(5-24-26) In an America250DAR Patriotic ceremony at 3 PM, on Thursday, May 21, 2026, eleven DAR members and one guest attended the re-dedication of the ONLY American Revolutionary War connection buried in Van Wert County. In October of 1950, the IVW-DAR Chapter placed a new USA Flag and dedicated it in the current bronze DAR marker at her grave in Woodland. Members and family members attended this ceremony.

Regent Debra Hardeman went on to pay tribute to her and reading her name, Jane Briggs Gilliland to the membership. Jane was the wife of American Revolutionary War soldier John Gilliland. Jane was born on May 1, 1775 in Montgomery County, Maryland and died on November 2, 1858 in Delphos, OH. Her father, William Briggs, served in the Continental troops in MD. She met and married John Gilliland, they moved to Pennsylvania, and had 10 children. John had served in the Pennsylvania troops with a Rank of Patriot Service and fought at Yorktown where Cornwallis surrendered when he was had barely turned a18 years old

According to Deb’s research, Jane’s husband John was killed in an explosion in 1826, and he was buried in Maryland but their dream of moving further west to Ohio did not die. The entire family had heard friend Anthony Wayne’s talk of the fertile land that was going to go up for sale in the Ohio wilderness. Jane Gilliland and several of her children decided to move west in a covered wagon, taking all possessions and settling in Delphos, OH. Jane lived out her life with her family, died in 1858, was buried in Delphos, and was later moved in 1898 to a family plot at Woodland Cemetery. 

Deb read the words of the original dedication in 1950-

“And so we stand today at the grave of Jane Briggs Gilliland. We pay tribute to the pioneer spirit of a 60 year old woman who left a comfortable home in a settled community near the largest cities in the land to spend the remaining years of her long life sharing with her youthful familythe hardships and dangers of a wild new country.” “Such a life we consider worthy in courage and endurance to be honored with that of her Revolutionary soldier husband.”

Deb concluded-

“We honor you today, Jane Briggs Gilliland, and re-dedicate your flag this 21st day of May, 2026. We thank you for your service, John Gillilandm and your part in our Freedom this 21st day of May, 2026. May God Bless your descendants.”

Deb thanked the members who attended and placed well over 140 flags on the DAR member graves, at Woodland and around the area cemeteries. She also thanked Mickey McConahay for doing such a fantastic job at cleaning-up Jane’s stone.  

Following the ceremony, the ladies made a social stop at the Sycamore Ice Cream Shop.