THE ORDER OF THE FOUNDERS AND PATRIOTS OF AMERICA – 1896
The Coat of Arms
The following article appeared on page 121, Volume VIII, number 59 of the Coat of Arms, the quarterly
publication of the Heraldry Society of England.
―The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America is a unique order, and the only one of its type in the
United States. Originally founded at Astor House in New York City on February 24th, 1896. It has
societies in fourteen states, and a total membership of around 800. Its objectives are, briefly, to promote
patriotism; protect and preserve documents and articles associated with United States history; and to
collect and preserve records relating to the first colonists of the United States, their ancestors and
descendants.
The membership requirements are very rigid, being based strictly upon hereditary succession in the
male line from the early settlers in America. The well-known American author, Cleveland Amory, in his
humorous work WHO KILLED SOCIETY says of the Order ―Probably the most difficult of all patriotic
societies to enter is the Order of the Founders and Patriots --- not because of any so-called Society
‗exclusiveness‘ but because of what, genealogically, is demanded. To qualify for membership, the
applicant must be a man over eighteen years, of good moral character and reputation, who is lineally
descended in the male line of either parent from an ancestor who settled in any of the Colonies now
included in the United States of American prior to May 13, 1657, and one or all of whose intermediate
ancestors, in the male line, who lived in the period of the American Revolution from 1775 to 1783, fought
for the United States against Great Britain. To establish his eligibility, each applicant must satisfactorily
prove his descent by proper documentary evidence, to the satisfaction of the Genealogist of the State
Society which he is desirous of entering, and also to the satisfaction of the Genealogist General of the
Order. He must also be proposed and seconded by members of the Order in good standing, and approved
by the membership committees.
The national headquarters of the Order is located at the Federal Hall Memorial, 15 Pine Street, New
York. The Order publishes extensive bound genealogical records covering all of its associates (as
members are called) since its founding. In addition, it publishes a semi-annual bulletin. The General
Court of the Order is the supreme authority of the Order, and meets once a year, normally in New York
City. State societies hold meetings as directed by their respective governors.
Among the more well-known members have been such American greats as Presidents of the United
States, Warren G. Harding and William Howard Taft, Admiral George Dewey, Vice-President of the
United States Charles G. Dawes, and Major General Ulysses S. Grant, III, to name a few.
The insignia of the Order consists of a badge of gold, as follows, Obverse – Upon a radiated star, or, a
cross enamelled gules; thereon the effigy of an officer, in Continental uniform (i.e. the uniform of the
Continental Army of the American Revolution) surmounted by that of Captain Miles Standish, habited in
morion and breastplate; both effigies within a chaplet of oak and laurel leaves, all or. Reverse – upon a
radiated star, or a star of thirteen points, enameled azure, in its center, the arms of the United States in
relief, with a white circle, inscribed ―Steadfast for God and Country‖, all or.
The Seal of the Order may be blazoned; upon a shield or, a Continental Soldier at attention, habited
proper, surrounded by a constellation of thirteen stars, azure; upon the centre of the chief, a ship of the
seventeenth century, under full sail, proper; above the shield, the dates 1607-1857; beneath the shield, the
date 1776; the whole surrounded by an annulet gules, inscribed ―The Order of the Founders and Patriots
of America,‖ in exerge, 1896; the edge beaded; the field, or. (Or, is gold – Gules, red, Azure, blue.)‖
References:
Order of the Founders and Patriots of America Bulletin, page 6 and 7 – Vol. XXXVIII – No. 1 – Feb.
1965 – Whole no. 103.
The Coat of Arms (The Heraldry Society of England.) page 121 – Vol. VIII – Number 59.
Transcribed in Detroit on 25 October 1966.
Herbert S. Brush, Jr.
First Lieutenant of Field Artillery,
Army of the United States – Retired
Retyped in Culpeper, VA 25 January 2006,
from original transcribed article,
Donnel J. Hubbard
Past Registrar General OFPA
Past Governor VA OFPA
2
Founder: RICHARD LYMAN: Patriot: OZIAS LYMAN
.
by Associate Myron Edwin Lyman, Order Number 5659 - VA170
Founder:
RICHARD LYMAN: Baptized 30 October 1580, son of Henry & Elizabeth (Rande) Lyman of High
Onger, Essex County, England. He is of royal descent being the 17th great grandson of Henry I, King of
France by his 3rd wife, Anne of Russia. In 1629, he sold all his lands, orchards and gardens in High
Ongar. He became the original Lyman immigrant from England arriving on the ship "Lion" in Boston on
4 Nov 1631. He is believed to be the progenitor of all the Lymans in New England and perhaps America.
He and his wife Sarah Osborne brought with them their five living children. Soon after arrival in Boston,
they moved and settled in Charlestown, MA. He was a member of the church of Reverend John Elliot in
now-Roxbury, MA. He was made a "Freeman" in the General Court of the MA Bay Colony on 11 Jun
1633. He and his family, from Charlestown in October 1635, joined Hooker's expedition containing 99
settlers that traveled to the west bank of the CT River now called East Windsor. He lost several of his
cattle enroute. The settlers purchased land from the Indians in what is now Hartford, CT and he was one
of the original proprietors there. Richard's name is on the founder's monument by the Center Church in
downtown Hartford. He probably died in Hartford in August 1640 as his will was dated 22 Apr 1640, and
the inventory of his estate was taken on 6 Sep 1640.
Patriot:
OZIAS LYMAN: Born 1752, son of Samuel6 (Samuel5, Samuel4, Richard3, Richard2, Richard1) &
Martha (Long) Lyman of Coventry, Tolland County, CT. He married Ruth Brown, daughter of Captain
Moses and Ruth (Ingraham) Brown in Coventry on 24 Nov 1774. He was drafted from Coventry in 1777.
His war record has not been found but most persons drafted in 1777 from this area were sent to Saratoga,
NY to stop General Burgoyne‘s march to Albany. He died at the age of 56 in Coventry, CT on 24 Dec
1808, leaving his wife, four sons and two daughters.
Later discovered information from the CT archives indicate he was a Private in Captain Elias Buell's 4th
Militia Co., 5th CT Regt in Coventry CT on 28 April 1777.
see below.
3
4
Founder: Edmund Moore, Patriot: Tully Moore
By Associate Donald W. Moore
My 8th great-grandfather, Edmund Moore, is my founder ancestor. He first appears in the
records of Lower Norfolk County, Virginia, on 17 November 1656 when the court granted him a
certificate for two hundred acres due for transporting four persons into the colony.
On 16 August 1658, he was named as a head right of the widow Elizabeth Stratton who
presented a certificate to the county court for three hundred acres due for transporting him and five
other persons. Although there is no direct evidence, this may mean that Edmund was an
indentured servant.
On 17 October 1664, the Lower Norfolk County court appointed Edmund Moore surveyor of the
eastern shore of the Lynnhaven River. The term ―surveyor‖ described two positions in
seventeenth-century colonial Virginia: 1) a land surveyor; and 2) a surveyor of roads, appointed
annually by the county court to maintain the roads. Edmund Moore was not qualified to survey
land: court records show that he never signed any document except with a mark. He was probably
a surveyor of roads.
Edmund Moore married Elizabeth [—?—] before 13 November 1669. She may have been the
Elizabeth Watkins identified as another head right of Elizabeth Stratton in her 1658 petition to the
court. Edmund was still alive on 24 January 1686/7 when his son Cason Moore, writing his will on
that date, instructed his wife Sarah to ―Give my father Edmond More convenient Intertainm[ent]
in her house during his life vizt. Sufficient diet washinge lodging and Cloughing.‖
Edmund and Elizabeth had five known children. Two of Edmund‘s sons married well. Cason
Moore married Sarah Woodhouse and William Moore married Mary Woodhouse, both daughters
of Henry Woodhouse and Sarah Keeling.
My 4th great-grandfather, Tully Moore, is my patriot ancestor. He was the great-great grandson
of Edmund Moore. Tully was born about 1749. The Princess Anne County, Virginia, court records
for 14 February 1777 list him as an Ensign in the county militia. He took oath as an Ensign on 8
January 1778, and as 2nd Lieutenant on 14 September 1780. Tully Moore died between 31 August
1794, when he wrote his will, and 1 May 1797, when it was recorded. He and his wife Elizabeth
had four known children.
And so here I am today, the 8th great-grandson of Edmund Moore and 4th great-grandson of
Tully Moore, and the grateful beneficiary of all the generations that came before me.
5
Founder Robert Lay, Patriot Captain ASA Lay
These are the stories of Founder Robert Lay, 1st (b. 1617 d. July 9, 1689), and Revolutionary War
soldier and Patriot Captain ASA Lay (April 11, 1749 d. February 23, 1814). Both are ancestors of
Charles Francis Lay and James Dominic Lay of the Virginia Society, OFPA.
ROBERT LAY, 1st
Robert Lay, Sr, came from England with his two brothers, John & Edward. He is first mentioned as being
at Lynn, MA in 1638. The early records of Lynn are lost, so there is no confirmation of this report. By
tradition, he was in Saybrook, CT by 1640. He married Sarah (Fenner) Tully (Dec. 1647). In a division
of lands, made in 1648, there appears to have been 43 proprietors in the town of Saybrook, among them
were ancestors of the….Lays…etc. He was a freeman in 1657, and at October 11,1666 a representative
(deputy) at the General Assembly at Hartford, CT. He was exceptionally well educated. He built Lay‘s
Wharf where West Indies trading vessels berthed. In 1666 he bought the ketch ―Diligence‖, which made
regular trips to the West Indies, exporting local produce and importing rum & sugar. He developed
Fenwick‘s farm on Nott‘s Island, in the river opposite Potapoug. John Lay, Sr. sold his newly built house
to his brother, Robert, who lived there the rest of his life. He, Robert, was the second permanent resident
of what is now Essex. Robert Lay died in Saybrook at the age of 71 or 72. Both he and his wife Sarah
are buried in Essex Cemetery.
Robert Lay, Jr. (II), (1654-1742), Robert Lay, III (1679/80- 1738) and Daniel Lay (1712-1782) were the
intervening generations between Robert, 1st and Asa Lay.
References:
1. Saybrook Vital Records – Pgs 3, 19
2. Potapoug Quarter-The First Settlers of Essex, CN - Stevens.
3. Genealogical Dictionary, First settlers of New England, James Savage, Vol. III,
pg 65.
LT. COL. (CAPTAIN) ASA LAY
Asa Lay was the third son of Daniel Lay (1712-1782) and Anna Bull. He was born in Saybrook, CN
April 11, 1749. He married Sarah Wolcott April 18, 1770. They raised twelve children.
Selection as the family member to enlist for service in the War. - He was one of three sons of Daniel
Lay. The first son, also Daniel could not go as he had a sick wife and seven children. The second son
James could not go as he was subject to falling sickness. Thus it was Asa who was chosen. He left home
for the War the day after the news of the Battle of Lexington and Concord; Massachusetts (April 1775)
reached his town. He enlisted as a private under a Cpt. John Ely. The Connecticut troops at this time had
no uniforms. Their clothes were the homespun that they wore at home. They were ordered to supply
themselves with a blanket, knapsack, clothing, etc. The men were also to supply their own weapons. Asa
carried the ‗fowling piece‘ that he had used to shoot quail.
Asa Lay‟s first Battle was the Battle of White Plains, near New York City (October 25, 1776). By this
time he had been promoted to corporal, Sergeant, and then to Adjutant. (A rank between enlisted and
officer.) Lt. Lay took part in the battle 0f Monmouth, NJ June 28, 1778. He served as part of the 6th
Connecticut Regiment in and around West Point, NY from 1776 to 1778.
ASA Lay at Valley Forge, PA - In February 1778 Lt. Asa Lay was detached from his regiment and
ordered to Valley Forge by General George Washington to serve as General Baron Von Steuben‟s
commander of his personal body guard, while Von Steuben trained Washington‘s troops in military order,
6
drill and fighting formations. He was at Valley Forge for about a month, and as with other officers he
was invited to eat dinner with General Washington and his wife Martha.
Asa Lay Employed as a Spy - Early in the War General Washington formed a plan for getting
information about the enemy. Washington prevailed upon a gentlemen from Virginia to turn Tory and
write for a British newspaper in Long Island, NY. He would then pass a packet of information on to a
trusted confederate, who would pass it on to Lt. Lay in Long Island. From the hand of that person Lt. Lay
was to receive the parcel and then crossing over to Connecticut, put it into the hands of Col. Meigs, who
was to deliver it to Washington. Asa Lay was always to go to Long Island in the night. He never knew
the man from whom he took the papers; never exchanged a word with him except the countersign; and
never told any person what his business was on Long Island, until many years after the War had closed.
Lt. Lay was employed in the Secret Service for several months.
Asa Lay tried by Courts Martial - During his secret service, he and his detachment of 15 men were
able to capture a number of British troops and keep them from destroying American supplies. The British
soon captured him in January 1779. As leader of the Raiding party, Lt. Lay was tried by Court Martial. A
Major John Andre presided at the trial. (This same John Andre was later was hanged as a British Spy by
the American Army, for helping Benedict Arnold betray his country by attempting to surrender the
West Point Army fort.) Because Lt. Lay had destroyed his papers he was unable to be hanged as a spy. He
did, however, spend two years and five months, under miserable conditions as a Prisoner of War. He was
released in the autumn of 1780, seen as being unfit to fight.
Almost a combatant at the Battle of Yorktown. - After a short period of recuperation at home in
Saybrook, he rejoined his regiment and was promoted to Captain, August 28, 1780. Captain Lay was
scheduled to take his company to join the forces of French General Count Rochambeau at
Peekskill, NY to proceed south to Yorktown, VA for the last big battle of the Rev. War. He, however,
came down with dysentery and had to be replaced by one of his lieutenants, a Lt. Mansfield. (Lt.
