First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry

A reminder to submit your email inquiry to reserve your spot to join us for our 250th Anniversary Ball (Members of the Troop will receive mailed invitations and have already received registration instructions by email):

In Celebration of the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry the Officers and Gentlemen of the Troop request the pleasure of your company for a celebration dinner and ball at the Armory.

Dinner and the ball is $300 per person. The ball without dinner is $150 per person. A reserved table for the ball is available for $500 in addition to the ticket price.

The Ball is open to all friends of the Troop, but priority will be given to members of the Troop and their immediate family members. If you have interest in attending, please email Leila at [email protected] to be added to the wait list and for further instructions on payment. Please include how you are associated with the Troop (organization name and/or Troop members’ names).

Dinner: Cocktails from 6:00–7:30, dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Ball: 9:30 p.m.–2 a.m. The Jack Faulkner Band will play continuously until 2:00 a.m. Breakfast will be served from 12:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Attire: Gentlemen: White tie, or evening mess uniform. With orders and decorations. Ladies: Floor length ball gown and gloves.

We look forward to celebrating this historic milestone with you!

The Army Heritage Center Foundation will be honoring the Troop. Tickets are available for those who wish to attend.

Join us to Honor our Soldiers and their Supporters
The Army Heritage Center Foundation Board of Directors
cordially invites you and your guests to attend our
Seventeenth Annual
Membership and Recognition Dinner
U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center
950 Soldiers Drive, Carlisle, PA 17013
Saturday, October 26, 2024


MG John Armstrong Award
The Honorable Thomas Corbett


Living Legend Award
First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry

Reception: 6:00 – 7:00 pm ~ Silent Auction: 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Dinner and Program: 7:00 pm


Dress: Military: ASU or AGSU
Civilian: Cocktail/Business with or without Decorations

Thank you to Listrak for their sponsorship of our upcoming Recognition Dinner. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available. https://www.armyheritage.org/events/16th-annual-membership-recognition-dinner-and-silent-auction/

In Celebration of the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry the Officers and Gentlemen of the Troop request the pleasure of your company for a celebration dinner and ball at the Armory.

Dinner and the ball is $300 per person. The ball without dinner is $150 per person. A reserved table for the ball is available for $500 in addition to the ticket price.

The Ball is open to all friends of the Troop, but priority will be given to members of the Troop and their immediate family members. If you have interest in attending, please email Leila at [email protected] to be added to the wait list and for further instructions on payment. Please include how you are associated with the Troop (organization name and/or Troop members’ names).

Dinner: Cocktails from 6:00–7:30, dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Ball: 9:30 p.m.–2 a.m. The Jack Faulkner Band will play continuously until 2:00 a.m. Breakfast will be served from 12:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Attire: Gentlemen: White tie, or evening mess uniform. With orders and decorations. Ladies: Floor length ball gown and gloves.

We look forward to celebrating this historic milestone with you!

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

The Troop was honored to support the Let Freedom Ring annual celebration at Washington Square hosted by Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution.

The Troop mourns the loss of Honorary Corporal John Alexander Frazier, No. 1837. He was elected on February 1, 1965. He was elected to the Non-Active Roll on August February 14, 1972. He died on June 17, 2024

Obituary:
The University of South Carolina Men's Rugby Club lost a piece of its soul and part of its history Monday with the passing of Sandy Frazier, the club’s founder and first coach.

Frazier passed away in his sleep Monday at a senior living facility near Memphis after a four-year battle with dementia.

A native of Philadelphia and a 1971 graduate of the University of South Carolina, Frazier was introduced to rugby at the age of 22 during his service at Philadelphia’s First Troop City Cavalry around 1965. In 1967, he moved to Columbia and joined the Fort Jackson Rugby Club as its captain.

Fort Jackson’s roster quickly diminished due to the Vietnam War. So, Frazier turned his attention to a new pool of prospective players: the University of South Carolina. He met with administrators, attracted 20 new players (mostly from his fraternity), and the USC rugby football club was born, with Frazier serving as player, coach, and captain.

