The Jauflione chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, welcomed all to the dedication of a weeping cherry tree. Through the DAR and their America 250! grant, the Jauflione chapter is honoring the one known American Revolution patriot, Richard Gale, Sr., who was buried in Scotland County. The chapter hopes this tree and marker will instill public pride in our ancestors and encourage family history research.
Richard Gale was born April 19, 1758, in Ulster County, New York, and served in the UIster County militia in Captain Watkins company and was a substantial contribution to the Revolutionary War. He, and his third wife, Margaret Linksweiler moved in 1836 to what was then Lewis County, along with his son, Richard Gale, Jr. and his wife Mary Linksweiler. Many families in Scotland County can trace their lineage back to the Gales. Richard Gale, Sr. died May 23, 1843, here in what became Scotland County at the age of eighty-five. He is buried six miles south of Memphis on Hwy 15 South.
Japanese culture views cherry blossoms as symbols of the beauty and fragility of life. How fitting for Richard Gale, Sr. who served to form this county and all those who fought and died for the same. When this tree blooms, let it remind us to love deeply, laugh often, and find wonder in the world around us. Let us surround this young tree with the love and warmth that our patriots have brought into our lives. And in the years to come, as we watch it grow and flourish, we’ll know that a piece of them is still here with us, still touching lives and making the world a more beautiful place. May his memory be a blessing, and may this tree stand as a living testament to the lives dedicated to keeping America free.