Mansfield serving in ASA Lay‘s place was wounded in one of the first engagements at the Battle at
Yorktown.) At the time of the declaration of peace, in 1783, he was stationed with Baron Von Steuben at
Fishkill, NY, on the Hudson River. General Washington‟s headquarters, at which he was a frequent
visitor, was at Newberg, NY on the opposite side of the river.
Asa Lay served proudly in his state‟s Militia after the War. - Cpt Lay was retired from active service
January 1st, 1783. He became a Lieutenant Colonel of the Seventh Conn. Regiment by a commission
dated May 31, 1796.
Cpt. Asa Lay's love for his Commander in Chief General George Washington - Col Lay had many
memories of the War that he related to his children and grandchildren, He was so fond of General Baron
Von Steuben that he named one of his twelve children Steuben. He spoke fondly of his commanders in
his Connecticut regiments. But none did his heart cling in love, and reverence as it did to General
Washington. „I never saw the man,‟ he would say, „I could live for, fight for, and die for as I could
for Washington.‟
Footnote: Asa‟s son made a set of Ivory teeth for Washington - His first son, Asa Wolcott Lay,
”made a set of ivory teeth for General Washington, for which he was paid a guinea a tooth…Washington
paused for an instant over the signature [to the bill] and then he said, ‘I had a captain in the army
by the name of ASA Lay; he was from Saybrook in Connecticut, Do you know anything about him?‘
When Washington learned that this Asa Lay was the son of the captain he took the young man‘s hand and
said ‘Give my love to your father; I knew him well; he was a brave man‘ ―
7
Excerpts for this article taken from:
1. The Descendants of Robert Lay of Saybrook, Conn, Edwin A. Hill, Boston
(MA), New England Historic Genealogical society, 1908. Pgs 4, 5, 7, & 9.
2. Captain Asa Lay of the War For Independence, by Mary Hewitt Mitchell, PhD,
The Torrington Printing Company, Torrington, CT, 1930, 37pp.
3. Recollections of Eune Elizabeth Lay, daughter of Steuben Lay, granddaughter of
Asa Lay, circa April 1893, 19pp
4. The History of Middlesex County (CT) 1635-1885, J.H. Beers & Co., 36 Vesey
 St., NY, 1884, pp 573-576.
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My Hubbard Ancestors
Associates Donnel J. Hubbard, Christopher L. Hubbard and Youth Associate Liam J. Hubbard are all
descended from the following men.
FOUNDER - George Hubbard, with his wife Mary, emigrated from England to Watertown, MA in
1633. Nothing is definitely known of his family in England. The oldest son John was baptized in East
Bergholt, northeast of Coldchester, in 1630. Therefore we know they lived within a day's walk of East
Bergholt.
George was born about 1594. He married in England and had at least two children born there. His wife
was Mary Bishop.
George and his family visited with his old friends, the Merriams, in Concord, MA, with whom he left
his three-year-old son, John. He then took up residence in Watertown, MA. They were unable to find
suitable land there and in October, 1635, along with sixty other settlers, George, his wife and daughter,
trekked west to the Connecticut River and settled what is now Wethersfield, CT. Their first winter there
was a trying experience, as their supplies, which had been shipped by boat, were locked in the frozen
Connecticut River and they had to survive on acorns and whatever they could barter from the Indians.
George was a surveyor and the records show that he was appointed to survey the lines of Windsor and
Wethersfield and was a prominent surveyor in Connecticut for many years.
While living in Wethersfield, George was granted a "license" to trade with the Indians. Eventually he lost
his "license" and was fined five pounds for selling a firearm to an Indian.
After living in Wethersfield for a time, he moved to the town of Milford, where he took up Milford
Island in Long Island Sound as his grant. Later he sold Milford Island to Richard Byran and settled in
Guilford, CT, where he bought the property of Joseph Shaeffe. He was a prominent citizen there. He was
a deputy magistrate and in 1666-1667 was a member of the Assembly at Hartford. He was admitted to
church membership in Guilford in October 1650.
Mary (-----) Hubbard died in September 14, 1675, in Guilford. George died there in January, 1683. His
will is on record in New Haven, CT.
George was buried in the church cemetery in Guilford. In the early 1800's, the town created a cemetery
outside of town. All headstones were moved and if the family paid, the remains were reinterred. Neither
George or Mary are listed as reinterred. The cemetery was filled in, and is now part of the town common.
Oldest son John (second child) also qualifies as a Founder. John Hubbard came over with his parents
in 1633 and stayed for some time with the Merriams in Concord, MA. Some accounts say that he married
Mary Merriam, others that he married Mary Shaeffe. So he definitely married Mary (-----).
He resided for some time at Wethersfield, CT, as his first four children were born there. He was one of
a company that on April 18, 1659, organized the town of Norwottuck - later called Hadley, MA. After
1672, he went to Hatfield, MA, and died there at the home of his son Isaac, in 1702. It is not known when
or where his wife, Mary, died, but her name is on his gravestone.
9
Intervening generations between Founder George Hubbard and Patriot Peter Hubbard are:




John, born about 1630 in England, married Mary (-----) and died August 1702.
Jonathan, born Wethersfield January 3, 1659; Married Hannah Rice January 15, 1681. He died
July 17, 1728 at Concord, MA.
Joseph, born February 8, 1689; married November 10, 1713 at Concord, Rebecca Bulkeley. He
died April 10, 1768 at Concord.
Joseph, born January 11, 1715; married May 3, 1744 Phebe Brigham. He died July 14, 1799.
Patriot - Peter Hubbard, who married his cousin, Phebe Brigham, lived in Holden, MA. like his
forefather before him, he was a farmer, and a respected man in his community. He was a Revolutionary
patriot, having marched at the first call to Lexington. Records show that he served a total of twelve and
one half days. Peter died at Holden, August 12, 1826. His wife Phebe, died there February 18, 1810.
Peter's grave is directly across the street from the Holden Town Hall. The D.A.R. has marked the grave.
10
A Founder and a Patriot
by
Associate Alexander Clarke Magruder, Sr.
Article II of the Constitution of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of American states that
one of the objectives of the Order is "To teach reverent regard for the character, deeds, and
heroism of the founders of this country and their patriot descendants." It is a commendable object
which serves to remind members of our obligations to those we represent and of the dangers and
sacrifices they underwent to defend their freedoms. Despite the passage of three and a half
centuries since the arrival in the Americas of my founding ancestor and nearly two centuries since
the birth of my patriot ancestor, there can be little doubt both was fully witting of the
consequences of failure, among them death or maiming on the battlefield, execution,
imprisonment, foefeiture of property, in sum destruction of their present and their future. The
presence of other family members and neighbors surely help harden their resolve to rebel against
governments perceived as cruel and indifferent, but each made his own decision to participate and
knew fully the penalties he and his family might bear. They also knew the odds against success of
their rebellion against English rule clearly were long. Nonetheless, each made the decision to
rebel and was prepared to suffer the consequences. In a 21st Century where expediency and
compromise sometime seem more common than principle, the strength of their convictions,
despite all odds, truly is memorable.
Founder Alexander Magruder, born in 1610 probably in Perthshire, Scotland, was a Highlander
loyal to the Stuarts and captured by Cromwell's forces at Worcester in 1651. His elder brother
James, Commander of the Shire of Perth for Charles II, was killed at Worcester, and his younger
brother John also captured. Offered a choice of execution or transport to the New World, where
France, Spain, and England struggled for hegemony, the brothers wisely chose the latter.
Transport offered immediate advantages to England; it emptied prisons; provided free labor that
could be sent anywhere under British control; and removed convicts and Irish and Scots rebels
who threatened domestic tranquility. According to Beall Family records, Alexander Magruder and
150 other prisoners, presumably including his brother John who died without issue in the New
World, were sentenced to eight years servitude and shipped in 1652 via Barbados to Virginia's
Governor Richard Bennett and his Secretary William Claiborne who transported Alexander
Magruder to Southern Maryland to serve a John Ashcomb. Whatever the hardships and
humiliations of his eight-year servitude, Alexander Magruder thrived in Maryland, as did
hundreds of other Highland, Lowland, and Ulster Scots who entered the American Colonies
voluntarily and involuntarily. He married twice, first to Margaret Braithwaite and second to
Elizabeth Hawkins, and had five children by his first wife and three by the second. His
descendants probably number in the thousands and live in most of these United State and abroad.
At his death on 25 July 1677. he owned or held claim to 3,750 acres of land, most in that portion
of Calvert County, Maryland eventually transferred to Prince Georges County. His will, dated 10
February 1676, probated in Calvert County, and transferred to the Hall of Records, Annapolis, in
1718, lists his trustees as his "well beloved friends...Mr. Nathaniel Trueman, Mr. Samuel Taylor,
and Mr. Ninnian Beall. Alexander Magruder was my father, eight generation removed.
11
Patriot Nathan Magruder, great grandson of Alexander Magruder and second son of John
Magruder and his wife Susannah Smith, was born in 1718 at their plantation "Dunblane" in Prince
Georges County, Maryland. He was "privately" educated and from his father John inherited in
October 1748 a property called "Knaves Dispute" where he erected a manor house, a photo of
which appears in the "Proceedings" published in connection with the Sixth Annual Gathering of
the American Clan Gregor Society. The area surrounding his 300-acre plantation had been
transferred from Prince Georges to Frederick County in 1745, and Nathan Magruder's public
service was in that county rather than Prince Georges. He was appointed County Judge in March
1748 and served in the House of Burgesses from 1751 to 1754 and from 1761 to 1763; as trustee
for the first schools established in Frederick County; and as Senior Warden at Christ Church,
Rockville. He also served as a Frederick County delegate to Maryland's General Convention
which first met in Annapolis on 22 June 1774 to elect delegates to the first Continental Congress
in Philadelphia. Aged 58 in 1776, Nathan Magruder was too elderly to take up arms during the
Revolutionary War, but his name appeared on sufficient public documents to identify him as a
rebel against the Crown and therefore subject to any personal and material penalties Britain might
impose had the revolution failed. He and other of Scots descent in the colonies surely also were
aware of the severity of Britain's treatment of rebels after Culloden, and they would have had
little reason to expect less harsh treatment. Had they failed, they would have been labeled traitors
and rebels and treated according, when they won, they became the Patriots we honor today. And
if success of the rebellion in 1776 against British rule was far from certain, the consequences of
failure were as clear then as they were in 1651, a century and a quarter earlier when Alexander
Magruder followed his convictions in Worcester. Nonetheless, Nathan Magruder and hundreds of
his fellow British subjects in Maryland held to their beliefs and risked life and liberty to support
the American Revolution whose success may have far exceeded their expectations.
Nathan Magruder married his cousin Rebeca Beall, and had nine children prior to his death in
April 1786. His will, executed 17 January 1781 and admitted to probate on 25 April 1786 in
Montgomery County, makes no mention of his wife who presumably predeceased him. He was
my father five generations removed. To him and hundreds like him who challenged all the might
of England we owe admiration and gratitude as well as "reverent regard."
12
OFPA Flag Design Discussed
From: The Bulletin, Vol. LX, No. 2, Fall, 1987, p. 12
A while back the Illinois Society purchased a new Flag of the Order for display at their meeting. When
this acquisition was announced to Illinois Associates, Governor James A. Williams (also the Order's
Historian General) prepared this interesting story for the Society's newsletter:
This flag consisting of two intersecting red bars is the flag of the Cross of St. George with the exception
that in the upper left-hand corner of a blue canton, 13 stars in a circle will be added.
The Cross of St. George flag had a very early dating when the Lord High Admiral, Charles Howard of
Effingham, flew this royal standard at the foremast of the Royal Arc in 1588 during the reign of Queen
Elizabeth. The rear admiral of the fleet, Sir Walter Raleigh, few the same flag at his mizzen mast.
When the Godspeed, Susan Constant and the Discovery arrived off Virginia in 1607 to plant the first
permanent English settlement in America, they all carried the Cross of St. George flag.
The British flag today is a combination of the cross of St. George flag and the Cross of St. Andrew flag.
After James VI of Scotland took the throne as King James I of England in 1603, it became appropriate
to have a flag representing both Scotland and England. The flag of Scotland was the white cross of St.
Andrew on a blue field.
Despite being joined in the person of King James, the kingdoms of Scotland and England each had their
own Parliament and national jealousies were strong. Seeking a symbolic manifestation of unity, in 1606
King James issued a proclamation joining the flag of St. George and St. Andrew in a national standard.
Editor's Comment: This is how the OFPA Handbook describes the OFPA flag.
"SECTION 3. COLORS. The colors of the Order shall consist of the National Colors or Flag as
prescribed by an Act of Congress, and the colors of the flag of the Order. The latter shall be cross,
GULES, on a field, ARGENT, with canton, AZURE, a constellation of thirteen stars, ARGENT."
13
John Barker
The Founder Ancestor of 21 Associates of the OFPA
From: The Virginia Founder-Patriot, Vol 1, Number 2, Jan. 1981
John Barker was a sea captain, born in Ratcliff, England. Master of the good ship ―Abraham‖, also of the
―John and Barbara‖. He sailed from London, 20 November, 1635 with 51 passengers for Virginia, also in
August 1637 and, of course, made other voyages as well.
John Barker settled here in 1649 on 300 acres in what became (…James City …) County in 1652.
(…This land was upon the head of the main branch of the lower Chippokee Creek…) The sale of some of
this land to Benjamin Harrison may have been forced, as he evidently took part in Bacon‘s Rebellion by
helping to convert Allen‘s brick house into ‗Bacon‘s Castle.‘ Maybe he was lucky at that. Governor
Berkley hanged 26 men for their part in that fracas, and many were the most prominent men in Virginia.
