General Perry Benson, NSDAR

Chapter History

On July 4, 1776, Perry Benson, for whom this chapter was named, was commissioned as an ensign in the famous Maryland Line. On June 22, 1798, he was made brigadier general and finally a major general of the Maryland militia, in charge of the forces in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot counties throughout the War of 1812. He died on October 2, 1827. Recently, chapter members researched the life of Thomas Carney, the man who saved the general's life on the battlefield, and who became his close friend. They submitted their research to the State of Maryland, so that a sign could be erected in Denton, Maryland, as a tribute to the valor and sacrifice of this local patriot.

Commemorating April 17, 1965, the General Perry Benson Chapter NSDAR celebrates the chapter’s anniversary, by conducting a patriotic remembrance, after having renovated an unkempt, plot of debris laden land, and rededicating the now pristine Benson Family Cemetery in Newcomb, Maryland. We are grateful for the contributions of, deceased member, Nancy Chandonet, who bequeathed funds for this project and the leadership of past regent, Laurie Burke Shaw, for breathing life into this project. This committee worked with the State of Maryland, to relocate a road sign to State Route 33, which directs  the public to General Perry Benson's grave site, overlooking Oak Creek.