MASSACHUSETTS DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
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Contentment Chapter, NSDAR

GREENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
Contentment Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR), serving Franklin County, is dedicated to the three founding principles of NSDAR, historic preservation, education, and patriotism.

Our chapter meets on the first Saturday of each month.​

We welcome new members! Contact our chapter regent or our chapter registrar to learn more about our chapter and how to become a member.​

Questions about the chapter's site? Email the webmaster.
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  • Our Members
  • Our History
  • Our Patriots
  • Our Activities
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Our Members

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We have a variety of programs throughout the year honoring our veterans, learning about and preserving our history, and supporting our schools. Some of our meetings are activity meetings where we sign cards to be delivered to the local veteran’s hospitals, or collect items that will be donated to area schools.
 
In December, we end the year by having a holiday luncheon at a local restaurant where we enjoy a social time and the company of friends and guests.  Each March, we honor the high school seniors of the six Franklin County schools as DAR Good Citizens. We also give donations to local community organizations that support our ideals of education, historic preservation, and patriotism.

To learn more about membership click here.

Chapter History

Contentment Chapter, NSDAR, organized in 1947, was originally located in Dedham and is now located in Greenfield.

"The general court of Massachusetts was petitioned on September 3, 1635, by a small group of Watertown men for permission to form a plantation some two miles above the falls of the Charles River. The land was lush for farming." Click here for more information. The colonists wanted to name their settlement Contentment, but Dedham was chosen as the town name.
 
In 1659, after six years of land disputes and litigation, 2,000 acres were granted to what became Natick, and Dedham was compensated with 8,000 unclaimed acres in Pocumtuck (Deerfield).  John Pynchon of Springfield negotiated the purchase treaty with the Pocumtuck Indians. In 1673, the Massachusetts General Court separated Deerfield from Dedham. (Hanson, Robert Brand (1976). Dedham, Massachusetts, 1635–1890. Dedham Historical Society). In 1753, Greenfield was separated from Deerfield.   
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Since Franklin County had not had a chapter in 33 years, a request was made to consider revitalizing and relocating the chapter to Greenfield.  
 
The Contentment Chapter, NSDAR, was reorganized on January 7, 2023. Nine members of the Betty Allen Chapter, NSDAR, located in Northampton, chose to transfer to re-form the chapter. The National Board of Management approved the location move to Greenfield, Massachusetts on February 11, 2023. 
 
Given its association with the area, the Greenfield members chose to keep the chapter name Contentment. 

Our Patriots

First Name
Last Name
Rank/
​Service
State of Service
Elijah
Athey
Private
Maryland
George
Barrows
Corporal,
Civil Service
Connecticut 
Joseph
Bragham
Private
New York
Benjamin
Braman
Corporal
Massachusetts
​John
Call
Private
Massachusetts
Joseph
Cressy
Private, 
​Patriotic Service
Connecticut
Peter
Delva
Private
Massachusetts
Richard
Dresser
Civil Service, ​Patriotic Service
Massachusetts
John
Dunning
Patriotic Service
Connecticut
​Aaron
Frost
Civil Service
Connecticut
​Nathan
Graves
Minute Man, ​Private
Massachusetts
Elihu
Graves
Patriotic Service
Massachusetts
J​osiah
​Hitchcock
Civil Service, Patriotic Service
Massachusetts
​Ephraim
Hubbell
Civil Service, ​Patriotic Service
Connecticut
Shadrach
Hubbell
Lieutenant
Connecticut
Moses
Marcy
Civil Service
Massachusetts
Daniel
Marsh, Jr.
Captain
Connecticut
Daniel
Marsh, Sr.
Patriotic Service
Connecticut
James
Morgan
Private
Virginia
James
Morgan
Private
Virginia
Samuel
Narramore
Private
Massachusetts
John
Nims
Private
Massachusetts
Joshua
Packard
Private
Massachusetts
Silas
Reed
Private,
​Patriotic Service
New York
Eliakim
Reed, Sr.
​Patriotic Service
New York
Alexander
Shannon
Private
New York
David
Stearns, Sr.
​Patriotic Service
Massachusetts
Edward
Stebbins
Private
Massachusetts
Benjamin
Tingley
Lieutenant
Massachusetts
Thomas
Wadsworth
​Patriotic Service
Connecticut 
Thomas
Weeks
Captain
Massachusetts
William
White
Captain
Massachusetts
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Our Activities

Historic Preservation:
·     DAR Forests:
  • DAR raised thousands of dollars to assist in the reforestation project of the U.S. Forestry Service during the 1940s.  In Massachusetts and the Contentment Chapter, NSDAR, we actively support the DAR State Forest located in Goshen, Massachusetts
  • Cemeteries and Grave Sites: DAR members locate, restore, and mark thousands of Patriot gravesites and headstones throughout the United States. The Contentment Chapter, NSDAR, assists the High Street Cemetery Association to clean and maintain the cemetery.  Eighteen American Revolutionary War Patriots from Greenfield are interred in the High Street Cemetery.
  • Patriot Records Project
  • Patriot Records Indexing
Education
  • Literacy Promotion for Youths and Adults
    • The Contentment Chapter, NSDAR, assists with education and Literacy Promotion through the collection of hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves, for the children of Franklin County.
  • Promote and Support DAR Schools
    • Contentment Chapter, NSDAR, is pleased to help support Hillside School, Inc., located in Marlborough Massachusetts. 
  • DAR Good Citizens Awards
    • The DAR Good Citizens Award and Scholarship 
  • Constitution Week
    • ​Constitution Week commemorates the history and importance of the United States Constitution during the week of September 17 – 23.
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Patriotism
Contentment Chapter, NSDAR, members support our active-duty military and veterans in a variety of ways.
  • Women Veterans
    • DAR volunteers give special support to our nation's women veterans, with an emphasis on the sick, the homeless, and the lonely. Contentment Chapter, NSDAR, members provide support through special healthcare programs and in the Adopt-A-Veteran Program. Clothing and personal care items are collected and donated to facilities for women veterans. 
  • Thank You Cards and Holiday Cards for Our Veterans
    • DAR members distribute thank you cards and holiday cards to veterans during visits to Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, shelters, and state facilities.
  • Wreaths Across America
    • ​Contentment Chapter, NSDAR, is proud to be a part of Wreaths Across America with wreath donations, participating in ceremonies, and assisting in the laying of wreaths.
  • Vietnam War Commemoration
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Chapter site last updated July 23, 2024.

​Questions about the chapter's site? Email the 
webmaster.
​

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All photos appear courtesy of MDAR Chapter Members. ​

The content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of the NSDAR. Hyperlinks to other sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters. 
The Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution website is maintained by the
State VIS Chair.
​​
Last Updated June 30, 2025

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  • About
    • Chapters >
      • Chapter Namesakes
    • Hancock-Adams Room
    • DAR State Forest
    • MDAR Properties
    • Scholarships
  • Membership
  • CONTACT US
    • National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
    • The Massachusetts Society Sons of the American Revolution
    • Massachusetts Society Children of the American Revolution
  • Members Only (Coming Soon)
    • Meetings & Events
    • State Officers and District Directors/State Counselors >
      • Center for Development and Civic Engagement
      • Massachusetts Districts
    • Committees
    • Chapter Regents
    • Member Resources >
      • Bylaws & Articles
    • Clubs & Associations >
      • State Officers Club
      • Ex-Regents Club
      • Regents Association
      • Cameo Society
      • Pages
      • Juniors Club
      • Book Club
    • Historic Preservation Forms
    • State Regents Project