The PATRIOT ancestor of this clan was Henry Barker, Jr., born abt 1736. A member of the 2nd Virginia
of the Continental Line. He served at Valley Forge and died in Sussex County, VA about 1788
Known Associates descending from John Barker:
B.O. Barker
D.P. Barker
E.O. Barker
G.O. Barker
H.L. Barker
R. L. Barker
D.W. Barker, Jr.
S.A. Long
E.T. Long, III
R.H. Squire
C.M. Barker
D.W Barker
F.O. Barker
G.W. Barker
J.O. Barker
S.O. Barker
F.N. Barker, Jr.
B.O. Long, Jr.
H.E. Squire
W.B. Squire
14
The Governor General's Gavel and Case
by PGG Burk O. Barker
From: The Bulletin, Vol. LXXI, No. 1, Spring, 1997, p. 12
A distinguished member of the Order, PGG THOMAS P. CURTIS queried me about the significance,
if any, of the various sources of the wood used in the making of the Governor General's gavel and case
which contains it. Since he has voiced an interest perhaps there are others who have a special interest in
the Order. I'll dare to reveal my very own personal feelings. For me, this Order is more than a collection
of men who have heredity and patriotic similitudes. This gavel and case was an attempt to put into
tangible expression some of these feelings. I know that I am not alone in this; others harbor deep feelings
as was borne out by an exchange of letters with a deeply patriotic member, Ted Little, of Connecticut for
whom I have the warmest regards and great respect.
A Proud Ancestry
All members share a similar proud tracing of ancestry to the very earliest beginnings of this beloved
country. Some of us are so situated that we live in close proximity to the very lands where our forefathers lived some 350 years ago. Perhaps you are so fortunate. It is not a rare thing for Virginians to
hold such strong ties. A noble and chivalrous Robert E. Lee felt this so deeply that when offered
command of the Federal forces he declined saying that he could not draw his sword against his native
state. If you have such a place or lands where you can walk, where they walked, in silent contemplation
of and with them it will do your soul good and give you insights that perhaps you never before
experienced. Do this in the quiet of the early morning to set the mood as the mists rise over the fields.
Try it, with sincerity; you will find it rewarding much beyond your expectations. If you have stayed with
me this long you might well be wondering what all this has to do with the gavel. Really, quite a bit
because it was the thought process of the foregoing that led me to the idea. Let's have a tangible
manifestation of the requirement for membership in the Order. I believe so strongly in these qualifying
requirements for membership that I think the address of John Quincy Adams should be required reading
before membership is bestowed. This address was given in New York at the founding of the Order in
1896.
The Wood
Acquiring the various component representative woods for the project did not come easily. The
distinguished director, Mr. Angus Murdock, of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia
Antiquities came to my rescue. He was intrigued with my purpose. He also knew of my interest in
Bacon's Castle, because of John Barker's participation in that first revolt against the Crown. With the
renovation and repair of the structure in progress at the time he was able to secure for me a piece of the
rotting sill being replaced. This sill measuring about 12 inches by 12 inches was quite enough but I still
wanted to be sure of its age and that it was not from unknown repair in time past. To be sure I send a
piece to the dendrologist of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, one of the leading authorities in his field.
He assured me that it was not only old but was from an oak tree growing at the time of Columbus. He
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was happy to add this to his collection of rare woods. Rare in that it was from an ancient, historic
structure.
The Gavel
Since my supply of wood for the gavel was limited, I could not afford to have the turning left to other
than an expert. Good fortune was with me for I located a craftsman in old Richmond who restored
antiques and undertook special projects. He, too, was interested in the project and did a fine, careful job
in the turning.
The Case
Wood for the case and inlaid crosses was the next challenge. Having recently retired I had a home
built on the lower Potomac river situation on historic ground. The land had been the site of the Glebe of
Westmoreland where resided the Church of England Vicar who married George Washington's mother and
father. A contractor engaged in building home there had a problem which fortunately solved my problem.
There was a "swamp" walnut tree, very old having a gnarled trunk five feet in diameter by one
measurement. Sometime in the past it had apparently been struck by lightening causing interior rot and
making it susceptible to falling in a high wind. The contractor building a home nearby feared a falling
tree could damage the home. He offered me the tree if I could have it removed. It was an expensive
operation but it provided me the wood necessary. Counting the rings proved that it could have been
growing in Washington's time. Half way home. Now for the crosses!
Wood from St. John's church was my next target. A visit to the Rector was less than satisfactory. He
opined that any wood that was available was for the church. He couldn't spare a sliver for my historical
project. What to do? A visit to a sympathetic craftsman turning the gavel solved the problem. He has
been engaged to do some work for St. John's in his shop. He pointed to a small pile of scrap on the floor
which was destined to be thrown out and told me to help myself. This wood was especially important. It
was in this church that Patrick Henry gave his rousing call to action calling on those Virginians still
feeling an allegiance to the Crown to "shape up." Some in the Old Dominion were reluctant to challenge
England Henry's cry, "the next gale that sweeps down from the north will bring the clash of resounding
arms. Our brothers are already in the field; why stand we here idle?" - as you know his clarion call
carried the day. The St. John's cross was assured.
One item was left, wood for the second cross, from Christ Church in Alexandria. It was at this church
that George Washington worshiped when he came in from Mount Vernon. It was here also that the
gallant Lee worshiped in happier times. Fortunately a friend was a communicant of Christ Church. There
were some minor repairs being done in the housing for the bell. Since my needs were miniscule there was
no problem in securing this important part closing the circle of needed woods.
As a hobbyist, amateur cabinetmaker, it was my pleasure to work these pieces of historical wood into
the case and gavel in use by Governors General today. I think it is a worthy instrument to call my fellow
associates to order, this group of patriots who share such a treasured heritage. Like the associates called
to order, this gavel and case embodies all of the strict elements of "belonging." The gavel itself dates
from the period when our forefathers were, as John Quincy Adams decreed, the real prisoners. The case
containing the gavel came from the period of time of the shot heard 'round the world. The crosses inlaid
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in the top of the case are representative that period of time and places where great leaders came to
unburden themselves of the travail. Hopefully, our associates are living embodiment of all things held
dear by all true patriots. The sources of the wood are from those sites still alive and vibrant. May all who
wield this gavel feel the summation of history that he holds in his hand.
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Colonial Toleration, A Nation's Rule
by Stewart Whittle
Deputy Chaplain General
From: The Bulletin, Vol. LXXV, No. 2, Fall, 2001, p. 18
When we met in Providence, Rhode Island, as the General Court, it was an opportunity to nose about
the history of that place with regard to religious liberty. The two incentives of private ownership of land
and freedom to worship God in other than the King's Own Church brought many families and men of the
British Isles to these shores.
The movement for reform in the Church of England was an impetus for Puritan colonial immigration
into New England. This was most intense from 1620 through about 1640, at which time the
parliamentary party overthrew the King and created a more agreeable governmental and religious
environment for the reformist. To their credit the Puritans brought with them the germinal idea for our
nation to be of "congregational" democratic government. However, the practice of religious intolerance
was so strong in their society, that a theocracy resulted. That "rule of law" produced persecution of nonpuritan adherents. A similar situation developed in the Connecticut colony and the Congregational
church. All of these faithful were committed to saving their souls in a way we, perhaps, have little
contact; it was soul-threatening to disbelieve, life-threatening to live outside the huddled villages.
My own ancestor was punished by the Puritan led government of Massachusetts for being supportive
of a Quaker family without demanding that they become Puritans. His ear was cut off and he was sent to
jail for about two years. He "apologized" to the Court and was set free. Shortly thereafter, he moved with
his family to the Southold community of Long Island and became a Presbyterian.
These same condition led Roger Williams to Providence, Rhode Island, and to establish the First
Baptist Church in America. Many General court participants attended worship in the church he founded.
His (and other's) idea of religious toleration became a guiding principle in the mores of that Colony. It
was a refuge for Quakers, Jews and other communities of religious commitment. In Newport, RI, for
example, the first synagogue in the colonies was established in 1763; Touro synagogue can be visited
today. After the revolution, correspondence between the congregation and President George Washington
reveals his attitude: it was not "by indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of
their inherent natural rights," which by context he is referring to religious freedom. And again, "While
just government protects all in their religious rights, true religion affords to government its surest
support." Patriotism and Religious Freedom go hand-in-hand.
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THE BACON‟S CASTLE GAVEL
The Bacon‘s Castle Gavel and the case containing it are made from wood from very historic sites
encompassing the ideals and requirements for membership in the Order of the Founders and Patriots of
America.
Imbedded in the case is a bit of wood from the medieval church of St. Helen‘s, Willoughby Parish,
Alford, Lincolnshire, England. It was here that Captain John Smith was baptized and attended as a youth.
Later this same John
Smith took leadership of the Virginia Colony of Jamestown during days
of bitter adversity
and assured its survival. This settlement founded on 13 May 1607
marks the date and
within fifty years thereafter upon which the chronology for our
membership was
established. It is of interest to note that at the formation of the
Order the name
―Sons of Jamestown‖ was given consideration.
Next in
chronology is the gavel itself made from a massive oak sill which came
from the
restoration of Bacon‘s Castle built in the mid-1600‘s, the home of Arthur Allen in
Surry County, Virginia just across the James River from Jamestown. Actual count of the growth rings
date the tree from which the timber was cut to pre-Columbian times. Bacon‘s Castle was held by
Nathaniel Bacon and a group of rebellious Virginians (including John Baker … the ancestor of Burk O.
Barker, presenter of the gavel…) who were revolting against the injustices of Colonial Governor Berkley
and King Charles II in 1676. The reasons for this first revolt against the British Crown were remarkably
similar to those cited against George III by the Founding Fathers some one hundred years later. The
difference – the first (revolt) failed, the second succeeded. One of the few outstanding works of
architecture of the 17th Century America – Bacon‘s Castle – still stands in Surry County, Virginia. The
case itself is made of wood from a massive, ancient walnut tree which was growing on the Glebe of
Westmoreland County, Virginia. The Glebe was the home of the Church of England Vicar who married
Augustine Washington and Mary Ball the parents of George Washington.
On the gavel case are two crosses, inlaid with original wood from two of America‘s most historic
churches. The cross on the right is from the bell tower of Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia. At this
church George Washington served as a vestryman and worshipper for many years. To the left the cross
comes from St. John‘s Church in Richmond, Virginia built in 1741. This church was the site of the 1775
Revolutionary Convention where Patrick Henry made his famous ―Give me liberty or give me death‖
speech.
Thus the gavel and case embody the beginnings of our country at Jamestown and the period through the
Revolutionary War. It all includes a representation of our motto ―Steadfast for God and Country‖ and the
chronological requirements for membership in our Order, 1607-1657 and the Revolutionary War
The gavel and case are a gift to the Order by Governor General Burk O. Barker.
Editors note: the VA Society OFPA has one of two Bacon Castle gavels.
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New Jamestown Galleries to Portray English and Indian History, Culture
by PGG Burk O. Barker
From: The Bulletin, Vol. LXI, No. 2, Fall, 1988, p. 16
Those of the Order privileged to attend the 90th General Court at Williams in 1986 will no doubt recall
visiting historic Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the new world. They will recall
visiting the New World Pavillion where hangs the Order's first certificate presented for Excellence in
Historical Representation. Two of these awards were presented. They are the premier awards of the
Order available for presentation to organizations not directly affiliated with the Order, but which have
made outstanding historical contributions to the understanding of our nation's heritage.
The recipients were the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the Lord Tollemache, Chairman of the
Godspeed to Jamestown Committee of the United Kingdom. It is worth noting that the Lord Tollemache
is still deeply involved with these historic efforts and now serves as a member of the Board of Directors
of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
New Complex Underway
When associates of the Order next visit Jamestown, they will see under construction the newest
addition to the Jamestown Settlement complex, The Jamestown Galleries. A groundbreaking ceremony
was held October 1, 1987, a beautiful autumn day on the banks of the historic James river. Invited guests
included members of the Virginia General Assembly, civic leaders, distinguished educators,
representatives of historical societies and chief of Indian tribes still residing in the area. Also included on
the list of distinguished guests were the writer and the Governor of the Virginia Society, Col. Volney H.
Rattan. An Indian maiden, Brandi Snowfeather of the Chicahominies, was honored to wield a shovel at
the groundbreaking. She is a descendant of a tribe which first greeted Christopher Newport and Capt.
John Smith to these shores in 1607.
The new Jamestowne Galleries will tell the story of America's beginning at Jamestown, the birthplace
of the nation. Here the first legislative assembly in America met and still continues at the Virginia
General Assembly. The legislature made this latest addition to the Jamestown complex possible with an
appropriation of $3 1/2 million. When complete, the 30,000-square-foot addition will expand the existing
New World Pavillion to include English, Powhatan Indian and Jamestown Galleries, complete with a
research library. The English Gallery will be a major contribution to the American citizen's
understanding of the very close ties which underlay the nation's beginnings with England.
Visit Famous Church
On a visit to England in September '87, the writer visited St. Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, London with
which Capt. John Smith had an affiliation. The beautiful little church nestled in the heart of old London
had largely been reconstructed after the terrible blitz of London inWWII. There in the courtyard is a
statue of Captain John Smith with this inscription on its base: "Captain John Smith, Citizen and
Cordwaiver, 1580-1631, First among the Leaders of the Settlement of Jamestown Virginia From Which
Began The Overseas Expansion of The English Speaking Peoples."
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This church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the noted English architect, designer of St. Paul's
in London and the original buildings of The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. How real and
close are our ties! This gallery will devote particular attention to describing the cultural, social and
economic conditions which led these English pioneers to Virginia.
