By Julie Huss
She worked hard on the family farm while her husband was off leading a march of local minutemen to the Battle of Bennington during the American Revolution.
Raising five children and tending the fields, Mary Woodburn Reid was known in these parts as a strong, independent woman that knew how to take care of things.
In fact, the famous General John Stark is believed to have described the Derry woman — "Molly" as she was known — as definitely able and ahead of her time.
"If there is a woman in New Hampshire fit for governor, 'tis Molly Reid," Stark noted.
That notable Stark phrase graces the burial ground at the historic Forest Hill Cemetery in East Derry, where Molly Reid and members of her family are buried among others who made their mark and worked their way into this area's history books.
A local organization named for the pioneer woman is celebrating its 115th anniversary this month, honoring its history, its namesake Molly Reid, and its role in the community through the generations.
The Molly Reid Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution first organized in Derry on October 27 of 1894 in the home of founder Annie Bartlett Shepard, grandmother of the famed first American in space and East Derry native Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
The local DAR group was the second to be formed in the state of New Hampshire.
Members are eligible if they can provide a blood line descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving America's independence.
Dorothy Goldman knows firsthand the feeling one gets when history comes alive through a direct lineage to that rich time in history. As a member of the Molly Reid chapter, Goldman can trace her family's bloodline back to Lt. John Chamberlin, an American Revolutionary War patriot who lived most of his life in Westmoreland, New Hampshire.
For Goldman and approximately 30 other members of the DAR group, it's also a chance to gather among friends who share a strong interest in history and family.
"I'm very proud I found a patriot in my family," Goldman said. "It's exciting to have [Chamberlin] in my bloodline."
As for the Molly Reid group's founder, Goldman said Annie Bartlett Shepard was a notable community member that liked to entertain, and had strong opinions about the dealings of her day.
"She was so progressive for her era," Goldman said.
The local chapter has carried on throughout the years on community service projects, patriotic events, and keeping historical integrity and history intact.
The group supports students in the area through essay contests and other programs, and also keeps veterans issues alive and current in the area.
Some of the earliest work of the chapter included marking the spot of the birthplace of Gen. John Stark on Stark Road in Derry. A few years later, a similar stone marker took its place near the birthplace of Mary Woodburn Reid in Londonderry. Other markers have been regularly placed on the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers in the Forest Hill Cemetery in East Derry.
Another boulder stands in front of the Derry home of Matthew Thornton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was dedicated in 1909 by members of the DAR chapter. At that time, membership included three "real" daughters of those who served in the Revolutionary War and also three sisters of prominent soldiers.
To celebrate its milestone, the Molly Reid DAR group currently has a display of vintage items and information in the main lobby of the Derry Public Library through the end of the month. The group meets the second Saturday of each month at the library at 10 a.m. with a program to follow at 11 a.m. Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for membership can call registrar Mary Massa at 432-3124.
