottesar 2020 posts, Chapter meetings, Veterans

2020 United States Air Force Captain William J Barthelmas, Jr Call sign “Black Bart” inducted into The Sons of the American Revolution, Camp Charlotte Chapter #41

Circleville, Ohio 22 September 2020

William J. Barthelmas, Jr, Capt. USAF 1936 – 1965

Tuesday evening a small ceremony was held at the Pickaway County Historical and Genealogical Society Library on North Court Street, Circleville, Ohio.

The gathering was to honor the posthumous induction of Captain William Jennings Barthelmas, Jr. , into the membership of the Camp Charlotte Chapter of Pickaway County, Ohio. A small color guard, Ohio Society President, Turner “Lee” Wilkerson III presented the Certification of Memorial Membership for the Ohio Society SAR and the National Society of the SAR, to Steven Barthelmas [Capt. Barthelmas’ brother] and nephew, Scott J. Barthelmas.

Ohio Society President, Turner “Lee” Wilkerson III
Steve and Scott Barthelmas

Compatriot Captain William J. Barthelmas, Jr. is the first posthumous Military Veteran to be recognized as a fellow member of the Ohio SAR. His lineage is documented as a descendant of the Captain Andrew Leist of the Virginia Militia. Captain Leist died in Pickaway County, Ohio on 11 Nov 1821.

Captain, William Jennings Barthelmas, Jr. was born on June 26, 1936 in Pickaway County, Ohio.  He was killed in action in Vietnam on July 27, 1965/ Burial: Spring Bank Cemetery, Ross County, Ohio. In his honor, a Memorial Bell Tower [originally constructed by his father] was erected at Circleville High School and the bell rang loud & proud following a Circleville victory. The Memorial Bell Tower was relocated to Canal Park following the construction of a new Circleville School building project.

Captain William Jennings Barthelmas, Jr. was the first casualty from Pickaway County, during the Vietnam War. He was killed in action following a bombing mission to Hanoi.

“REMEMBER”

by Rick Lear, Treasurer CCSAR

National Society Sons of the American Revolution, Ohio Society Sons of the American Revolution Camp Charlotte Chapter #41, Pickaway County, Ohio