Powhatans to Be Highlighted
Equally interesting will be the Indian Gallery showing the culture and history of the mighty Powhatan
Confederacy, a league of several Indian tribes with inhabited the Virginia peninsulars at the time of the
Jamestown settlement. When finally established, this museum will be the only one of its kind in the
nation -- truly a significant addition for the study of the impact the Powhatan Confederacy had up on
American History. We were told that two valuable collections had already been donated to the gallery.
One by Mrs. James R. Coates who presented her late husband's collection of over 200,000 Virginia Indian
artifacts. Another by Edward Bottoms of Chesapeake, Virginia. Together they will not only enlighten
visitors about the history of the Powhatan Confederacy, but will trace Indian history in Virginia through
artifacts dating back to 10,000 years B.C.
The importance of these galleries is made clear by their designation as the repository of the
archeological collections unearthed throughout the entire region and continuing to be unearthed at
numerous digs, which continue unabated. These peninsulars of Virginia provide a rich and wonderful
storehouse of information on that 17th century period. Here Englishmen founded a cultural, social and
political system which formed the basis for these United States.
Support From Virginia Society
The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and its galleries is one of the two historical enterprises which
the Virginia Society of the Order supports to the best of its financial ability. The other is the Flowerdew
Hundred Plantation founded in 1619 just 50 miles or so up the James from Jamestown. This site has been
the subject of annual archeological excavations by a team from the University of California-Berkeley led
by Professor James Dietz, Director of the Lowie Museum of Anthropology. Excavations have not only
revealed significant findings about this 1619 plantation but the site has given up relics of Indian
civilization as early as 9000 B.C. In a future edition of the Bulletin we hope to bring you an account of
this most interesting settlement.
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Flowerdew Hundred On the James
By PGG Burk O. Barker
From: The Bulletin, Vol. LXIV, No. 1, Spring, 1991, p. 10
Before the Pilgrims arrived in the new world, this plantation had been established and was flourishing. It
was destined to play an important part in Virginia history and is now the site of the Flowerdew Hundred
Foundation. The area was owned for several decades in the 1600s by the ancestor of Past Governor
General Burk O. Barker, the author of this interesting story.
The story of Flowerdew Hundred is as much a story of a point of land on the historic James River as it
is of a plantation dating from the very earliest colonial times. It begins about 370 years ago when one
George Yeardley, a well-connected English gentlemen of modest means received a grant of land about 25
miles upriver from Jamestown. Yeardley's fortunes rose dramatically in a few years after his arrival in
Virginia. Landing in 1610, by 1618 he had received the grant of land which he named Flowerdew
Hundred, was knighted and appointed Governor of the Virginia Colony. The name Flowerdew probably
derived from the family name of his wife, a prominent one in Norfolk, England, who had given Yeardley
considerable financial support.
Flowerdew Hundred is unique among the great plantations along the James. Unlike Berkeley,
Westover, Carter's Grove and other magnificent homes that still line the James, the Flowerdew buildings
did not survive. Today, its primary interest lies in the fact that it has some of the best preserved sites for
archaeological study of early colonial history in the former colonies. The first serious effort of
archaeological study of Flowerdew was begun by people from William and Mary College. Really
intensive work began under the direction of Professor James Deetz of the University of California at
Berkeley. Dr. Dietz is a renounced archaeologist, a charismatic individual. I have met Dr. Dietz and
found him to be a sensitive individual uniquely qualified to lead a study of early Virginia life with
genuine appreciation and understanding. His efforts began in 1982 when he led a team of 35 archaeology
students on a dig at the Flowerdew site.
Dates to Prehistoric Times
Curiously the digs to discover Flowerdew's past led to the discover of artifacts and evidence that the
site had been inhabited for thousands of years before the coming of the English. Sites of prehistoric
origin dating from the Archaic and Woodland phases of Indian cultural development were found. The
Weanock tribe, part of the over two dozen which formed the Powhatan confederation, actually occupied
the area which became Flowerdew Hundred. There was evidence that led to the belief that considerable
trade between the Indians and occupants of Flowerdew flourished, the Indians trading furs, corn and game
for trinkets, tools and cook wear. This peaceful intercourse ended with the major Indian uprising of 1622
when over 350 settlers living along the James lost their lives. Fortunately, because Flowerdew was an
exceptionally well defended plantation only six lives were lost there.
Perhaps the use of the word "hundred" as part of the designation of so many Virginia plantations stirs
the question - why? Virginia, the Old Dominion, was perhaps the most "English" of the colonies and
retained more of the common language usages of the mother country. In old England the term "hundred"
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was used to describe that amount of land required to support 100 men at arms. By the 17th century the
term had evolved into the meaning of a unit of land which was an administrative entity was about half
way between a shire and a parish.
It is not surprising that Flowerdew Hundred, that point of land and surrounding acreage, was so
favored for settlement through the ages. To a considerable extent it is an alluvial area. The frequent
flooding during times of high water replenishes and adds to the fertility of the soil. The particularly good
growing conditions made it favored even by the semi-nomadic Indians. An additional attraction was that
it was, and is, a favorite spot for migratory fowl, geese and ducks. Likewise, deer, bear and smaller
animals were in Plentiful supply. It is not unusual even now to spot a bear wondering through the wood
as close as it is to urban localities. Evidence of habitation by the Paleo-Indian hunters who roamed the
area 12,000 years ago has been found. All in all over 50 archaeological sites dating from the prehistoric
to the 19th century have been found.
Represented at First Assembly
The year 1619 saw the beginning of the first legislative assembly in the new world. Yeardley, now the
Virginia colony governor, led that body. Flowerdew Hundred had its own delegates to the first General
Assembly of Virginia meeting on July 30, 1619 in the person of John Jefferson and Ensign Rossingham.
Thus Flowerdew participated in the inauguration of the principle of rule by representation which a century
and a half later brought on the great revolution against the British monarch.
Founded in 1619, Flowerdew Hundred by 1619 was a functioning plantation producing quantities of
that crop which was the road to riches, tobacco. Yeardley was on his way to becoming the wealthiest man
in the colony. He seemed to spare no effort to make Flowerdew a model plantation. He had constructed,
in 1621, the first windmill in the colonies for grinding grain. Even today that spot on the James is known
as Windmill Point. A replica has been built by the Flowerdew Foundation, it is again grinding grain as of
old. Visitors may purchase the stone-ground cornmeal so good to the palate and good for the health. A
census in 1624 showed 63 people living on the plantation; eleven were black laborers, 48 were indentured
servants and 15 were skilled craftsmen.
By 1624 Yeardley, prospering to the point where he was considered the richest man in the colony,
decided to sell the plantation to Abraham Peirsey, another wealthy merchant/planter. A gauge of the
continuing growth of the wealth of the plantation is an inventory conducted in 1625 after Peirsey assumed
ownership. There were now 12 dwelling houses, 4 tobacco barns, 3 general storehouses, and, of course,
the windmill. As to livestock, there were some 70 head of cattle and hogs, plentiful supplies of grain,
peas and cured fish in the warehouses. Despite the obvious prosperity, or perhaps in part because of it,
there was a continuing concern for the security of Flowerdew. The lessons of the massacre of 1622 were
still fresh. An inventory of weapons showed a plentiful supply of small arms, breast armor and the six
cannon still in place. It is sometimes forgotten but there was a lingering concern in the colony, not only
fear of Indian raids, but possible incursions by the Spanish. In reality, however, the Indians were the most
dangerous threat to security.
Purchased by William Barker
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Peirsey's tenure at Flowerdew was short lived for he died in 1628. His widow, Frances, was not adept
at plantation management. The place fell into a decline until it was sold to William Barker, merchant,
mariner and planter in 1639. Barker was a man of prominence in the colony and represented Charles City
County in the General Assembly of Virginia for a term in 1645. Under William Barker and his son John,
Flowerdew Hundred again became a prosperous enterprise. The Barkers owned Flowerdew for a longer
time than any other, from 1639 to 1673. It passed to John's sisters, Sarah, wife of Robert Lacy and
Elizabeth, wife of Phillip Lambrey, by inheritance. In the years following by right of inheritance or sale
Flowerdue passed to other hands. Nonetheless, Flowerdew land has been in continuous cultivation for
375 years.
Benedict Arnold Visits
The history of Flowerdew touches on events which are of interest to the Order on two occasions other
than its early beginning. It was during the American Revolution that the traitor Benedict Arnold paid a
visit to Flowerdew. On February 3rd, 1781 Arnold's forces came upon Flowerdew from where he sent his
men against Fort Hood about 2,500 feet downstream. With his superior forces he quickly overcame the
tiny fort and spiked its guns. On the following day he moved to the next plantation, Westover, and thence
to Richmond. His assault on Richmond resulted in causing Governor Thomas Jefferson and his staff to
flee to the Blue Ridge to avoid capture. After his "noble" deed he fell back to Flowerdew where he faced
a small force of Virginia Militia. The militia dissolved into the woods and so lived to fight another day.
On the 11th of February 1781 Arnold and his band left Flowerdew and sailed on down river.
Involved in Civil War
The next brush with history came in 1864. Remember that period of time which the gentle and genteel
southern ladies of the later 19th century called "the late unpleasantness"? In the days starting June 12th,
1864 the father of our first Governor General caused his troops to invade the property once belonging to
the family of our 44th Governor General. It was after General Ulysses S. Grant was bloodied badly by
Lee at Cold Harbor, losing 12,000 men in just a few hours, that he decided to slip away to the south a bit.
He came to the James River, found a likely spot and ordered his engineers to build a pontoon bridge
across in order that he could move to Petersburg and try to cut Lee's supply lines there.
Grant's engineers performed a remarkable feat of engineering. They constructed a bridge 1,992 feet
long from Weyanoke on the north bank to Flowerdew Hundred on the south. Over this bridge he moved
60,000 troops, a supply train over 50 miles long and 3,000 head of cattle. Grant's troops availed
themselves of Flowerdew's "hospitality, and harvested all the early vegetable and other foodstuffs. They
found comfort in their cook fires and warmth in their campfires from wood generously furnished by the
farm outbuildings after which they moved on to the outer defenses of Petersburg. No need to recount this
episode and how it unfolded -- history buffs know it well.
Foundation on Site
Today, the Flowerdew Hundred Foundation, a non-profit organization, is headquartered at the old
plantation site. During the period April, 1988 to March, 1989 the Foundation in collaboration with the
National Museum of American History produced an interesting exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution in
Washington. At the original site, on Virginia Route 10, five miles east of the southern terminus of the
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Benjamin Harrison bridge, the Foundation has its headquarters and there operates an archaeological
laboratory, museum, workshop and research library. The Foundation sponsors, hosts and occasionally
supports special educational programs.
The kind assistance of executive Director Robert W. Wharton, Ms. Elizabeth Myrich, Special
Assistant, and Ms. Margaret (Peggy) Porterfield Price, interpreter and Collections Management, is greatly
acknowledged.
Bibliography
Barker Family Papers; Various Flowerdew Foundations pamphlets; Encyclopedia of American History,
Richard B. Morris; The Oxford History of the American People, Samuel Eliot Morison; Seed of Liberty,
E. Keeble Chatterton.
25
Alexander Spotswood
Knight of the Golden Horse Shoe
by Secretary General Burk O. Barker
From: The Bulletin, Vol. XLXIV, No. 1, Spring, 1984, p. 16
Very possibly the best of all colonial governors was Alexander Spotswood of Virginia. Patriot, Soldier,
Statesman, administrator, builder, industrialist, he was all of these and a true Cavalier of the Old
Dominion. He came to Virginia in 1710 at the age of 34. Born in Tangier, Africa, in 1676 at the British
Garrison, he was the son of the surgeon to the royal governor of Tangier, the Earl of Middleton.
Legends and myths surround his early childhood, but it is certain that he entered the army at an early
age. He served with distinction under the Duke of Marlborough at the Battle of Blenheim where he was
seriously wounded. Rising Rapidly in rank, he became quarter-master general of Marlborough with the
rank of Colonel. There is no doubt that his demonstrated skill as an energetic and able administrator led
to his appointment as Deputy Governor of the Virginia colony.
His reassertion of the right of Habeas Corpus granted under the charter of Sir Thomas Gates and other
in 1606 assured an enthusiastic welcome by the colonists. Concerned by the condition of public buildings
in Williamsburg, he set about what today would be called "public works projects." He restored the main
buildings of William and Mary College. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, it had been severely
damaged by fire. Bruton Parish Church had fallen in a state of disrepair which he restored. Dissatisfied
with the progress of construction of the Governor's Palace, he took over personal supervision of its
construction. These and several other public works felt his strong hand. They are there today for the
visitor to Williamsburg to enjoy.
Named Postmaster General
His interest did not end with restoring and building or public works. By Act of Parliament in 1710 the
Postmaster General of London was made Postmaster General of the Empire. In 1732, Governor
Spotswood of Virginia became Postmaster General followed in 1753 by the appointment of Benjamin
Franklin and William Hunter as joint postmasters. Governor Spotswood's interest in the commercial
development of the colony led him to actively engage in iron mining and the building of the first regular
iron furnace in America.
Spotswood developed the colonial militia and brought it to a high state of readiness. It was he who
directed the naval expedition against the notorious pirate Black Beard which resulted in Black Beard's
death and the capture and subsequent hanging of his crew.
His statesmanlike vision saw a great danger in the spreading French influence in America. This and the
pacification of the Indians was in great part the reason for his westward explorations. And so it was that
in the year 1716 he assembled a small group of gentlemen with their retinue to do what Governor
Berkley, an earlier Virginia Governor, had dreamed about.
