Lesley, Ruth and Wanda

Ruth Moore, a member of the Santa Margarita Chapter, was asked to talk about membership in the United States Daughters of 1812, and the ancestor that enabled her to join the organization. Ruth’s ancestor, David Shapee, fought in the war and was awarded land in Horseheads, Chemung County, NY. The land was passed down over the years from David to his son William, to his son Grant, and then to Ruth’s uncle Lawrence and her father, Paul. They built homes and farmed the land but were blindsided when, on June 8, 1942, Lawrence was handed condemnation papers, given two weeks to sell his cattle, machinery, horses and find a new place to live. The land was needed for a U.S. Depot. Sometimes the government giveth. Sometimes the government taketh away.

Submitted by: Wanda Prosser