Sons (and Daughters) of
Saint George
The Order of Sons of St. George
were first established in Scranton,
Pennsylvania in 1871. It was originally founded for the purpose of
resisting attacks by the Molly Maguires, a secret society of Irish immigrant
laborers working in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. The Molly Maguires were
founded after the predominately Irish Catholic union called the Workingmen's
Benevolent Association was broken up the mine owners and officials.
The Molly Maguires operated in secret, and used the signs, passwords and grips
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (see CATHOLIC
ORDERS for more information on the A.O.H.) to conceal their criminal
activities, which consisted of raiding mine officials homes, beating them up
and threatening them with death, and destroying mine owners property during
the labor disputes in the 1860s-1870s.
The Order of the Sons of St. George evolved into an ethnic fraternal benefit
society for Englishmen residing in the United States of America, and their
sons and grandsons. It offered sick and death benefits to members, benefits,
and social activities such as dances, picnics and other lodge activities.
Membership was limited to first-, second- and third-generation Englishmen.
There was a female auxiliary called the Daughters of St. George. Both
organizations are long defunct.
A special "Thanks" to
Brother Bart P. Snarf who provided the pictures of the above jewelry and to
Brother Denis P. McGowan who provided the history of these Orders.
Brother Denis P. McGowan is a dedicated fraternalist and student of the
history of American fraternal organizations.