26
It was an illustrious group of gentlemen that he assembled. One was George Mason of Stafford whose
son of the same name was the author of the Virginia Bill of Rights and the State Constitution. Another
was James Taylor, believed to be the great grandfather of President Zachery Taylor. But it is to another
gentlemen adventurer and member of the expedition, John Fontaine, that we owe a debt of gratitude for
his account of the journey. His chronicle was published in the History of St. Mark's Parish by Rev. Philip
Slaughter. It carries a rich detail of the historic exploration.
Assemble for Trek
On August 26, 1716 the small band assembled at Germanna on the Rappahannock River. This is but a
short distance from where the largest cavalry engagement ever fought in the Western Hemisphere took
place in 1862 - Brandy Station, Virginia.
The party was well provisioned as became Virginia cavaliers bred to Virginia Hospitality. Chronicler
Fontaine relates that they carried an "extraordinary variety of Liquors" which found frequent use to toast
the King, and members of the expedition. Two varieties of rum, both red and white wine, brandy,
whiskey, champagne, cider, canary and shrub.
In addition to providing for their "spiritual" needs, they carried a great store of provisions, guns and
ammunition. They did, of course, replenish their larder with deer, bear, wild fowl and fish where were to
be had in great abundance. One of the unusual items for those in Virginia was the large quantity of horse
shoes. In the sandy loam of tidewater Virginia, largely free of rock, horses were seldom found to be in
need of shoes.
Our intrepid explorers did not fear danger, hard riding or hard work. Their path led through virgin,
primeval forest. Many times they had to hack their way through dense undergrowth, brambles, vines and
marsh land. Ten miles made a good day's journey. Fontaine wrote, "We had a rugged way. We passed
over a great many small runs of water, some of which were very deep and others miry. Several of our
company were dismounted, some were down with their horses, and some thrown off..." We came to a
thicket so tightly laced we had a great deal of trouble getting through. Our baggage was injured, our
clothes torn to rags and the saddles and holster also torn."
Having followed the Rapidan to its source, they sought the headwaters of the James and ranged the
eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge mountains which they crossed at Swift Run Gap. Always ready to ease
the hardships of the journey and celebrate both minor and major triumphs after descending the western
slopes, they crossed the beautiful Shenandoah where they rested and "drank some healths." Their route
then led them to the Massanutten range, the western terminus of their exploration.
Destination Celebrated
By the 6th of September, 1716 they reached the highest point of the Massanutten. Thinking that they
had reached the summit of the Continental Divide, they dedicated their discoveries to his Majesty George
the First. They celebrated the event with a good dinner, toasted the king's health and fired a volley in
salute. This was followed by a toast to the royal Princess' health with Burgundy; another to the royal
family in general with claret and a fourth to Governor Spotswood. Bonhomie never lacking, the toasts
and volleys went on until all the gentlemen of the company had been honored.
27
Upon a rock on the highest elevation Governor Spotswood cut out his majesty's name and named the
peak Mt. George. The company then named an adjoining peak Mt. Alexander in honor of the Governor.
When the adventurers returned, Governor Spotswood presented each with jewel-encrusted golden horse
shoe. On one side the words "Tramontane Order" and on the reverse "Sic juvat transcendire montes."
Later, membership in the Order was widened to encourage the colonists to make further discoveries and
settlements, any gentleman being entitled to wear the golden horse shoe upon proving that he had drunk
to his majesty's health on Mt. George.
It is no exaggeration to say that the history of western exploration began with the crossing of the Blue
Ridge by Governor Spotswood and his party. Any reader who has ever beheld the glories of the
Shenandoah Valley of Virginia can imagine the magnificent view of that virgin valley as it lay before the
Knights of the Golden Horse Shoe.
There is no doubt that the Order existed and was taken with a reasonable amount of seriousness by
Governor Spotswood. In 1722, on September 12 to be exact, Governor Spotswood was in Albany, New
York attending a peace conference with Indian deputies of the "Six Nations" and other colonial
representatives. The following is recorded in "Documents relative to the Colonial History of the State of
New York", Albany 1855, vol. V, p677. This is the literal language used by the reporter of the
proceedings: "The Governor (Spotswood) told them he must take particular notice of their Speaker &
gave him a golden Horse shoe, which he wore at his breast, & bid the interpreter tell him there was an
inscription upon (it) which Signified that it would help to pass over the mountains, and that when their
people came to Virginia with a pass they should bring it with them."
In the mid-decades of the 18th century the beautiful valley of the Shenandoah was flooded by settlers
from Virginia coming over the mountains and Scotch-Irish, French Huguenots and Germans moving
down from Pennsylvania. Those first western explorations of Governor Spotswood in 1716 set the stage
for those intrepid Virginians, Lewis and Clark, who 88 years later at the request of President Jefferson
mounted an expedition to explore the West that took them to the Pacific Ocean. Thus was the work of
exploration begun by Governor Spotswood brought to fruition.
Editor's Note - In the original article PGG Barker said to write him for the recipe for shrub. I'm sorry to
say, that is no longer possible. The following recipe is from "Williamsburg Art of Cookery. " The
original recipe is from "Mrs. E. Smith's Compleat Houfewife, Williamfburg, 1742."
"To make Shrub:
"Take two Quarts of Brandy, and put it in a large Bottle, and put in the Juice of five Lemons and Peels of
two, half a Nutmeg, flop it up, and let it Stand three Days, and add to it three Pints of White-wine, a
Pound and half of Sugar; mix it, and ftrain it twice thro' a Flannel, and bottle it up; 'tis a pretty Wine and a
Cordial."
28
Address of Welcome
By President Pro Tem John Quincy Adams
From: The Bulletin, Vol. XlXV, No. 1, Spring, 1985, p. 13
This is a copy of the Address of Welcome delivered by President Pro Tem John Quincy Adams during an
April 17, 1896 organizational meeting at the Hotel Normandie, New York City.
As Chairman of your Order, it devolves upon me, as a pleasant duty to extend you a cordial welcome
on this occasion, in behalf of the incorporators. We are met for the purpose of electing you as Charter
Members in an organization that stands as preeminently American; it requires that we have our ancestry in
an unbroken line, from the pioneers of the first fifty years of Colonization through patriots of the
Revolution --thus embracing two of the most important epochs in the history of our country.
We may speak with pride of our colonial ancestors, for in considering the settlement of America, two
points must be clearly established: in the first place, that the people who came to America during the first
fifty years of colonization were pioneers; in the second place, that those who have come here since, have
come as emigrants. That a distinction should be drawn between pioneers and emigrants is manifest when
we consider the work that these two classes perform.
The pioneer is one who has in his soul a spark of fire that impels him to look beyond the narrow streets
of his native town, the confines of his paternal farm that he may find for this spark, fresh and unsullied
atmosphere. And thus we find him, axe in hand, blazing his path through the virgin forest, penetrating the
dreary wastes of the desert, or crossing the trackless oceans, ever impelled forward toward an uncertain
destiny.
It is the pioneer who awakens in the morning with a feeling that he is being drawn toward the setting
sun by an irresistible impulse; and yielding to this impulse, he opens to mankind new fields. He shows to
his brothers that the wonders of the world lie beyond; he solves for man the most important questions in
science by the discoveries.
Climbing to the height of some steep mountain by torturous steps, the pioneer stands on its summit and
peers at the grand scene that lies spread before him. He sees valleys more beautiful than he has known, a
nobler river, and a forest more vast. Turning towards his brothers, he calls, "Here lies a nobler land than
you know of, Come, cross these mountains", and arising, they follow him. Man makes another
progression.
In all the ages man has had his pathfinders. The Jews had their Moses, who led them to the Promised
Land, the Greeks had their Alexander, who took his people from the narrow confines of Macedonia, to
give them as a heritage a domain embracing Turkey, Persia, India, Egypt. Yet, it was reserved for the
English to have as their pathfinders those who would lay open to man a land that was not to be held in the
narrow limits of the Promised Land of Moses, that was not to yield even to Alexander's conquests as
sufficient to be spoken of in the same breath. From the days when the first tribes of the Aryan family
began to wonder from the plateaus of Persia, down to the landing of Colonists in America, the path of
progress has been blazed, through Europe to the Western Coast of Ireland, a distance of three thousand
29
miles, and it had taken three thousand years. Let us turn, then, to contrast the achievements of the
Continental pathfinders, with those of our own.
With the landing of the first pioneers at Jamestown and Plymouth, our forefathers began their work of
blazing a path to liberty for the down-trodden of the world.
They pushed one and on, westward, ever westward. Valleys and rivers were crossed that surpassed in
grandeur and extent those of the old world. Mountains were met that made the alps seem insignificant.
Yet they were scaled, and as a fitting achievement, for their first discovery, on climbing to the summit to
one of the Sierras, the pioneers' eyes rested on the setting sun as it dipped in the crimson waters of the
grand Pacific.
The British pioneer had snatched the tomahawk from red-skinned savages, and blazed in less than
three hundred years, a path three thousand miles in length, which opened a land that is capable of being
the asylum of the peoples of the world.
This is the accomplishment that was made possible through the efforts of the pioneers who landed at
Jamestown or Plymouth during the first fifty years of colonization. It is most fitting that we should hold
up to reverence these men who were the architects on whose plans we do but build.
Ours would indeed be a worthy Order, did we require no stronger claims for eligibility that that we
descended from pioneer ancestors; yet in founding our Order, the Clause of Eligibility proposed by Col.
Prime, which stipulates that our line of descent come down through Revolutionary Patriots, makes our
Order doubly significant. For turning from the Colonial epoch, we may dwell upon the deeds of the
Revolution, knowing that we, one and all, had ancestors who braved death in the war against oppression - from Lexington to Yorktown, from Champlain to the Mississippi. We may rejoice that we descend from
those heroes, who lived in an age that tried men's souls, and who came forth from their ordeals triumphant and unsullied.
It is my belief that the Founders and Patriots of America look down from the high battlements of
Heaven, and that they note with joy that we are taking gigantic strides in advancing they work they began.
They see that where they, at landing, had to blaze their paths, did they penetrate but an arrow-shot into the
virgin forest, there now spreads waving cornfield, and prosperous villages. The fathers find that where
they had stopped to quench their thirst at some dashing mountain stream, we, their children, have erected
mills that, turned by Nature's inexhaustible power, furnish products for the markets of the world. The
pioneers and patriots see that we are toiling with the same vigor and are imbued with the same patriotism
that they displayed. Only our efforts are expanded in other fields. We may rejoice that Peace smiles
upon us, and that the grim visage of War is but a memory.
And we may ever hope to dwell in harmony among ourselves and the world, if we keep to the
principles which our fathers provided. Men come and go and parties may change, but the principles of the
American people are constant. We, as a nation, have pledged ourselves to give man his liberty. He may
worship his God under the cross or the crescent. He may bend his knee in the synagogue or at the altar of
Buddha. He still will give him the hand of friendship, if he do but pledge himself to uphold the principles
of our country . There is to us by one creed that every American must accept, and that is our Federal
Constitution.
30
We, as an order, will perform our greatest work if we install in the people a deep reverence for the
Founders and Patriots of their country. Let the deeds and words of the early settlers becomes familiar in
the household of today and their influence will be potent.
Let me revert to the pioneer in closing. I would paint you a picture that stands out clearly in my
memory's hall.
The picture presents the land of the Pilgrims. The chafing waves of an angry winter's sea are dashing
against the rugged shore of Massachusetts. On a rock that projects far into the sea -- a rock that has now
become the most beloved possession of Americans, but which then as a point of observation for the redskin --stands the stalwart form of the chief of the Massassoits. He is there in the early morn to bid
defiance to the day and to look his sun god in the face with eyes that never flinched. Scanning the broad
main, his eye rests on a speck that is far out to sea. Little by little this tiny object approaches, until the
outline of the Mayflower is distinguishable. The silent watcher on the shore has no misgiving at the sight
of this single craft, for behind him in the forest, within call, are his trusty band, and behind them, even to
the Pacific, are spread countless thousands of his brethren. This chief does not dream that on the boat that
comes to anchor there is being housed a soul that is immortal, that is destined to drive him and his race
from the face of the earth -- the soul of Progress and Liberty. He does not know that the little band of
Pilgrims who disembark and approach him are invincible. But when his eye meets theirs and he sees
them to be men with eye clear, brain sober and soul pure, the dauntless Indian for the first time turns his
back to the rising sun and begins his retreat toward the Pacific.
Again, let me congratulate you on behalf of the incorporators upon your being Charter Members of so
noble an Order as the Founders and Patriots of America. I will take advantage of this occasion to express
my deep appreciation to the incorporates for the honor they have bestowed upon me by calling me to the
President's chair, during the period of organization and this our initial meeting as an Order.
31
New Daughters of F&P President,
PGG Barker Share Founder Ancestor
From: The Bulletin, Vol. LXVII, No. 2, Fall 1995 , p. 30
When John Barker landed on these shores from England in the early 1600s, little did he realize that two
of his descendants would become the officer in each of the Founder and Patriot organizations within a
period of ten years!
This remarkable bit of history culminated on April 14 when Mrs. Nancy Hall Barker Squire was
elected National President of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America. And Associates know that
Burk O. Barker of Richmond, Virginia served as Governor General of our Order 1984-86. Both share the
same hereditary line down to William James Barker, grandfather of PGG Barker and Great-great
grandfather of National President Squire. This is the first time that such an event has occurred! It is also
interesting to note that Founder Barker has 18 descendants who are currently members of the Order's
Virginia Society.
Mrs. Squire grew up in Wight County, Virginia. After attending The College of William and Mary,
She was graduated from Stuart Circle Hospital with an R.N. and received her B.S. from Virginia
Commonwealth University. She and her husband, Dr. Peter Weaver Squire, Sr., a Family Practice
Physician, reside in his home town of Emporia, Virginia where they raised their four sons (all are
Associates of the Virginia Society).