In 1969, while competing at a 7s tournament at Duke University, Frazier met Dr. James (Jim) Wynn, a seasoned rugby player who was planning to move to Columbia. The pair bonded immediately, and Frazier invited Wynn to join the Gamecocks.

After graduating in 1971, Frazier turned the coaching reins over to Wynn, married, and moved to Memphis, where he began a lifelong career as a successful homebuilder. In 1972, Frazier joined the Bulls/Old No. 7 rugby club and continued to be involved in the sport until 1991 and often returned to USC for rugby alumni events.

He participated in rugby tours throughout the U.S., England, Scotland, Wales, Australia, and New Zealand. Frazier was inducted into the Memphis Rugby Hall of Fame in 2019. In April, he was inducted into the USC Men’s Rugby Club’s inaugural Hall of Fame class with Wynn and Matt Godek.

Due to his declining health, Frazier was unable to attend the event but was represented by his daughter, Canby, and her husband, Scott Irwin. In addition to Canby and Scott, Fraizer is survived by daughters Morgan Frazier and Leila Frazier and two grandsons.

“We have lost a USC rugby giant,” said Carolina Rugby Foundation Chairman Robert Balmer. “His loss will be felt by all who have worn the garnet and black rugby jersey. Together, we extend our condolences and prayers to the Frazier family.”

To honor Frazier, the family encourages donations to the newly created Frazier Coaching Fund. The fund will support our head coach’s salary and stipends for assistant coaches.

“Our family has been overwhelmed by the outreach and affection shown to us by the USC rugby family. The Hall of Fame ceremony came at a very hard time for us, and it was so uplifting,” said Canby Frazier. “We are so proud of the program and the young men on the team. We encourage donations to this fund. It will honor my father’s legacy and support the program he loved so, so much.”

Those wishing to make a gift should visit the Frazier Coaching Fund webpage.

In the short term, the family is planning a private ceremony. A larger celebration of Sandy’s life will be held in the future, and we’ll share information about that gathering when available.

USC rugby founder Sandy Frazier passes Foundation launches Frazier Coaching Fund to honor his legacy as first coach

The Troop mourns the loss of Honorary Sergeant Christopher Clarke Simonds, No. 1858. He was elected on July 12, 1965. Promoted to Corporal on August 8, 1966, and Sergeant October 14, 1968. He was elected to the Non-Active Roll on August October 18, 1971, and the Honorary Roll on November 7, 1986. He died on April 14, 2024.

“Environmental Steward, Athlete, and Dear Friend to Many

Christopher Clarke Simonds, a man who cared deeply for others and the natural world, passed away peacefully in Florianopolis, Brazil on April 14, 2024, at the age of 81.

Born in 1942 to Deborah Snow Simonds of Little Compton, Rhode Island, and Clarke Simonds of Providence, Rhode Island, his early years were split between Providence and summers in Little Compton. There, he developed a love of nature and sports, becoming a skilled golfer and tennis player. Chris attended St. George's School, where he excelled at soccer, swimming, and baseball. A passion for music emerged after attending many of the historic performances at the Newport Jazz Festival in the late 1950s.

At the University of Pennsylvania, Chris majored in English and played for the Varsity Soccer team. He also joined St. Anthony Hall, where he forged lifelong friendships. After graduating, he served in the First City Troop in Philadelphia and went on to earn an MBA from Wharton in 1968.

Chris then embarked on a career in finance, working at G. H. Walker, Merrill Lynch, and Smith Barney, with moves from Wilmington to Philadelphia, Providence, and finally Boston. A firm believer in giving back, he supported many nonprofits and served on the boards of several, including St. George's and Community Preparatory School.

