The California Society of the Sons of the American Revolution will dedicate a plaque at the San Diego Presidio on November 4, 2005, recognizing the financial contributions made by the inhabitants of the Presidio to Spain in its war against Great Britain. These financial contributions assisted the American Colonies in their fight for independence and the establishment of the United States of America. The plaque will be mounted on the National Colors flag pole near the Serra Museum. Everyone is welcome to attend this dedication ceremony. The dedication will include live musket fire, colonial period dress, and Colonial Flags of Spain and the American Revolution. (See the Events page for a copy of the press release.) The flag poles and Serra Museum are located in Presidio Park adjacent to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (see map below). The Fall Managers Meeting of the California Society of the Sons of the American Revolution will also be held in the Hacienda Hotel in Old Town on November 4 and 5, 2005. If you want additional information about the plaque dedication, or wish to participate in the planning or funding of the plaque dedication, please contact the Chapter President, William E. Tisch (tis346@cox.net) or Chapter Secretary Philip L. Hinshaw (philiphinshaw@cox.net). July 16, 1929: Photograph of Presidio Hill dedication ceremonies looking northeast from Old Town. The photograph is from the Lee Passmore collection at the Serra Museum. San Diego's Beginnings Although Captain Juan Rodriques Cabrillo claimed California for Spain in 1542, his discovery held no attraction to compare with the riches of Mexico. It wasn't until the latter half of the eighteenth century that Russian activity in the North Pacific and troubles with unpacified Indian tribes made the Spanish government decide to colonize California as a buffer fore her better established colonies. Five expeditions were mounted - two traveling overland and three by sea - to begin the project. Although seriously handicapped by accident and disease, by July 1769, four of these expeditions had united at San Diego to found California's first settlement. The leadership of the combined expeditions and the establishment of a presidio (fort) at San Diego were the responsibilities of Gaspar de Portolá. Accompanying was Fray Junípero Serra, who on July 16, 1769 founded the Mother Mission of California - San Diego de Alcalá.
Gaspar de Portol	Fray Junípero Serra
For its first few years, the San Diego settlement's existence was precarious. Supplies and reinforcements were a major problem - early farming efforts were unsuccessful, and travel between the new colony and the more settled areas to the south was difficult and hazardous. Moreover, the Indians were unfriendly. Internal difficulties between the military governor of the settlement and the padres plagued the little community, and this, added to the tremendous cost of maintaining the colony, almost led to its abandonment. When an Indian uprising cut the land route from Mexico to San Diego in 1781, the California colonies were left more or less to their own devices. Monterey became the province's capital, and in 1793, English explorer George Vancouver described San Diego as "dreary and lonesome, in the midst of barren, uncultivated country." The main duties of the garrison's soldiers were: guarding the mission, carrying mail and dispatches, and caring for the livestock. Although the number of soldiers was small - in 1778 there were only 125 residents in the presidio including soldiers, artisans and their families - they were mounted and armed with lances and could usually keep the peace among the far more numerous Indians. Reprinted from Old Town San Diego State Historic Park Tour Guide & Brief History (12/99) Spanish Presidios Supported the American Revolution The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR) recognizes the Spanish Presidios in California at San Diego, Monterey, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco as Revolutionary war sites. These four California Presidios were included in the royal orders of King Carlos III in 1779 to fight the English forces wherever they were found on land or sea. Soon after the King Carlos III declared War on England in support of the American Revolution on June 21, 1779, Commandante General Teodoro de Croix of the Provinces of Northwest New Spain expressed concern for the safety of the Presidio horse herds to Governor Felipe de Neva of California. On August 17, 1780 King Carlos, III, requested a one-time, voluntary donation of two pesos from each Spaniard in missions of Alta California and one peso from each Indian. The Missions and Presidios raised 2,683 Spanish silver dollars for the American Revolution. It is not clear how this money was transmitted to the Americans; however, it is known that Spain provided substantial financial support of the Americans during the period of the American Revolution. The San Diego Company serving at the San Diego Presidio on January 1, 1780 consisted of Lieutenant Ortega, supply officer Pedro y Gil, one sergeant, five corporals, and forty-six soldiers. The names of five soldiers serving in the San Diego Company in 1780 can be traced back to a Company list in 1770. These are José Ignacio Olivera, Guillermo Carrillo, Mariano Carrillo, Mariano Verdugo, Alejo Antonio Gonzales, and Agustín Castelo. There were other veterans of the 1769 expedition at San Diego in 1780 who had been elsewhere in 1770. These were José Francisco de Ortega, Antonio Cota, Juan José Domínguez, and Alejandro de Soto. Several current members of the National Society trace their ancestries back to Spanish patriots that supported the American Revolution. Most notable of these is His Majesty King Juan Carlos I, who is a compatriot in the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. NSSAR encourages all potential compatriots who can trace their ancestry back to the patriots who fought in the American Revolution, or who supported the American Revolution through other patriotic acts, to apply for membership.
