About Us

History

The Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter, NSDAR, was organized on November 22, 1898 and was chartered on December 29, 1898. We are the second oldest chapter in North Carolina! Our chapter is named in honor of Rowan County American Revolutionary War Patriot, Elizabeth Maxwell Steele (1733–1791). She generously aided the revolutionary cause. See her story below.

Since 1898 we have been honored to serve the community and have been dedicated to the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution’s goals of promoting patriotism, preserving American and local history, and securing America’s future through better education for children.

Portrait owned by the Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter, NSDAR, on display in the DAR Room at the Rowan Museum, Salisbury, North Carolina.

Elizabeth Maxwell Steele

Elizabeth Maxwell Steele’s patriotic service is well documented, and partially described by Doctor Joseph Read, surgeon of the army, who was there with General Nathanael Greene. This passage is from the book Makers of America: Biographies of Leading Men of Thought and Action, Volume II.

“On a wild and wintry night, February 1, 1781, a lonely horseman sits his weary steed seven miles below Torrence’s Tavern. He waits for news of the day’s campaign. It is a crucial hour; only by bringing out the militia can he oppose British General Charles Cornwallis.

The preceding day, he sent General Daniel Morgan towards the Yadkin River. The messenger arrives with news that brings despair; General William Lee Davidson had been killed and the militia scattered, Cornwallis had crossed the Catawba, General Isaac Huger is hotly pressed by the British and General Greene begins his weary ride to Salisbury.

After General Morgan learns of the crossing of Cornwallis at Cowan’s Ford, he begins his retreat, February 1, toward the Yadkin River along Beattie’s Ford, or Sherrill’s Ford Road to Salisbury. They marched through the town and encamped about one-half mile east of the town on the Yadkin road in a grove, where the home of Honorable John Steele Henderson is now located.

A surgeon of the army, Dr. Joseph Read, with hospital stores and a number of wounded, reached Salisbury. Dr. Read establishes himself at Steele’s Tavern; General Greene arrives. Dr. Read said:

‘It was impossible not to perceive in the deranged state of his dress and the stiffness of his limbs some symptoms of his late rapid movements and exposure to the weather.’

‘How do you find yourself?’ asks Dr. Read.

‘Wretched beyond measure, fatigued, hungry, alone, penniless and without a friend’ (for one time heroic Greene was discouraged).’

Mrs. Steele heard the general’s remark and replied:

‘That I deny. Come in, rest, dry yourself, and in a short time a hot breakfast shall cheer and refresh you.’

A bountiful repast was soon spread. As he sits by the table with bowed head, she enters. Handing to him two bags of specie, gold and silver coins, her savings of years, she said:

‘Take them, for you will need them and I can do without them.’

On the wall of the room hung pictures, colored engravings of King George III and Queen Charlotte, which had been given Mrs. Steele by her brother, Dr. James Maxwell.

General Greene took a piece of charcoal and wrote under the picture of the king: ‘Oh, George, hide thy face and mourn.'”

Source: Makers of America: Biographies of Leading Men of Thought and Action, Volume II, by Leonard Wilson, pub. 1916, B.F. Johnson, pp. 256-257.