In 2000, Chris retired and followed his adventurous spirit to Florianopolis, Brazil. There, on over 1000 acres of recovering Atlantic Forest, he acted on an urgent belief in the need for greater environmental protection by creating a private nature reserve. In the coastal hills, he built a visitor center and six miles of trails to welcome student groups and researchers. The reserve served not only as a haven for study but also as a platform to raise awareness about the importance of protecting diverse flora and fauna and natural water sources. His dedication extended beyond his lifetime, as he secured the land's permanent protection.

Chris spent his final years embracing the pleasures of life in Campeche and its beautiful stretch of shoreline. He relished long walks, yoga, and meditation, while finding joy in building new friendships and rekindling old ones. A lover of Brazilian music and always ready to celebrate, he kept dancing whenever given the chance.

He is survived by his sister Jennifer Snow Simonds of Warren, Rhode Island; his son Frederic Clarke Simonds of Wilmington, Delaware; his son Nicholas Snow Simonds and his daughter-in-law Claudia Garzel of Los Angeles, California; and his former wives Barbara Simonds and Luciane Brandao. He was predeceased by his brothers Philip Baldwin Simonds of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Robert Snow Simonds of Charleston, South Carolina.

Chris leaves behind a legacy of love, service, and reverence for the natural world. His gentle kindness and positive energy will be deeply missed by those who knew him.

His ashes will be interred next to his father's at Swan Point Cemetery.”

Christopher Simonds Obituary (2024) - Little Compton, RI - East Bay RI View Christopher Simonds's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

in 1863, Union and Confederate forces met at Gettysburg in southern Pennsylvania. The subsequent three-day involved more than 170,000 combined Union and Confederate soldiers and had more casualties than any other Civil War battle. The Union ultimately prevailed, and the battle is considered by many to be the Civil War's turning point.

Eight current Pennsylvania National Guard units can trace their lineage to units that fought at Gettysburg: 103rd Brigade Engineer Battalion; 1-104th Cavalry Regiment; 1-107th Field Artillery Regiment; 1-108th Field Artillery Regiment; 1-109th Field Artillery Regiment; 1-111th Infantry Regiment; 728th Main Support Battalion; and Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 28th Infantry Division.

Congratulations to all of the Troopers who just returned from Fort Johnson, Louisiana after a successful JRTC rotation!

Happy Father’s Day to all of our Troop dads, past and present!

On this Memorial Day evening, the Devon Horse Show & Country Fair recognized honored guests in the annual Tribute to Heroes Ceremony.

The definition of the word hero is a person who is admired for their achievements, bravery, and courage; whose intent is to make this world a better place for all of us.  

Today, people throughout our country gather to remember, honor and pay gratitude to those who serve our country.

The Tribute to Heroes ceremony is Devon’s way of thanking all those who protect us for their many sacrifices.

Two special guests were in attendance this evening, United States Navy veteran Buford Cline and United States Army veteran Ray Parker, both of whom heroically served our country in World War II. Mr. Cline and Mr. Parker, thank you for your sacrifice and service to our country!

Honorary Troopers Jim Tevebaugh and Gene Hough helped students at Warner Elementary School in Wilmington, DE restore and preserve a memorial honoring the school’s alumni who fell during the Second World War.

Legacy Marker Program works to preserve the past for military monuments in Wilmington, Del. A program is working to preserve the past as several military monuments sit near Brandywine Park in Wilmington that haven't been touched or cleaned in decades.

Counting down the days until Race Day this Saturday, May 18! 🐎

At 1 p.m., don't miss the presentation of the Colors by the Mounted Color Guard of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. The oldest continuously serving cavalry unit in the United States Army, their service to the nation started with the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, Germantown and Brandywine. Many of the Troop’s original 28 members helped to organize the Gloucester Fox Hunt in 1766, one of the first organized hunts in North America.

📸: Jim Graham

The Eighty-Fifth First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry Border Plate Hunter Trials, commemorating the Troop’s service along the Mexican Border from 1916-1917, was held at Three Diamonds Stable in Collegeville, Pennsylvania this past Saturday. Thank you to our host and to all of the Troopers who made it a marvelous day. Congratulations to all of the riders and tailgate participants, especially to our Border Plate champion, Stable Sergeant Bennett Opitz!

