This is the second part of a Three part series on the Real Sons of the Maryland Society, Sons of the American Revolution.  When the Maryland Society SAR was founded in 1889, it was well over 100 years after the War ended. All the Patriots were long since deceased. (The last surviving veteran was Daniel F. Bakeman who died in 1869 at age 110 years old and was placed on the pension rolls by an act of U.S. Congress. He is listed as the last survivor of the military conflict by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs.) You would also think that after 100 years, all the children of the Patriots were long since deceased too and only grandchildren or great children were then living. However there were still a few children of Patriots living in 1889 and the Maryland SAR was fortunate to have 3 actual sons join our Society based on their fathers’ service. We call these men - “Real Sons”.

Those three men were notable in their own right aside from their own longevity and service of their father. They contributed greatly to their country themselves. Here are brief biographies researched by Rev. Christos Christou Jr., about each of the three MDSSAR Real Sons.  This is the second part of a Three part series.  Click on the image to enlarge and view.  Image Courtsey of Footnote.com

Rev. Samuel KRAMER

Rev. Samuel Kramer was born October 14, 1808 in Bucks Co, PA. He died on August 16, 1891 in Washington D.C. He joined the MDSSAR on August 30, 1889. He was a druggist by trade as was his son Samuel Robert Kramer. He was a Navy Chaplain too for much of his career. He joined the Union Army in the 3rd Maryland Regiment during the Civil War in 1861 and was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. He retired as a Major.

He was the son of John Jacob Kramer and Clarissa Bassett who married in 1805. He saw service in Pennsylvania and was commissioned an ensign July 12, 1776 in Bucks Co Associators under Col Philip Gehr and promoted 2nd Lt. May 13 1777 and promoted 1st Lt. on July 8 1778. He retired Jan. 4, 1781 per Official Register of Officers of the Continental Army 1775-1783 by Francis Heitman. Family tradition says Lt. Kramer was one of Washington’s Body Guards.

DEATH CERT: Cert. 79294 Permit #79330 August 16 1891 Samuel Kramer aged 82y 10m 2d white, married, clergyman, born Maryland, resided in DC 21 years. Nativity of father Germany, nativity of mother US place of death 634 A St SE died of injury received in War of 1861-1865, angina pectoris, 29 years or more. buried Baltimore, MD August 19, 1891. undertaker John R. Wright of 1337 10 stream by Dr. J.A.H. McKim of 25 5th St SE.

OBITUARY: Death of Rev. Samuel Kramer. Washington, August 16 - Rev. Samuel Kramer, formerly of Baltimore died today at his residence on A street southeast, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. Mr. Kramer was a native of Baltimore but left there at the breaking out of the war to enter the federal army. He rose to be a major and served afterward as a chaplain in the navy. After the war, he established the navy yard, and acted as the pastor for a number of years. His remains will be buried in Baltimore. Obituary Date: 1891-08-17 Sun Newspaper.

There is a microfiche at the Latter Day Saints library of a manuscript by William B. Matchett "Maryland and the glorious Old third in the War for the Union" with reminisces of Militant Chaplain Samuel Kramer. This is a contemporary Senate record which provides details into the life of Rev. Kramer’s work:

Secretary of the Navy. Hon. John F. Miller. Member of the Committee on Naval Affairs, United States Senate. Memoranda in the case of Rev. Samuel Kramer, an applicant for appointment and retirement as a chaplain in the U. S. Navy.

The Rev. Samuel Kramer (an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church) performed the duties of chaplain at the navy-yard, Washington, without pay, for many years. On the 3d of July, 1880 (after the death of the chaplain in the Navy on duty in the yard), the Secretary of the Navy (Hon. R. W. Thompson) informed the commandant of the yard that Mr. Kramer should receive compensation for his services at the rate of $75 per month. He continued on duty, and to be so paid (out of the appropriation, "contingent Navy") until May 15, 1882, when, on account of want of funds, he was, with others, notified that his services would not be required after June 30, 1882. During this time there was no regular chaplain on duty at the yard.

Mr. Kramer is strongly recommended by the commandant of the yard (Commodore Pattison), who states, May 23, 1882, that "he has been a faithful chaplain, and is highly spoken of by everybody who knows him. As he has served as a seaman in the Navy, he is invaluable as a chaplain. Seamen will listen to him when they will not to the general run of preachers. He. is located in the seamen's library in this yard, attends the sick in the hospital, and officiates at funerals of deceased seamen and marines, and distributes Bibles and tracts." This letter is accompanied with a testimonial letter signed by all the officers of the yard.

February 1, 1881, Commodore A. A. Somines, Commander R. D. Evans (then in command of the training-ship Saratoga}, Commander J. D. Graham, commanding the receiving ship at the yard, and Lieut. D. (S. McRitchie (then in command of the Talla- poosa), joined with Commodore Pattison in asking the appointment of Mr. Kramer as a chaplain in the Navy, and that he be assigned to duty at the Washington navy- yard. These officers state that Mr. Kramer "has in our opinion obtained the love and respect of officers and men who have listened to his exhortations. For many years he has performed the duties of chaplain at this yard without pay, to the entire satisfaction of the officers and men on board the vessels of the United States Navy on which he has held divine service, and we are of the opinion that there is more good derived from the preaching of a converted sailor to sailors than from anyone who has never been to sea." (Sir. Kramer was too old for appointment, the law fixing the ago between 21 and 35 years, and Mr. Kramer was over 60 years old.)

From letters and statements on file in the Navy Department it appears that Mr. Kramer followed the sea for many years; was in the United States Navy, serving on the Dolphin and Jirandyifine in 1829. After leaving the service he entered the church, and has given more than twenty years' service, without pay, to the cause of seamen, building the Sailors' Bethel church in Baltimore, Md. He served as chaplain of the Third Regiment of Maryland (Union) Volunteers. At the battle of Antietam he acted as major of the regiment (in place of the major, who had been killed in a previous battle), and after that battle was, at the request of the colonel, commissioned as major. He was honorably discharged in August, 1863, on account of disability incurred in the line of duty. He is indorsed and recommended by Bishop E. G. Andrews, Rev. H. R. Naylor, Rev. John Lanahan, Rev. B. Peyton Brown, and Rev. W. W. Hicks, all of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Rev. W. A. Leonard, of St. John's (Episcopal) Church, Washington j Thomas L. Tnllock, and Matthew G. Emery (ex-mayor), of Washington, and Chaplain M. J. Gonzales, U, S. Army.

http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?MarkerID=7076

Rev. Samuel Kramer is buried at Mt. Olivet Methodist Cemetery in Baltimore in the Preachers Lot - Section B.

You can read more on the other 2 Real sons here and here.