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A message from the president
JANUARY 1976
It is hord to realize that yet another year has passed so swiftly and by the time this January 1976 issue reaches the hands of our many loyal readers, the Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year will be well on its way.
The Society's Annual Meeting is scheduled for 16 January 1976 at the handsome and spacious Garden District residence of Audrey and Martin Gurtler II. In addition to the election of officers and trustees to serve for the forthcoming year, the meeting will include a cocktail party during which our members may socialize, make new acquaintances and renew friendships. An excellent turnout is anticipated and we are looking forward to a most enjoyable evening.
With this issue of our quarterly, THE GENESIS, we are instituting the first of a series of articles associated with the Bicentennial Celebration. We feel you will enjoy reading the interesting and informative Genealogy of Oliver Pollock, reprinted in full from a little-known and long out-of-print treatise on the antecedents and descendants of a dedicated Revolutionary War patriot who is yet to receive the recognition and honors justly due for his sterling and unselfish efforts in behalf of the American cause. Our distinguished Editor, Charles R. Moduell, Jr., advised additional material of genealogical importance, in keeping with the Bicentennial theme, will follow in subsequent issues.
We are grateful for the efforts of Mrs. Alice D.
Foriyth in supplying your Society with a catalog of information on records at hand and available for future publication in THE GENESIS?especially records from those Protestant Churches which hold deep interest for our membership. In this same vein, the project relative to copying the invaluable records of St. Paul Lutheran Church is proceeding steadily under the guidance of Mrs. Louis P. Verges, Sr. Thanks also is extended to Mrs. Nathalie G. Nelson for her transcription of the tape recording made during the special lecture on "Genealogical Reference Sources", delivered by Mr. Ronald A . Bremer of Salt Lake City, earlier this year.
In recapping the past year's activities, recognition need be given our First Vice-President and Program Chairman, Bernard ?Pat" Wolfe for scheduling a meritorious series of seven lecture meetings, each and every one being well received by large, enthusiastic and attentive oudiences. Additionally, it is 0 constant source of pleasure to regularly and uninterruptedly receive copies of correspondence being conducted by the Society's secretaries, treasurer, register, editor and those who chair our various committees--thus greatly reducing the president's work load.
In bringing this message to a close, your president is at loss as to just how to profusely thank all those who have contributed so much to the we I fare and we II be ing of our Society . To name names ofttimes results in omissions, therefore a most sincere thanks hereby is extended to each and every one of my colleagues for their truly appreciated aid and assistance.
However, it would be unpardonable not to conclude by indicating complete satisfaction with the work of our perspicacious Editor-in-Chief. Without his erudite and untiring input, there would be no "GENESIS" for all of us to enjoy.
NOLLAIG CHRIDHEIL agur BLIADHNA MHATH UR
Murvan "Scotty" Maxwell, FA I President
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR JANUARY 1976
This issue of the GENESIS is the first in which we portic pate in the Bicentennial of the American Revolution. It has bet stated by many before us that there were two principal events which together represented the birth of what was to become the most industrial nation in the world, the American Revolution an> the Louisiana Purchase. The two events were less than 25 years apart, and the last could not have occurred without the first.
It was actually events in Europe which made America. The animosity of France against Great Britain, her old enemy was the first event which brought about the greatly needed assis tance given by the one to the colonies in their revolt against England. In spite of this, America imitated manners, customs, literature, sports, institutions from the mother courtry, and exce for the small part of the world around New Orleans, the French spite of their help, were all but forgotten.
Fronce kept England occupied on the high seas with thei famous fleets led by the Comte d'Estaing and the Comte de Gros: so much so that England could not spore ships to send troups to support their army in America .
In the meantime, Louisiana was a Spanish colony, olbei! composed principally of Frenchmen. In Louisiana, Bernardo Vicente Polinar de Galver y Galardo occupied Baton Rouge, Natchez, Mobile and Pensocola, preventing the British soldiers there from rendering assistance to the principal fources ogainst Washington and Lafayette.
Inland, partly with the support of Galvez, our own Oliver Pollock was sending through the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers supplies by means of George Rogers Clark.
Holland lent money to the United Statel, but only after the loan was guaranteed by Louis XVI. Later, animosity in Holland forced them into the war but they refused to be allies of France or of Spain.
The seven years war of England against France, as a prelude to the American Revolution was an epoch of almost continuous defeat for France and glory for England. There is no doubt that retaliation against England was the principal motive for France participating on the part of the colonies, in spite of the fact that the French government, being completely absolutist in feeling, still was willing to assist a republic in their birth.