The Troop mourns the loss of Non-Active Sergeant Richard C. Walling, No. 1675. He was elected on December 5, 1955. Promoted to Corporal on October 6, 1958, and Sergeant September 5, 1959. He was elected to the Non-Active Roll on August 5, 1963. He died on January 29, 2024.

Obituary:

WALLING Richard Campion (Dick), Sr. Of Haverford, PA, passed away at home on January 29, 2024, after a long illness with his loving wife, and faithful pup by his side. Richard was born in Philadelphia on December 24th, 1936. He was the son of Ritner Kelsey Walling and Margaret Campion. He was predeceased by his beloved brother Ritner, with whom he shared many childhood adventures. Richard attended Episcopal Academy, class of 1955. After graduation he joined the family business, Express Marine Inc., on the Delaware River in Camden, NJ. Always the entrepreneur, he grew the company and eventually assumed a major role in the marine transportation industry. His employees loved and respected him. He treated everyone as family, always taking a personal interest in all. Acts of kindness defined Richard. He never saw a stray dog in Camden that he didn't rescue. EMI had an on-site "Canine Crew." Richard had a deep passion for yachting. One highlight was being part of the 1987 America's Cup syndicate in Fremantle, AU, where the U.S. famously reclaimed the Cup, that was lost for the first time in history, in 1983. He was an active member of the Corinthian Yacht Club. Spending much of his life by the sea, the name Magic Time became the banner for his personal boats and his homes in Bermuda and Cape May Point. Richard enjoyed nothing more than spending "magic time" with his family and friends. A philanthropist at heart who liked to fly under the radar, he never needed or wanted recognition for his acts of generosity. He cared deeply about people, family, and strangers alike. Helping others was second nature to him. On 9/11, one of his largest barges was on the Hudson River. Without hesitation, he had the captain divert his course to the World Trade Center, where stranded survivors were shuttled to safety. Each year, on the anniversary of 9/11, he had a banner plane fly along the Jersey shore as a remembrance of those we lost. In 2005 he responded to New Orleans after hurricane Katrina, by sending two trucks of essential supplies to the Union Hall. Many will remember his annual, and greatly anticipated Christmas Box. Cocked full of goodies, from the sublime to the ridiculous, it was a holiday highlight for all lucky recipients. Richard was the beloved husband of Mary Elizabeth McAndrews. Devoted father to Pamela Register (Croft), Vanessa, Gardner (Amy), and Richard Jr. (Lisa). Loving grand pop to Christopher, Dane, Tim, Liza, Hayden, Garrett, Hunter, Cameron, Baird and Lindsay. Great grand pop of Spencer, CJ, Olivia, Gray, Lilly, Wesley and Beckett. Richard lived by the motto, "We are meant to share the goodness of life." He will always be remembered for that, and his unconditional generosity and kindness to those in need, especially to his family. Memorial services will be private.

Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer on Apr. 14, 2024.

Richard WALLING Obituary (2024) - Newtown Square, PA - The Philadelphia Inquirer View Richard Campion "Dick" WALLING Sr.'s obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

The Troop mourns the loss of Honorary Sergeant Alfred H. “Bud” Rainey, No. 2101. He was elected on April 7, 1975, promoted to Corporal on October 3, 1977, and Sergeant on October 5, 1987. He was elected to the Non-Active Roll on October 3, 1992, and the Honorary Roll on September 11, 2006. He died on March 26, 2024.

To his memory!

Obituary:

“Bud Rainey of West Whiteland passed away on March 26, 2024. Born on September 8, 1943 in Philadelphia, he was the son of Robert Rainey and Cassandra Clark Rainey. He proudly served his country in the US Air Force followed by the National Guard.

Bud is survived by Mary Grace Rainey, his sons Hugh (Elizabeth Fulton) Rainey, Jeffery (Alexa Kline) Rainey; brother Robert Rainey and a sister Sandra Rainey-Croll.