She has served in past administrations of the Daughters as Color Bearer, National Recording Secretary
and as a member of the Hospitality Committee. She was the Virginia Chapter President for six years.
Other lineage societies in which membership is held include D.A.R., Daughters of the Revolution,
Colonial Dame of the XVII Century and the Jamestown Society.
32
Associate Rev. Everett F. Briggs, L.H.D.
Virginia Society OFPA # 183
From: The Bulletin, Vol. LXXIX, No. 1, Spring, 2005, p. 15
Founder Ancestor: John Briggs, Sr.
Patriot Ancestor, Isaac Briggs
Associate Rev. Briggs was assigned to Japan in 1932 as a Catholic Maryknoll Missionary. He founded
and was pastor of St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Otsu City. St Mary's was the first Catholic
Church built in this territory since the 16th century. Rev. Briggs family has a history of service to God.
Brother Arthur was a missionary to China, one cousin was a missionary to Korea and another was a
missionary to Pakistan. Rev. Briggs himself somehow felt fated to follow another cousin, Rev. Francis C.
Briggs, the last foreign pilot on Japan's Inland Sea, as Captain of the Fukuin Maru (Gospel Ship).
Among his memories is the day when he approached a group of college students in Tokyo for directions.
He overhead them discussing an American Lady aviator whose plane had come down on an island in the
South Pacific. "Probably, they will bring her to Tokyo as a spy," someone said. He contacted the FBI,
from his hospital bed after his return to the United States.
Prior to the war with Japan, he was involved on the periphery in the secret endeavors to dissuade Japan
from entering World War II. He still remembers the night he guided the late Bishop James E. Walsh of
Cumberland, MD through the rice fields to a rendezvous with a collaborator. He remembers, too,
accompanying a General who borrowed his prayer book to shield the General's heart from a possible
bullet. After the war started, Rev. Briggs was taken prisoner and while interned he went on a hunger
strike in defense of abused parishioners. Since ones does not fly in the face of his captors in a
concentration camp, Rev. Briggs did not escape punishment. He almost lost his life.
After repatriation, the war remained part of him. When he returned to the United States the U.S. Army
requested he take the Japanese language examinations. He passed the examination with one of the highest
grades on record. He was offered three different commissions. He volunteered for service in the U.S.N.
V-12 Training Program, as professor of Japanese at Holy Cross College.
When the American Armed Forces were preparing for the landing in Japan, they solicited Rev. Briggs'
cooperation. He requested that Japan be given prior warning to save the common people. He went on to
devise the first "paper bomb." The Japanese referred to them as "letter bombs." They came in the form of
a green leaf bearing in Japanese the warning: "When the leaves fall, flee for your life. A Japanese friend
saved and gave him a "paper bomb." Rev. Briggs detailed his wartime experience in one of his earliest
publication, "A New Dawn In Japan," in 1948. The book was publicized by General MacArthur and
became a Book of the Month Club selection.
33
Rev. Briggs has found time to author fourteen publications, seven of them in Japanese. He has written
hundreds of poems in many forms, including the Japanese Tanka, haiku and senryu, many of which have
been published in prestigious English and Japanese journals.
After the war, his next work took him to California where he became Assistant Pastor of a Japanese
Catholic Church in the Los Angeles area. In 1956 he was asked to serve as a pastor in West Virginia. In
the City of Monongah, WV, which is 150 miles west of Washington, D.C. Fr. Briggs founded St.
Barbara's memorial Nursing home in 1961. The center was built in memory of the miners who died in a
1907 explosion described as the "Monongah Disaster." This disaster impacted West Virginia's history
and in lieu of a "slab of Marble," Fr. Briggs decided to open the non-profit nursing care facility.
In his 96th year, Fr. Briggs considers himself retired from the active priesthood, and admittedly if "not
climbing any more ladders," Rev. Briggs maintains that he has "all his marbles," and continues to serve as
administrator of St. Barbara's Memorial Nursing home.
Recently, the State of West Virginia Honored Rev. Briggs by naming a bridge and a highway after him.
Fr. Briggs is a member of the O.F.P.A., S.A.R., Americans of Royal Descent, Americans of Armorial
Ancestry, descended from Thomas Rogers of the Mayflower. Rev. Briggs is a Knight Commander of the
Holy Sepulchre, was awarded the Silver Palm of Jerusalem. He served as confidant and advisor to Ngo
Dieh Diem, later president of South Vietnam.
Associate Briggs has remained Steadfast for God and Country.
34
Biography of Douglas Morgan Graves
Virginia Society OFPA # 183
National Order OFPA # 5795
September 27, 2007
From: The Bulletin, Vol. LXXXII, No. 1; Spring 2008; pg 11
Doug Graves was born in Washington, D. C. and grew up in Falls Church, Virginia. Today, he
lives in Graves Mill (Madison County), Virginia.
Doug‘s roots run deep within Madison and Orange counties. His father was born in Rochelle
(Madison County). His Mother was born in the Town of Rapidan of Culpeper County and grew up in the
Town of Orange. So as a young boy, Doug spent much of his time between Orange, Graves Mill (the
home of his grandparents), and Rochelle.
A few years after graduation from Bridgewater College in 1968, Doug settled into law
enforcement with the Fairfax County Police Department. In 1986, he purchased his Great Uncle and Great
Aunt's home in Graves Mill, Virginia. By 1993, he had renovated this home, retired from the Police
Department, and became a resident of Graves Mill, Virginia.
Doug is descended from the original Thomas Graves family that settled in Graves Mill in the mid
1700's and can trace his lineal descent from Captain Thomas Graves-an original ―Founder‖ of the James
Towne Colony in October of 1608. Thomas Graves of Graves Mill, and his son John Graves, were
―Patriots‖ during the American Revolution. Both men served within the Culpeper County, Virginia
Militia during the American Revolution.
Because of his interest in the local history, he is a member of the Madison County and Orange
County Historical Societies. Additionally, he is a member of the Graves Family National Association, the
newly created Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Graves Family Association, and the Jamestowne Society.
Effective year 2008, Doug has accepted a board member position with the Blue Ridge Foothills
Conservancy. This organization is a private, non-profit land trust working primarily in Madison and
Greene counties Virginia. Their mission is to conserve, through voluntary land protection, the
agricultural, scenic, natural, historic and recreational resources that define the rural character of those
counties. Additionally, Doug will be assisting the Virginia Society OFPA Registrar Frank Hyland with
locating potential members for the OFPA and processing their applications.
Today, Doug is involved with researching a history of Graves Mill and the surrounding area, to
include renovation of the Graves Mill Grist Mill. This is a late-18th century structure which was originally
constructed by Doug‘s 5th Great-Grandfather-Thomas Graves (the Patriot) of Graves Mill. The structure
was recently placed upon the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
Doug has two grandchildren; 5-year-old Seneca Lynn Hall and 8-year-old Zachary Nolan Hall.
They live with their mother (Doug‘s daughter-Lisa) and father (Jeff) in South Riding, Virginia just
outside of Chantilly, Virginia. An application has been submitted to the OFPA for Doug‘s grandson, to
become a junior associate with the OFPA. (Now a youth member.)
Doug wishes to thank everyone associated with the application process and for granting him
admittance into the OFPA. He is proud to be a member of the OFPA and will commit himself to the ideals
and objectives of the Organization namely, to ―Promote patriotism and a respect for the character and
heroism of the founders and patriots of America.‖
35
Order of Founders and Patriots Cherish History
by Anne Causey
The Daily Progress, Lifestyles Section
Charlottesville, Virginia
January 22, 1998
Donnel Hubbard can trace ancestors in the United States back to 1633, when George Hubbard settled
in Watertown, Massachusetts. He's even been to the church in East Bergholdt, England, where George
Hubbard's son, John, was baptized in 1630 before they made the long journey over to America.
Several years ago, when he was in England working for the federal government, teaching computer
classes just north of Oxford, he visited East Bergholdt and saw the church. Obviously, it was built during
three distinct times, Hubbard said. The oldest section, built in 1525, was crumbling. A caretaker showed
him around, and Hubbard stopped and stared at an old baptismal font, a big gray stone that someone had
carved into a bowl which was 2 1/2 feet across and perched upon a stone pedestal.
"I'm looking at this old church baptismal font made of stone, and she said, 'I can tell you right now that
has been here since 1525. That's the only baptismal font that has ever been in this church.' It's interesting
to go and look at that -- it's 400 years old."
What's more, Hubbard can trace his lineage up a few generations later to Peter Hubbard who fought in
the Revolutionary War. Serving as a private in the Minutemen of Concord, Mass., Peter Hubbard and his
regiment marched in the alarm at Concord on April 19, 1775, the time of the famous "shot heard 'round
the world."
I like to say that Peter marched at the shot," Hubbard said.
Learning about personal history and the history of the United States is one of the things Hubbard
enjoys most about being a member of the Virginia Society of the Order of Founders and Patriots of
America.
Governor of the Virginia Society and a resident of Culpeper, Hubbard and the other 65 members in the
state rotate meeting places, from Williamsburg to Richmond to Fredericksburg and even to Charlottesville
several years ago. The Founders and Patriots group is a national organization with 24 separate state
societies.
Hubbard said the society is a "hereditary patriotic type of organization similar to the Daughters of the
American Revolution." However, the requirements to be a member of the Founders and Patriot are a little
more difficult. To be a member, one must be a male whose first ancestor in the United States (founder)
arrived before May 13, 1657. Another ancestor (a patriot) must have fought in the American Revolution
or supported the cause, Hubbard said. These ancestor must be a straight male line from either
36
grandfather. There is a related organization for women, the Daughters of the Founders and Patriots of
America.
"We support patriotism and the history of the U.S.," Hubbard said.
"We want to preserve our past and get people interested in it. The fun part for me is learning what
America was like before," Hubbard said. "You see where a lot of our present-day thinking comes from."
"In their efforts to promote patriotism, the Virginia Society contributes each year to the Jamestown
Foundation and to the Flowerdew Hundred, which both participate in archeological work, Hubbard said.
The state Founders and Patriots also give an award to the most outstanding Virginia Air National Guard
unit and another such award to a unit of the Virginia Army National guard. The national society gives an
award to an outstanding West Point cadet every year, Hubbard said.
Although the Founders and Patriots of America is a small organization, with about 2,000 members
nationwide, it has been around for quite a while. Its first meeting was in May 1896.
According to Hubbard, the national society will have its 100th General Court, in which all state
societies get together, in New York City, in the same building and same meeting room in which the first
group of Founders and Patriots met.
The Virginia Society meets twice a year, though Hubbard hopes to increase the meetings to four.
An important event the society holds periodically is called a massing of the colors, which is a
memorial service. Hubbard attended one recently at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD., where he
represented the Virginia Society.
"All the veterans' organizations get together and hold a ceremony," Hubbard said. "They salute and
remember the people who died in the service of our country all the way back. It is very impressive."
Hubbard said all the organizations attended, including the Sons of the American Revolution, the
Daughters of the American Revolution, the American Legion -- even a Confederate re-enactment unit was
there. Flags were strung out for 100 yards. On Feb 19, there will be a massing of the colors in Roanoke,
which he will attend to represent the Virginia Society.
Hubbard didn't join the Founders and Patriots until 1989, and this was even after living in England for
five years in the 1970s when he was not interested in looking into the history of the Hubbards and the
small town in England from which they originated. He did not join until after he returned to the United
States and one of his aunts asked why he didn't look up his relatives. His son is now also a member.
(Editor's note - His grandson is also a youth member.)
"I enjoy it," Hubbard said. "We try to help educate people about the history of the U.S. I think this is
something that is very important in this day and age with history almost being changed."
37
IWO JIMA‘s P-51‘s and the land of the Rising Sun
A Mission Report
By Jack K. Westbrook, Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
458 Ftr. Sqdn. – 506th Ftr Grp. – VII Ftr. Comd. -- 20th Air Force
th
Bright sun and almost clear skies over Iwo Jima—a somewhat less than common state—greeted the
pilots of the 506th fighter Group on the morning of July 28, 1945. They were as a pretty woman‘s comeon to discount the weather we were to encounter during that day‘s fighter sweep of the Tokyo area on
Japan‘s main island of Honshu.
To appreciate fighter operations from Iwo Jima, and especially on this July 28 mission, one needs to
know a bit about the geography and fickle weather in this part of the world which made such operations
extremely perilous. Further, it is helpful to have an insight into the operational methods of three P-51
groups—15th, 21st and 506th –based on Iwo, and the one P-47 group (which arrived on Iwo Jima in July
1945) for these long-range flights against the Japanese homeland in World War II.
Iwo Jima is 7.5 square miles of volcanic ash and rock situated in the vast Western Pacific Ocean, some
650 miles south of Tokyo. The Bonin Islands—Chi-Chi Jima, Haha Jima, Ane Jima and some other
smaller islands—which lie some 125-150 miles north of Iwo Jima, are the only significant land mass
between Iwo and the Japanese mainland.
Finding Japan was no problem for the P-51 Mustang pilots as we flew north from Iwo Jima, but finding
two, a mere speck in the great Pacific, upon return from a strike on Japan was an altogether different
matter. We had no navigators aboard! The answer to his dilemma was simple: B-29 crews from the
Mariannas (Guam, Saipan and Tinian) were attached to the fighter groups for the primary purpose of
bringing the fighters home on the return flight. A B-29 was assigned to each squadron and a Mustang
pilot was placed aboard each of them as an observer and to coordinate with the B-29 crew for navigation,
altitude, airspeed and other aerial requirements of the P-51‘s Even when we Mustang pilots were flying
escort for the B-29s on bombing mission to Tokyo, Osaka, etc., a B-29 without payload accompanied
each P-51 squadron for navigation purposes. Some said we resembled a hen and her brood of chickens
flying through the skies, an analogy a small town 2nd Lieutenant from agrarian Perry County, Tennessee,
would appreciate. Usually, the B=29 crews were flying their last few missions before being rotated home.
