We stand, today, by the grave of a Revolutionary Heroine of National
note.
We are proud that the soil of our beloved Kentucky and of our "Pennyrile"
Section, holds all that is mortal of Nancy Morgan
Hart .
Georgia, where she lived, in Elbert County, during the Revolution,
and where her brave, patriotic, deeds were performed, has honored her in
many ways, by naming a D.A.R. Chapter for her, a State Highway and other
memorials. Her name is that State is a Synonym for patriotism and courage.
Her last years were spent here in the home of her son, John
Hart, on this very farm, in a stone's throw of where she has so
peacefully slept for nearly one hundred years.
Her descendants in the Gen. Samuel Hopkins Chapter D.A.R. have the
unique distinction of being descended, lineally, from a woman patriot;
all others in our chapter are descended lineally from men who performed
some patriotic duty during the Revolution.
Nancy Hart's descendants, thirteen in number, who are or have been
members of this chapter are:-
Mrs. Annie Dennis Hart and
Miss Elizabeth Dennis, both of our
city.
Miss Mary Dennis, Georgetown, Ky.
Mrs. Caroline Dennis Watson, Frankford,
Ky.
Mrs. Irene Dixon Moseley, Louisville,
Ky.
Miss. Nannie L. Dixon, Morganfield,
Ky.
Mrs. Kate Butler Smith, Morganfield,
Ky.
Miss Irene Dixon, Jackson, La.
Mrs. Elizabeth C. Lane, Nevada.
Mrs. Mary Muncaster Cummins, Nebraska.
Mrs. Janet Hart Hollstein, Chicago,
Ill.
Mrs. Catherine Hart Davis, Dennison,
Texas.
Mrs. Lalla Sugg Baker, California.
We have in our city a great granddaughter of Nancy
Hart, in the person of Mrs. Mary Dixon,
now, 94 years old. Mrs. Dixon, no doubt, owes her longevity to inheritance
from her heroic great grandmother as Nancy Hart
lived to the good, old age of 95.
Nancy Hart was first cousin of Daniel
Boone, and was possessed with the same indomitable, pioneer spirit.
She was also of the same family as Gen. Daniel
Morgan of N.J., being an own cousin of his.
Gen. Morgan, with his militia, served
through the Revolution. all through the history of the was we read:- "Washington
sent for Gen. Morgan and his militia."
Gen. Morgan received the thanks of the
Nation, and Congress awarded him a gold medal for his brilliant victory
at Cowpens, in which the British were completely routed and pursued for
20 miles.
No doubt, had Nancy Morgan Hart been
a man, she would have been in the front of battle, leading her men to victory
or death, but being a woman she did "her bit" in a different way.
It has been stated that she was crossed-eyed and masculine.
Her grandchildren, who remembered her, indignantly denied that she
was cross-eyed; stating that she had very bright eyes set so close together
and moving about in a quick nervous way, so that a casual observer might
receive the impression that her eyes were cross-eyed.
As to her being masculine, ---We know only, too, well of the danger
and vicissitudes of pioneer life, and know that the times called forth
and cultivated that very trait of character in women of that period. Whether
or not she was masculine we do not know but we do know that she was a brave,
heroic soul imbued with Spartan spirit.
But now, too late ----- "Can Honor's voice provoke the silent
dust or flattery soothe the dull, cold ear of death?"
We, of today, may draw a lesson from this Revolutionary heroine,
of courage and endurance and of loyalty and patriotic devotion to her country.
Even though some Historians and descendants would like to be able to
call Daniel Boone and Daniel
Morgan "kin", there has been no substantial proof found to link
these three great American Patriots.