A Prayer Service is scheduled for Saturday April 6th, 2024 at 12:00 Noon with a time of visitation from 11:00 AM until the service at the Maclean-Chamberlain Funeral Home, 339 W. Kings Hwy Coatesville, PA.”

https://www.mcfuneralhome.com/obituaries-page-4

Honorary First Sergeant Francis Jacobs is pictured with PA State Rep. Craig Williams. Hon. First Sergeant Jacobs is a Brinton descendant and serves on the board of the William Brinton 1704 House.

Yesterday, the Brinton Association invited me to tour the William Brinton 1704 House in Chadds Ford. This site, bought by William Brinton in 1684, holds National Historic Landmark status as it played a key role in the Battle of the Brandywine.

The Association plans to build an interpretive center that will highlight the battle, the Leni-Lenape tribe's relationship to the property, and the Brinton family's life. We discussed potential connections with other historic preservation organizations.

The Troop mourns the loss of Honorary Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas L. Farley, Jr., No. 2333. Hon. QM Sgt. Farley was elected to the Active Roll on September 8, 1997, promoted to Corporal on October 5, 1998, Sergeant on June 7, 1999, and Quartermaster Sergeant on May 7, 2001. He was elected to the Non-Active Roll on October 1, 2007 and the Honorary Roll on October 2, 2017. He died on March 14, 2024.

To his memory!

Obituary:

“PHILADELPHIA, Pa. –Thomas L. Farley, Jr., 76, of Roxborough, Pa., died on March 14, 2024, at home, following a brief illness.

Born in Philadelphia and reared in Levittown, Pa., Mr. Farley attended Bishop Egan High School and Bucks County Community College before enlisting in the United States Army in 1967. Assigned to the 9th Infantry Division as a combat correspondent and photographer, Mr. Farley deployed to Vietnam in July 1967. While in Vietnam, Mr. Farley was awarded two Purple Hearts for wounds received in combat, and the Bronze Star with Valor following his actions in the Battle for Cholon, near Saigon, part of the 1968 Tet Campaign.

After returning from the war in 1969, he attended Temple University, where he studied English and Journalism. He subsequently married Margaret McErlane of Levittown, Pa. The marriage ended in divorce in 1982.

Farley began his civilian journalism career as a newspaper reporter for the Burlington County Times in New Jersey before joining the Chilton Book Company as a magazine editor. In 1973, while at Chilton, Mr. Farley won the American Business Press Association’s Jesse H. Neal Award, a national prize for excellence in business journalism. After winning the Neal Award, Mr. Farley worked as a writer and account manager for several major Philadelphia advertising agencies, including Aitken-Kynett, Inc., where he was Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Public Relations Division. In 1983, Mr. Farley founded his own advertising and public relations agency ultimately forming Farley & Roderick, Inc., a firm which shared in the success of the high technology marketing boom of the 1980s representing hundreds of clients including Commodore Business Machines, AT&T, and Okidata.

In addition to his advertising career, Mr. Farley continued his military service. Graduating Officer Candidate School in 1974, Mr. Farley was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the New Jersey National Guard in 1975. In 1978, he transferred to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, where he subsequently was promoted to Captain and assumed command of Troop C, 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry. In 1991, Mr. Farley was called once again to active military duty during the Gulf War. In 1997, he resigned his commission and joined the historic First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, Troop A, 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry, as a sergeant and served with that unit as a peacekeeper in Bosnia in both 2002 and 2003.

In 2005, Mr. Farley volunteered for duty in Iraq with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry, deploying in July 2005 with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, to Ar Ramadi, which was then considered the most dangerous place on Earth. He was discharged upon his return at the age 60, ending an active and reserve military career that spanned 40 years.