Then, because of the length of these long-range missions—some 7.5 hours on average—the Mustangs
were rigged with two 120-gallon external wing tanks, After using the fuel in these tanks as we flew north
to Japan, we dropped them at the departure point (DP) as we headed inland to make our strikes.
Another vital part of these operations was the arrangement for the rescue of pilots who had the
misfortune of having to ditch in the Pacific. Should we suffer combat damage or aircraft malfunction, we
were instructed to make every effort to get out to sea before bailing out. U.S. Navy submarines, the first
of four pre-positioned air-sea rescue vessels, were only a few files off the coast of Japan, ready to pick up
downed pilots. In fact, instances of a submarine entering Tokyo bay to rescue a downed pilot were
reported.
Destroyers, positioned about 100 miles south of the submarine patrols, comprised the next picket line of
rescue vessels. Then, another 100-125 miles farther south the Navy had PBY Catalinas (Dumbos) ready
38
to snatch a downed pilot out of the water. Finally, another 100 or so miles farther south, the Air Force
placed B-17‘s on patrol, with life boats which could be dropped to a pilot in the water, strapped to their
bellies. These various angels of mercy saved 50 pilots during the four months of long-range missions
from Iwo to Japan. Sadly, 90 pilots were lost during that period.
We 506th Mustang pilots were out of bed early on the morning of July 28, 1945, for breakfast, mission
briefing and pre-flight. The mission report of the 458th Squadron (which along with the 457th and 462nd
Squadrons made up the 506th Group) records that we took off at 0829 hours and arrived at our DP at 1130
hours, some 25 miles off the coast of Japan where our Superfort navigation friends waited in a holding
pattern for the Mustangs to return for the flight back to Iwo, after flying on into Japan to strike airfields,
industrial, infra-structure and other targets of opportunity.
The mission report includes this description: For the first time the VIIth Fighter Command gave the
green light [for] a fighter sweep. The mission was pure, unadulterated rhubarb from beginning to end.
The mission summary of havoc created by the 458th alone was a follows: two locomotives destroyed and
two others damaged; one truck destroyed and three others damaged; two sea planes damaged; one
lighthouse damaged; one radar station set afire; three tugs set afire; one boat under construction set afire;
13-16 small craft set afire; and factories, power lines, railroad yards and radio stations damaged. The
report included the following notation: Lt. Westbrook hugged the deck rather firmly and shot up several
factories, power lines, a railroad trestle and a steel tower near the coast. In return, the enemy nicked his
left wing.
If the sweep against the Tokyo targets was pure, unadulterated rhubarb, the flight back to Iwo Jima was
pure, unadulterated aerial frenzy. After forming up with our ―mother hen‖ B-29‘s at the rendezvous or
rally point (RP), we headed south. Within less than an hour, we were deep into a weather front of
thunderstorms estimated to reach 30,000 feet. We continued to fly into this foul mess for another halfhour or so until, due to the close formations of the Mustangs and their mother B-29s. it became obvious
that we could not fly through it. So, the B-29 navigators decided to change course and attempt to fly
around the storm. No doubt this decision was influenced by a major disaster, the result of a similar
encounter with adverse weather on June 1.
On that fateful day, some 144 or more P-51s from the three Iwo Jima groups had taken to the air.
Flying at 10,000 feet some 370 miles north of Iwo, they ran into a weather front, the likes of which one
might encounter only in the Western Pacific. Perceived to be a far great enemy than the Japanese air
force, this storm cost the lives of 24 pilots and at least 27 aircraft, not including some which had aborted
the mission and return to home base earlier; fewer than 100 Mustangs returned home. Only about 27 of
the 144 Mustangs launched from Iwo Jima on that day got through the storm and flew on to Honshu to
complete the mission.
As we attempted to avoid the storm on July 28, we at last found our way around it and headed once
again for Iwo. The official records says we landed at 1641 hours, making a total flight time of 8 hours, 12
minutes. Notwithstanding the mission summary, this pilot‘s AF Form 5 (flight record) reflects a flight of
8 hours, 45 minutes. It may not become an entry in the Guinness Book of Records, but it surely
approaches being the longest combat flight recorded by a fighter aircraft in World War II!)
There is an interesting footnote to this account. Flight Officer Lon M. ―Joe‖ Todd of Rome, GA, had
become separated from the main body of aircraft, either during the group sweep over Japan or when we
were scrambling around to find a way out of the storm. When I discovered he was not with us, I thought,
―Poor Joe. He‘ll be down in the ‗drink,‘‖ and I prayed he would be rescued. But, to my surprise, when
we arrived back at Iwo, there beside his ship, waiting to welcome us home, was none other than Joe Todd.
39
He related that after being separated from his flight, He could think of nothing better than to follow the
heading on our charts. By dead reckoning, he had achieved the near impossible. He had found Iwo Jima,
that miniscule, forlorn plot of land in the Western Pacific, as if guided by the hand of God. Why not? He
is now deceased.
The 506th Fighter Group arrived on Iwo Jima on May 11, 1945. Until war‘s end, August 15, 1945, the
Group logged eight short-range missions, all against the Bonin Island, and 25 very-long-range (VLR)
missions. Six of the VLR missions were for B-29 escort, which 19 were for sweeps, seeking targets of
opportunity, ground attacks on airfield and other strategic targets and/or flying top cover for other fighters
on attack missions.
Editors note: This was related to me by a mutual friend. Col. Westbrook with his usual modesty does not
tell of crash landing his P-51, losing a wing, plane catching fire and his rescue, or later the same day his
flying another mission from Iwo Jima.
40
October 11, 2008
October 11, 2008 was a special day for the Virginia Society of the Order of Founders and Patriots of
America. After our fall meeting, and great luncheon, the Society members proceeded to Christ Church
Parish in Saluda, VA for the plaque dedication and memorial service for Founders and Patriots of our
great nation. The plaque was attached to the outside wall.
The Founders and Patriots memorial ceremony is a first of its type for the Virginia Society and
possibly a first for the Order.
History of the early Christ Church Parish
On January 29, 1666, a General Vestry Meeting of concerned local Anglicans was held in "Rosegil",
the nearby home of Sir Henry Chicheley. It was resolved that, "We doe accord and agree that ye two
parishes formerly called Lancaster and Peankatanck from hence forth be united as one and be called
Christ Church parish. Item: that ye Mother Church be called by th name of Christ Church...building the
Mother Church is every respect to be done and finished according to the Middle Plantaton Church (in
Williamsburg) to be finished in six months, glass and iron worke convenient time to be given for its
transportation out of England."
The first building appears to have been of clapboard construction. It was used until 1712 when at the
Vestry Meeting of June 9th, a new church was ordered built of brick. The work was to be completed by
June 10th, 1714 and there is every reason to believe it was completed by that date. Without question the
present building occupies the identical ground of the original 1666 church, for when the new church was
ordered built, direction were given also for an "arbor" (in which services might be held during
construction.)
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Governor Batten in front of the "new" church. OFPA banner on the left. The plaque is right of the gate.
The Founders and Patriots on the plaque are listed below.
CHRIST CHURCH PARISH RECORDED BURIALS OF VIRGINIA FOUNDERS AND
REVOLUTIONARY WAR PATRIOTS (From Parish Register & Vestry Minutes & other sources
indicated)
FOUNDERS (Residents of America by 13 May 1657)
Burnham, John: Colonel, son of Rowland and Alice (___) Burnham, died 04 Jan 1680 and is buried in
the church. He arrived in 1643 in Lancaster County. He was a member of the VA Assembly in Mar
1675/6(VA Colonial Abstracts, pg 107, Lancaster Co Record Bk 2, pg 107, Colonial VA Register, pg 81)
Chicheley, Henry: Knight of his Majesty, died 05 Feb 1682/3. Possessed land in County area in Oct
1653, Deputy Governor of VA 1676-1680 and Acting Governor for periods during 1681-2. He died at
―Rosegill‖ and was re-interred to the church. He married Agatha Eltonhead. ( Encyclopedia of VA
Biography, vol 1, pg 51, Lancaster County Record Book 2, 1654-1666, pg 112.)
Cocke, Nicholas: died 25 Oct 1687. He was a Dutch settler, arriving in VA by 1655, who came
probably with his brother Maurice. He owned 600 acres in now Middlesex County. He married first
Elizabeth Holt and next Jane, ___, widow of Bartholomew Curtis (VA Patent Book 4, pg 411, William &
Mary Quarterly, v10, pg 153)
Corbin, Henry: born in England, and came to VA in ship, Charity in 1654, resided at his estate
―Buckingham,‖ died 08 Jan 1675/6, and was buried there 1676 with remains re-interred to the church. He
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was a member of the Virginia Council and served in the House of Burgesses. He was a member of the
Vestry of the church. He married Alice Eltonhead, widow of Roland Burnham. They had four daughters
and two sons. (Source: Historic Buildings in Middlesex Co, VA 1650-1875, pg 27)
Hone, Theophillis: died 03 Feb 1686. He arrived before 1654 and resided in James City County being
a member of the Assembly in 1655-6. He owned land on the north side of the Rappahannock River on 05
Oct 1655 ( Cavaliers & Pioneers, Patent book 4, pg 380)
Jones, Humphrey: married Ellianor ___, and died 16 Oct 1684. He arrived in Lancaster County in
1650 and owned land in Mar 1664/5. ( VA Colonial extracts, pg 157, Lancaster County Record book 2,
1637-1640, pg 157, Cavaliers & Pioneers, Patent Book 1, pg 40, Book 2, pg 201)
Nicholls, Henry Sr.: He received a patent of 200 acres land on the south side of the Rappahannock
River vicinity Sunderland Creek in Jul 1652. He was buried 09 Apr 1692. (Lancaster County record book
2 1654-1666, Court Order Book 1622-1655, pg 214)
Perrott, Richard Sr.: married Sarah ___ and died 11 Nov 1686. He owned land in now Middlesex
County in Sep 1652. He received a certificate for importing six persons in Dec 1655, was Justice of
Lancaster Court in 1655-7. He was President of the Middlesex County Court. (Lancaster County Court
Orders 1652-1655, pg 217, Patent book #, pg 279)
Sheppard, John: Son of Major Robert Sheppard who arrived in Aug 1642 and mentioned in his
father‘s estate papers 26 Sep 1656. He died 30 Jun 1683 and is buried in the church. He was Minister of
the Parish 1668 to 1682. He married Frances Robinson, sister of Christopher and they had one son and
three daughters. (Source: Genealogies of VA Families, Vol 2, pg 329, Early VA Immigrants, pg 161))
Simpson, John: of Barkin, Essex, Eng., was in Gloucester County in 1652 and died 11 Jul 1688. He
was a ―glasier‖ by trade. He was in Lancaster County before Jan 1657.(Lancaster County record book2,
1654-1666, pgs 118, 124, 126, 134)
Smyth, John: married Margaret ___, and died 16 Dec 1669 He owned land on the south side of the
Rappahannock in the County area vicinity Mulfred Haven in Jun 1650 and buys more land in 1657. He
was a Headright for Anderson Gilson in Jan 1652/3 (Lancaster County Court Orders 1652-1655)
Thompson, William: born 1614, in England, arrived in Virginia in 1624, and died 27 Feb 1686. He sold
150 acres of land in Lancaster County on 01 Jun 1658. (VA Colonial Records, Some Emigrants To VA,
pg 81, Lancaster County Record Book 2, pg 124)
Vause, John: married Elizabeth Weekes and died 09 Sep 1691. He bought land on the south side of the
Rappahannock River in Jun 1655. In 1688, he was Clerk of Middlesex County. (Lancaster County Record
book 2, 1652-1655, VA Genealogies #2, pg 329))
Welch (Wilch), John: died 30 Nov 1660. He owned land on the south side of the Rappahannock River
vicinity Sunderland Creek in Nov 1653, having arrived in that year. (VA Colonial Abstracts, pg 113,
Lancaster County Orders 1652-1655, pg 175, Early VA Immigrants, pg 349)
Williams, George: of Kent, Eng, died 20 Mar 1686. He arrived in Northumberland County in Jan 1650
(Lancaster County Orders, pg 11, 28)
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Williams, Thomas: of Hartfordshire, Eng., died 20 Dec 1683 and left as widow, Bridget Catt. He
arrived 1652 in Lancaster County and bought land on the south side of the Rappahannock River in
1654.(VA Colonial Extracts, pg112, Patent Book 2, pg 207)
Willis, John: died 04 May 1688. He arrived in Virginia in Oct 1650 and owned land on the south side
of the Rappahannock River in Aug 1654 (Lancaster County record Book 2, 1654-1666, VA Colonial
Records ―Early VA Immigrants‖ pg 364, Patent Book 2, pg 201)
PATRIOTS of the Revolution: (Performed military or public service or provided aid to the cause)
Berkeley, Edmund: He was born 05 Dec 1730, son of Major Edmund and Mary ___) Berkeley and died
