Honoring History: Patriot Marker dedicated at French Creek’s Tefft Cemetery
Jeff Crossley and Jim White are pictured firing Revolutionary War-era black-powder rifles.
David White, French Creek town supervisor, speaks during a recent Revolutionary War Patriot Soldier Marker presentation at the Tefft Cemetery.
A Revolutionary War Patriot Soldier Marker is unveiled recently during a ceremony at the Tefft Ceremony.
Members of the Lake Chautauqua VFW Post 8647 Honor Guard are pictured firing a rifle salute.
Jeff Crossley and Jim White are pictured firing Revolutionary War-era black-powder rifles.
David White, French Creek town supervisor, speaks during a recent Revolutionary War Patriot Soldier Marker presentation at the Tefft Cemetery.
A Revolutionary War Patriot Soldier Marker is unveiled recently during a ceremony at the Tefft Ceremony.
Members of the Lake Chautauqua VFW Post 8647 Honor Guard are pictured firing a rifle salute.
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FRENCH CREEK – A Revolutionary War Patriot Soldier Marker was dedicated recently at the Tefft Cemetery in French Creek.
The event was sponsored by the Chautauqua County Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and hosted by the town of French Creek honoring the interment of two Revolutionary War soldiers.
Nathan Babcock, French Creek historian, welcomed the gathering of event participants and was followed by Paul Fardink of the Sons of the American Revolution, who acted as the master of ceremonies. An invocation was next given by Bonnie Larking of the Daughters of the American Revolution who was dressed as Martha Washington. DAR member Brenda Johnson, who was dressed as Betsy Ross, then led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Jeff Crossley, Chautauqua County SAR chapter president, who was dressed as a Continental Army soldier, explained the activities of the chapter as well as the Cemetery Patriot Marker Program. He thanked the Pomeroy Foundation for their support of the marker program. Crossley was followed by the David White, French Creek supervisor, who welcomed the crowd and expressed his appreciation for the installation of the cemetery marker. White and Babcock then unveiled the marker by removing the red, white, and blue bunting.
The Lake Chautauqua VFW Post 8647 Honor Guard then fired a rifle salute followed by Crossley and SAR member Jim White firing Revolutionary War black-powder rifles. Will Ortman then played "Taps" on his regulation bugle. Babcock next presented the Roll Call of the two Revolutionary War Soldiers buried in the cemetery: Amon Beebe and William Adams, giving a short biographical sketch of their Revolutionary War service.
This was the fifth and final dedication ceremony of 2026 and the 20th overall since the program started in 2022. The five dedications in 2026 were located at Allen Cemetery (Falconer); Dewittville Cemetery (Dewittville); Greenwood Cemetery (Stockton); Red Bird Cemetery (Ellery); and finally, Tefft Cemetery (French Creek).