The Celea Sampson Cole Chapter 507 National Society United States Daughters of 1812, received their Chapter Charter on Sept. 11, 2020 at the Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse with seven charter members.

On July 13, 22 members and guests celebrated the fifth anniversary of having received their Charter at the Dunkirk Lighthouse. The tour guide for the Lighthouse and grounds was 11-year-old Lincoln Krout. He was attired in period appropriate clothing and was named for President Abraham Lincoln.

His grandmother, Mary Burns Deas, is on the Lighthouse board and also conducted tours. Lincoln is interested in history and enjoys conducting tours.

On Sept. 26, 1812, some of the first shots at the start of the War of 1812 were fired when the British schooner Lady Provost was pursuing an American salt barge which took refuge at the mouth of Canadaway Creek.

There is also currently a marker stone in the present day Town of Dunkirk at the corner of Temple Road and Route 5. Celea Sampson Cole and family heard shots being fired and Cole made the ride on her horse to Canadaway (Fredonia), to alert the militia. Shots were fired by both sides, some men were wounded, and then the British boat moved out of range. The marker at the Lighthouse also states that the Widow Cole reportedly carried food and water to the militiamen and melted her pewter dishes to make bullets for their use during the attack! Celea Sampson Cole, her husband Seth, and family, in the early 1800s, came to Dunkirk after purchasing land, sight unseen, located at the mouth of Canadaway Creek, from the Holland Land Co.

The United States Daughters of 1812, is a lineage based organization for women with direct line Patriots of the War serving the American cause from 1784-1815. Patriots would have rendered civil, military or naval service, rendered material aid to the US Navy or Army, or participated in the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

After the tour members and guests enjoyed a luncheon at Demetri’s Restaurant. Members told their stories about family Patriots.

For more information please contact President Sandra Johnson at startubing@hotmail.com or 716-499-1965. Historian/Secretary Gail Pugh Dash at gaildash@yahoo.com or 716-785-8420