COLONIAL WARS, Society of. The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New York was incorporated 18 Oct. 1892. It is a patriotic organization for perpetuating the names and valor of those participating in the warfare of American colonial history. To be eligible it is necessary to have a line of descent from an ancestor: (1) Who served as a mili tary or naval officer, or as a soldier, sailor or marine, or as privateersman, under authority of the colonies which afterward formed the United States, or in the forces of Great Britain which participated with those of the said colo nies in any wars in which the said colonies were engaged, or in which they enrolled men, from the settlement of Jamestown, 13 May 1607, to the battle of Lexington, 19 April 1775; or (2) who held office in any of the colonies between the dates above mentioned, either as (a) direc tor-general, vice-director-general or member of the council, in the colony of New Netherlands; (b) governor, lieutenant or deputy governor, lord proprietor, member of the Icing's or gov ernor's council, in the colonies of New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Dela ware; (c) lord proprietor, governor, deputy governor or a member of the council, in Mary land and the Carolinas; (d) governor, deputy governor, governor's assistant or commissioner to the United Colonies of New England, or body of assistants in any of the New England colonies. Membership is hereditary in the male line. The insignia of the Society is a °badge pendant by a gold crown and ring from a silk ribbon bordered with white and edged with red,>> a nine-pointed white star bordered with red on one side and gold on the other, on a field of blue, pendant from the crown. The
flag of the Society bears a red Saint George cross on a white field.
There are more than 25 co-ordinate State societies united in the general society, with a membership approaching 5,000. In New York “business courts') are held in March and No vember; a °general court" for the annual elec tion of officers, in December. At these courts papers are read dealing with the colonial period. An annual banquet is held in honor of the founding of New Amsterdam. A "general assembly" of the general society meets once in three years at such time and place as the pre ceding assembly designated. These general as semblies are composed of the members of the general council, together with five delegates chosen by each of the State councils.
The Society has erected commemorative bronze tablets at Fort Oswego and Ticon deroga, and one of marble to General Forbes. An oil portrait of General Bouquet has been presented to the city of Philadelphia, and adorns Independence Hall. Many members of the Society participated actively, either in the army or the navy, during the Spanish-Ameri car War, many thousands of dollars being con tributed by the several State societies, from Maine to California, in equipping State regi ments, caring for the sick and wounded, and for hospital supplies, flags, band instruments, etc. The yearbooks of the Society contain valuable historical and genealogical data.