From left to right, John Bongiovanni, PA Historic Recovery Service, and Samantha Freise, Chapter Historian, Towamencin, DAR. (Credit: Towamencin DAR)
During the Revolutionary War, not all residents of Bucks and Montgomery Counties supported the Patriot cause. One local group was known as the Doan Gang. Brothers from a Bucks County Quaker family, the Doans grew up in Plumstead and became notorious British spies who stole horses from their neighbors and robbed Whig tax collectors. Their activities were the subject of an episode on the Discovery Channel.
A man who has been instrumental in the discovery of artifacts from the Doan Gang is Foulkeways resident Jim Bongiovanni, owner of the PA Historic Recovery Service. The artifacts discovered by Mr. Bongiovanni’s company are part of an exhibit currently offered at Bucks County's Mercer Museum in Doylestown.
At the June meeting of the Towamencin Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, which was held in historic Wentz United Church of Christ, Historic Preservation Chairperson Samantha Freise, and Regent Susanne Johnston presented Bongiovanni with the NSDAR Historic Preservation Recognition Award.
This award is presented to someone who has been recognized for outstanding achievement in an area of historic preservation. The recipient is expected to have contributed to his or her community in an outstanding volunteer manner.
Foulkeways is located in Lower Gwynedd Township.
ABOUT DAR
DAR is a non-political service organization that promotes historic preservation, education and patriotism, and is open to any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence. For more information about DAR visit www.dar.org