Mr. Farley was predeceased by his father, Thomas Lee Farley Sr., his mother, Roseanna Theresa Farley (nee Gallagher) and brothers Walter Matthew Farley and Gerald Gerome Farley. He is survived by his wife, Cathleen Ann Herbert, of Roxborough, his sister, Susan Farley, his brother, Joseph Anthony Farley, and his four children: Jennifer Bolli, Thomas Farley III, Diana Farley, and Denise Farley and eight grandchildren: Maurina Hernandez, Thomas L. Farley IV, Madyson Bolli, Mya Farley, Arianna Floyd, Michael Bolli, Mackenzie Bolli and Liam Farley, all of whom reside in Bucks County, Pa. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Elliott Hernandez of Bucks County, Pa. and Amara Farley of Florida. Thomas L. Farley V, his third great-grandchild, will be born in Florida in June.

A viewing will take place on March 30, 2024, from 9:00am until 11am at Claire McIlvanie Mundy Funeral Home, 7384 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa., 19128. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Tunnels To Towers Foundation which provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children.”

Congratulations to Trooper Sean Plankey!

The Troop mourns the loss of Honorary Sergeant Charles M. Barclay, No. 1634. He was elected to the Active Roll on June 7, 1954, promoted to Corporal on December 5, 1956, and promoted to Sergeant on November 12, 1956. He was elected to the Non-Active Roll on February 4, 1963 and the Honorary Roll on June 7, 1976. He died on March 14, 2024.

Obituary:

“Charles M. Barclay of Hilltown Township, PA and Bay Head, NJ crossed the bar March 14, 2024, at the age of 88. He was preceded in death by his first wife Faith Abbott, his sister Jane Barbour, and his wife of 46 years Nancy Pannebaker Barclay.

Born in Chestnut Hill, Charlie was the son of Charles W. and Marion (Rivinus) Barclay. He grew up in Blue Bell, on the active colonial era Wyndrise farm (now called Barclay Hill). Charlie attended William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia and graduated from St. Andrews Academy in Delaware, class of ‘54.

He was an athlete, playing football, soccer, and tennis at Penn Charter, St. Andrews, and University of Pennsylvania, lettering in each sport. Charlie joined Delta Psi fraternity (St. A’s) and graduated in 1958. He stayed in touch with friends and fraternity brothers in a football game. Using a repurposed toilet bowl and tank for a beverage cooler, the Annual Toilet Bowl game tradition ran for 50 years!

Charlie followed a long family tradition serving in the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, a National Guard unit, in 1954. While on active duty, he competed in the prestigious cavalry competition for the Border Plate. Historically, the Troop served under General George Washington. He rose to the rank of Sergeant before retiring from the active roster in 1963. He remained an Honorary Sergeant and active supporter of the Troop until his death. Charlie and family cherished the annual Troop memorial service commemorating Washington.

Charlie worked for the Insurance Company of North America, later CIGNA. Working with the Army Corps of Engineers, he helped with the design/build of a Chesapeake Canal bridge. He went to the Wharton School for post graduate work and earned his Professional Engineering (PE) certification in 1975. As a Fire Protection Engineering specialist, Charlie worked to mitigate risks for commercial properties including the World Trade Center. He retired in 1997.

Charlie married Faith Abbott in 1955. They had sons Christopher, Andrew, and Charles. The couple moved to Red Stone Farm in Hilltown Township in 1968.

Charlie married Nancy Pannebaker in 1973. Nancy helped Charlie raise the three boys; and daughters Jane and Jean soon followed. The couple shared many interests in their long life on Redstone Farm which became an ideal place to raise horses, chickens, dogs, geese, cats, and children.

Charlie’s lifelong passion for sailing spanned eight decades. He began with a wooden Sneak Box in 1947 winning the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association (BBYRA) championships in 1952 and 1953. He was nationally competitive in the Comet class for nearly a decade; and won the local BBYRA championship in 1961. Charlie also raced Stars and offshore yachts. On a stormy Annapolis to Newport Race, in Force 10 conditions, Charlie saved a crew member from being swept overboard in 30’ seas. He returned to small boats with a 24’ Corinthian Yacht Club One Design named s/v Blue Cloud which now resides at the Independence Seaport Museum.

