Michael Hillegas DAR chapter to celebrate 90 years
In celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Michael Hillegas chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, the daughters of Michael Hillegas will host a celebration on Saturday, March 25, 2018, the exact day and month that the chapter organized in 1918.
Twelve patriotic ladies from the area researched their heritage and established this service organization. Since Michael Hillegas was the ancestor of the founding regent, Mrs. Will L. Taylor, members decided that the namesake of the chapter would be Hillegas.
And just who was Hillegas? He was born in Philadelphia, the son of Margaret Schiebenstock and George Michael Hillegassan, an immigrant from Germany and well-to-do merchant involved in iron and sugar. Hillegas thus had the freedom and resources to participate in local politics. He married Henrietta Boude on May 10, 1753, in Philadelphia, and they went on to have many children. Hillegas was a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly from 1765 to 1775 and served as treasurer of the Committee of Safety under Benjamin Franklin in 1774.
On July 29, 1775, Hillegas and fellow patriot George Clymer were appointed by the Continental Congress to share the office of Treasurer of the United Colonies. After Clymer's resignation on Aug. 6, 1776, Hillegas assumed sole ownership of the office, which he held throughout the remainder of the American Revolution, using much of his own fortune to support the cause. His son, Samuel Hillegas, was also given the authority to sign new currency, known as Continentals.
Hillegas served briefly as quartermaster to the army and served on occasional commissions. On Sept. 9, 1776, the Continental Congress officially changed the name of the country to the United States of America, but Hillegas's title did not officially change until March 1778. On Sept. 11, 1789, Congress created the Treasury Department, and Alexander Hamilton took the oath of office as the first Secretary of the Treasury. On that same date, Hillegas tendered his resignation.
Hillegas also was an early member of the American Philosophical Society, along with Franklin. He died in Philadelphia and is buried near Franklin in Christ Church Burial Ground. Late in the 19th century, his descendants petitioned to have his portrait appear on the $10 gold certificate in the series issued in the years 1907 and 1922.
<strong>Interested in joining DAR?</strong>
Are you interested in joining Daughters of the American Revolution? Contact the Michael Hillegas DAR chapter Regent Janice Hall at 618-272-4091 for more information.