1780 Royal Order	1780 Royal Order: English Translation
Vallejo's Plan of the San Diego Presidio Completed by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo and Dated 1820 (Source: San Diego Historical Society, The Journal of San Diego History, Summer 1986, Volume 32, Number 3)
1853 Map Showing the Transition from the "Ruins of the Old Presidio" to the "Town of San Diego" at the Base of the Hill (Source: San Diego Historical Society, The Journal of San Diego History, Summer 1999, Volume 45, Number 3)
Royal Presidio of San Diego (CA 1993) (Source: San Diego Historical Society, Jack S. Williams, A Walking Tour and Brief History of the Royal Presidio of San Diego, c. 1993)
George White Marston President, San Diego Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, 1914 & 1915
	George W. Marston was born in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin on October 22, 1850. He attended Beloit College and the University of Michigan before moving to San Diego, California with his family. He arrived in San Diego, with a population of about 2,300, on October 20, 1870 aboard the side-wheeler Senator. After a variety of merchandising jobs, he and Mr. Charles Hamilton purchased the Joseph Nash dry goods and grocery business. A few years later they split the business with Mr. Marston taking the dry goods business. The Marston Company ultimately became San Diego's preeminent department store. George Marston's many civic activities included funding the San Diego Historical Society, president of the Chamber of Commerce, public library trustee, a founder of the San Diego YMCA, and serving on the City Council. In 1902 he donated $10,000 to prepare the first comprehensive plan for Balboa Park. In 1907, George Marston along with A.J. Spalding, John D. Spreckels, E.W. Scripps, and Charles Kelly commenced purchasing the land surrounding the San Diego Presidio. Five years later, Mr. Marston bought out the other four and spent the next several years attempting to interest the City in accepting the site as a park.
	The Serra Cross was erected on the site in 1915 at the approximate location where Father Serra had erected his cross. The cross was constructed with tiles excavated at the site. Mr. Marston had the Presidio remains covered with an earthen mantle to preserve them until such time that appropriate archaeological investigations could be performed. In the 1920s, George Marston hired William Templeton Johnson, a leading local architect, to design the Serra Museum at the top of the hill. The building is recognized as the finest example of mission style architecture in San Diego. The dedication ceremony was held on July 16, 1929, the 160th anniversary of the arrival of Fray Junípero Serra. An estimated 12,000 people attended the dedication ceremony.
In 1878, George W. Marston married Anna Lee Gunn, a teacher. Their children were Mary, Arthur, Elizabeth, Harriet, and Helen. Their home on 7th Avenue, built in 1905, was furnished in the style of the American Arts and Crafts Movement of the early 20th century. The Marston House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was given to the San Diego Historical Society. Mr. Marston's application for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution was approved on April 23, 1902. His parents were George and Harriet Marston; his grandparents were Jeremiah Marston and Theda Sawyer. His great-grandfather, and patriot ancestor, was Jeremiah Marston who married Hannah Towle. Jeremiah Marston served as a Private in Capt. Henry Elkin's Company, 2nd Regiment, New Hampshire Foot, commanded by Colonel Enock Poor (1775-1760). Jeremiah also served as a Private in Capt. John Dearborn's company of Colonel Jonathan Mouton's Regiment, New Hampshire Militia in 1777. Jeremiah Marston was born in Hampton, NH on January 23, 1745 and died on August 10, 1834. (Information in this biographical sketch was derived from the San Diego Historical Society Journal, Volume 15, No. 3, Volume 25, No. 3, and Volume 30, No. 4.)

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