Bay Head Yacht Club (BHYC) became a second home where he embraced all aspects of the club. For many years he served as committee chair for junior sailing, senior sailing, and race committee. During that time, he was selected to the Board of Trustees and to Rear Commodore. Charlie had a long-storied career on the water, winning many races and awards in his B-Cat s/v Catspurr and Sandpiper s/v Bobcat. In 2012, Charlie won the BBYRA Championship in the Sanderling with his daughter Jean. Winning the 2023 BHYC Fall Series turned out to be the finale of his sailing career. When not racing, he would take his m/v, Aunt Nancy, out to watch others compete.

Charlie’s love for sailing meant promoting the legacy to family and new friends. This generosity included coaching newcomers, loaning boats, buying boats, and funding kids to championships regattas.

Charlie’s management contributions to local government, professional and fraternal organizations were highly regarded. He was national Secretary for the American Society of Fire Protection Engineers. He was national Secretary for the Delta Alumni Association. He was a 25+ year member/Chairperson of the Hilltown Township Planning Commission.

Charlie belonged to Bay Head Yacht Club, Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia, Merion Cricket Club, Philadelphia Club, and Sunnybrook Golf Club.

Charlie emphasized the importance of military service which was carried forth by sons and grandson.

Charlie is survived by five children and their spouses: Christopher and Sheryl Barclay, Andrew and Joan Barclay, Charles and Carol Barclay, Jane and Paul Lizell, and Jean and Mark Mastrangelo. Charlie has eleven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.

Services are tentatively planned for 11am Friday, April 5, 2024, at Presbyterian Church of Deep Run,16 Irish Meeting House Road, Perkasie, PA. A second service is planned at the Bay Head Chapel in Bay Head, NJ this summer.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19106.”

Obituary for Charles M. Barclay at Suess-Gahman Funeral Home Charles M. Barclay of Hilltown Township, PA and Bay Head, NJ crossed the bar March 14, 2024, at the age of 88. He was preceded in death by his first wife Faith Abbott, his sister Jane Barbour, and his wife of 46 years Nancy Pannebaker Barclay. Born in Chestnut Hill,

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day from the First City Troop!

From “The Irish in the American Revolution: And Their Early Influence in the Colonies,” by James Haltigan (1908):

“Of the twenty-eight men who organized the First Troop of the Light Horse of Philadelphia, on November 17, 1774, ten of them—James Mease, John Mease, Henry Hill, John Boyle, John Mitchell, George Campbell, Samuel Caldwell, Andrew Caldwell, George Fullerton, and William West, Jr., were members of the Friendly Sons, and two more—John Dunlap and Blair McClenchan—afterward became members. Of the eighty-eight men who served in the First Troop during the entire period of the Revolution thirty of them, or more than one-third, belonged to the Irish organization.

[. . .]

“The Light Horse, which we have seen, numbered in its ranks a great many of the society members, was in active service under the immediate direction of Washington himself, and in the retreat from Princeton it was ordered to cover the rear of the army, and was the last to cross the Delaware River. On December 25, 1776, the troop recrossed the river with Washington at McKonky’s Ferry, eight miles above Trenton. “The passage was made difficult and dangerous by storm, darkness, and floating ice, and the boats upon which the troop had embarked not being able to reach the shore, the men were compelled to take the water and force a passage amid the floating ice with their horses.” That passage has become historical in print and painting, and we may well be proud of the presence of so many members of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

In all subsequent operations of that campaign, they did their duty as soldiers and men. They continued active service until January 23, 1777. They were twenty-five in number, ten of them being Friendly Sons. Washington called them his “aids.”

[. . .]

These statements enable us to form some idea of the patriotism of the Friendly Sons. In the long lists of “disaffected persons” and British sympathizers, there are found none of the members. They had all cast their lot with the Revolutionary cause, and many of them lived for years afterwards to enjoy the blessings of independence.”