08 Jul 1802. He gave extensive material to the cause in both King William and Middlesex Counties.
(Virginia Military Records, pg 202, Abercombie & Slatten ―VA Publick Claims‖)
Corbin, Richard, Colonel: He was born about 1714, son of Gavin and his wife Jane Lane, and
grandson of Henry Corbin. He married in Jul 1737, Betty Tayloe. He died 20 May 1790. He was a
member of the House of Burgesses for Middlesex County in 1748-9, and for a number of years President
of the Virginia Council. He was Receiver General from 1754 to 1776. He was instrumental in seeing that
his friend George Washington received a commission as Lt Colonel. He gave extensive material aid to the
cause. (Genealogies of VA Families, pgs 327-336, Virginia Military Records, pgs 202, 643, Abercombie
& Slatten ―VA Publick Claims‖)
Dame, George: Reported by USDAR as being a soldier. He gave material aid to the cause. He was
born in 1752 in King William County, and married Mary Greene in Middlesex County in 1873, and died
there after Oct 1805. (USDAR, Abstracts of Graves of Revolutionary War Patriots, vol I, pg 232,
Abercombie & Slatten ―VA Publick Claims‖)
Grymes, Phillip Ludwell: He was son of Phillip and Mary ___) Grymes. He was a member of the
Vestry from 1745 to 1767. He inherited the Brandon & Grymesby estates. He was a VA Council member
in 1776 and also gave considerable material aid to the cause. He died 18 May 1805. (Virginia Military
Records, pgs 202, 643, Abercombie &Slatten ―VA Publick Claims‖)
Jackson, John: He was ordered to procession land in the County in 1751. He married Elizabeth Boss
on 09 Jul 1769. He gave extensive material aid to the cause and was buried 02 Jul 1795. (Virginia
Military Records, pgs 202, 203, Abercombie & Slatten ―VA Publick Claims‖)
Wormeley, Ralph 5th.: He was born about 1744 and died 19 Jan 1806. He was appointed Vestryman in
1766. He was from ―Rosegill‖ and served on the VA Council under the Royal Government, was
Comptroller of the Port of Rappahannock River. He gave extensive material aid to the cause in Middlesex
and King William Counties. After the War in 1788, he served as a member of the House of Delegates and
in the VA Convention. (Virginia Military Records, pgs 202, 644, VA Vital Records, pg 341, APVA
―Family Histories of Middlesex Co, pg28, Abercombie & Slatten ―VA Publick Claims‖ )
Above researched by the VA Society Order of Founders & Patriots in America, October 2008.
44
President Dr. Robert Davis of Richard Henry Lee Chapter, VASSAR and Governor Elect Myron Lyman
unveiling the plaque.
GRAVE MARKING PROTOCOL FOR UNVEILING MARKERS OR
PLAQUES TO FOUNDERS & PATRIOTS
Reverend: (Dr. Robert Davis) Dear Father, our God, today we offer our praise to thee, ever mindful that
thou art the same God with us today, that thou were during the founding of this country and during the
Revolutionary War. As the guiding light of these Founders and Patriots and those other Founders and
Patriots that sought and supported our liberty, we thank thee. We thank thee also, for our beautiful
country, ―The Land of the Free.‖ We seek thy blessings that life, liberty and happiness will continue and
that our religious way of life to cherish faith, hope and love may be the beacon of light for all mankind, so
that all may learn to know thee and the joy of peace. For all thy blessings for mankind, we thank thee.
Thank thee, Lord, for being a living presence among us, as we of this generation meet the challenges of
our days; Help us to not to forget the past; make its lessons serve the present and grant that its teachings
safeguard the future. Help us Lord, to accept the dedication of our lives to the fulfillment of thy purpose.
Amen
Governor OFPA (Deputy Gov Mike Lyman) We gather today, amidst the flags of our great nation and
under the umbrella of our Lord, to dedicate the final resting place for eighteen Virginia Founders and six
Revolutionary War patriots for their contributions to the development of this great land and for their
contributions in the support of the Revolutionary War. Surely, without these contributions to the
45
beginnings of this great nation and to the cause of Liberty, we would not enjoy the blessing of freedom
that they have strived to give us. The plaque that we uncover today is an expression of our heartfelt thanks
and serves to remind us always of our obligations and responsibilities in maintaining this Republic for
which they struggled to provide us. We are a nation rich in heritage, much of which is presented during
this ceremony. Men and women of other generations, who like these men, also bequeathed to us the rich
fruitage of their lives. Especially today, we thank them for their loyalty, faith, courage and self sacrifice
which are among the foundations of our nation.
Nothing is really ended until it is forgotten. Whatever is kept in memory still endures. For this reason on
this plaque on this cemetery wall, Founders and Patriots we indicate that this is your final resting place.
God bless you all, and God Bless these United States of America for which you developed and supported.
We are ever so humble in your presence.
We have mounted and displayed this plaque to pay tribute and to honor you all forever. And, we hope
that all future visitors to this cemetery, when they see this plaque, will also be reminded of the service you
all have provided to this country. Thus, by displaying this marker, we sincerely hope that your sacrifice
for our liberty and freedom is never forgotten.
At this time Dr Robert Davis and I will unveil the plaque.
46
Copy of Program
Patrick Henry Lee
Chapter, VASSAR
Unveiling of Special Plaque Commemorating Founders and Patriots Interned at Christ Church Parrish
September 20, 2008
Staunton, Virginia
Arthur D. Batten – Governor – OFPA
Mike Lyman – Governor-elect, OFPA
Robert Davis – President, Richard Henry Lee Chapter, VASSAR
Father Paul Andersen – Christ Church Parrish
Page 1
47
AGENDA
Presiding Officer
Art Batten, Governor, Virginia Society, OFPA
Call to Order
Art Batten, Governor, Virginia Society, OFPA
Russell Scott , Chaplain – VA OFPA
Invocation
Presentation of Colors
Pledge of Allegiance
VASSAR Color Guard
Andy Johnson , Commanding
Art Batten, Governor, Virginia Society, OFPA
Introduction of Guests Art Batten, Governor, Virginia Society, OFPA
Comments from:
Art Batten, Governor, Virginia Society, OFPA
Father Paul Andersen, Christ Church Parrish
Unveiling Ceremony
Mike Lyman, Governor-elect, VA OFPA
Robert Davis President Richard Henry Lee Chapter, VASSAR
Presentation of Gift
Mike Lyman, Governor-elect, VA OFPA
Presentation of Memorial Wreaths
Retirement of Colors
Taps
Andy Johnson, Commanding
Bugler, Gerard A. Schuck, Bugles Across America
Benediction
Father Paul Andersen, Christ Church Parish
All are invited to visit the Parrish Hall after the ceremony for light
refreshments provided by the congregation of Christ Church Parish
Page 2
48
PRESENTATION OF MEMORIAL WREATHS
1). Virginia Society, The Order of the Founders and Patrons of America - Co-sponsor of the event
Governor-elect , Mr. Mike Lyman
2). National Society Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America
Councilor, Mrs. Carla Odem
3). Virginia Chapter, National Society Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America
President, Mrs. Carol Fethersten
4). Virginia Society, National Society Sons of the American Revolution
Vice president, Mr. Robert Bowen
5). Richard Henry Lee Chapter, Virginia Society, National Society Sons of the American
Revolution - Co-sponsor of the event
President, Doctor Robert Davis
6). National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims
Captain General, Col. Robert Odem
7). Col. Fielding Lewis Chapter, Virginia Society, National Society Sons of the American Revolution
President, Mr. Wayne Rouse
8). Culpepper Minutemen Chapter, Virginia Society, National Society Sons of the American
Revolution
Compatriot, Mr. Jerry Hubbard
Page 3
49
The Pledge of Allegiance to the
Flag of the United States of America
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Virginia Founders and Patriots Buried in the Church and Cemetery
Founders (Residents of Virginia
By May 13, 2657
Burnham, John
Chicheley, Henry
Cocke, Nicholas
Corbin, Henry
Hone, Theophilis
Jones, Humphrey
Nicholls, Henry
Perrott, Richard, Sr
Robinson, Richard
Sheppard, John
Simpson, John
Smyth, John
Thompson, William
Vause, John
Welch (Wilch), John
Williams, George
Williams, Thomas
Willis, John
Patriots of the
The Revolution
Edmund Berkeley
Richard Corbin
George Dame
John Jackson
Philip Grymes
Ralph Wormeley
This plaque is jointly presented by the Virginia Societies of the Order of the Founders & Patriots of America and
The Sons of the American Revolution October 11, 2008.
Page 4
50
51
Early Society Notes
Carroll Wright
From: The Bulletin, Vol. XLVII, No. 1; Spring 1974; pg 8
The Southern gentlemen spearheading our drive for a new State Society in the Commonwealth of
Virginia is retired Colonel Carroll Wright of Charlottesville, a staunch member and Deputy Governor of
the District of Columbia Society. He is no stranger to the world of patriotic and genealogical societies,
having served as President of the Thomas Jefferson Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and
of the Virginia Hugenot Society. In addition, he has been Vice President of the Virginia Genealogical
Society and is a member of the National Society of Americans of Royal Descent and the Baronial Order
Magna Carta. A realtor by profession, Carroll is President of the Security Mortgage and Investment
Corporation, Chairman of the Charlottesville Advisory Board of Suburban Savings and Loan Association,
a member of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers and a former President of its District of
Columbia Chapter as well as a member of Charlottesville Rotary. The Order owes him a debt of
gratitude for his outstanding leadership in tackling this import task for the benefit of us all.
Editors Comment
The following was extracted:
From: The Bulletin, Vol. XLVII, No. 2; Fall 1974; pg 8
"The highlight of the evening came with the presentation of the charter for the new Virginia Society of
Founders and Patriots to its Organizing Governor, Colonel Carroll Wright. He thanked all, particularly
the Governor General, for their support and good wishes and expressed the sincere hope that the Virginia
Society would grow and prosper and contribute to the success of the General Order. The presentation and
his remarks met with resounding applause."
Ditto; pg14
"Organizing Governor Carroll Wright presented a proposal for the establishment of a Virginia Society
of Founders and Patriot in accordance with Article V, Section 6, Item 4 of the Constitution and submitted
petitions urging the formation of the Virginia Society.
"Colonel Robert R. Jones, Organizing Secretary, read the following petition:
"To the General Court of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America
The undersigned respectfully petition the General Court of the Order of Founders and Patriots of
America to grant a charter to the Virginia Society to be given to it not later than May 4, 1974, meeting in
Williamsburg, Virginia. Because of my Virginia residence, family background, or interest, I propose to
be a member of this Society in addition to the present one I hold."
He supplemented this with a list of those who had made application to the Virginia Society and who
had been assigned a General Order number:
Carroll Wright
Judson P. Mason
Robert R. Jones
Frederick B. Tuttle
Lyttleton T. Harris III
Charles Owen Johnson
Asa E. Phillips, Jr.
Grahame Thomas Smallwood, Jr.
Henry Sims Pittard
Whitney Ashbridge
Albert Brott Jones
Howard W. Burgess
52
Gilbert Boughton Fletcher
Frederick I. Ordway, Jr.
Clair C. McElheny
Harold W. Chandler
Lyttleton T. Harris, IV
Robert Lodge Nash
Upon motion duly made and seconded and after discussion, it was unanimously:
VOTED: That a comparison of the Constitution of the Proposed
Virginia Society by the Attorney General with the
Constitution of the General Order be postponed until
a later date, and that the Virginia Society be and is
herewith duly chartered by the General Order."
Robert Randolph Jones
Ditto; pg24
Colonel Bob Jones, U.S. Air Force, retired, is Governor of the Louisiana Society and also Organizing
Secretary of the newly-chartered Virginia Society. The dual role stems from his being a long-time
resident of New Orleans but a native of Greenville County, Virginia. His Air Force Career included pilot
training at Montgomery, Alabama, (where he met and married Georgette Haigler); combat flying in both
World War II and the Korean conflict, and missile project officer at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Currently
he is Area Development Engineer for Louisiana Power and Light Company. His strong hereditary
interests have led him to active roles in the SAR, the Society of Colonial Wars, First Families of Virginia
and many others. The Joneses have two sons living in the Atlanta area and both are members of the
Order.
From: The Bulletin, Vol. XLVIII, No. 2; Fall 1975; pg 23
(This is the first VA Society report given at a General Court.)
Virginia: Mr. Judson P. Mason expressed the regrets of Governor Carroll Wright at not being able to be
present and his hopes that the Society may become an active participating one in the General Order.
Secretary Van Arsdale urged the Governor to obtain some more needed membership applications to get
the Society moving forward.
53
Establishing the Patriotic Service to the United States of America
During the Revolutionary War Period
of Thomas Graves, Senior, and His son John Graves
of Culpeper County, Virginia
By Douglas M. Graves-lineal descendant of the above
January 4, 2007
Thomas Graves, Senior, and his son, John Graves, did in fact, provide Patriotic service and
unfailing loyalty to the American cause during the Revolutionary War, thus helping to establish American
independence. Their Patriotic service to the United States of America can be established by their
participation within the military Culpeper Classes of Culpeper County, Virginia. The following
documentation will show that both lineal ancestors were participants in the Military Classes and, as such,
were Patriotic citizens sworn to the American Revolutionary War cause.
George Washington recommended to the Continental Congress that each County of each Colony
provide a Draft Law establishing ―Classes‖ of the Militia within its geographical boundaries to provide
men for the Continental Army. Each Colonial Legislature thus established, by law, their respective draft
system commonly referred to as Classes.1 It is believed that The Culpeper Classes were made up of the
already established Militia, and from this source the Culpeper Classes were apparently established. Two
statements would substantiate this. The first statement, ―The several counties and corporations of this
commonwealth…shall furnish within fifty days after their militia shall have been laid off into
divisions...the following numbers of men [to satisfy the state‘s quota of men]...‖2 The second statement
being, ―…[the commanders shall] proceed to lay off and divide the militia,..into as many divisions as the
number of men required by this act shall make necessary.‖3
The General Assembly of Virginia passed a requirement during the October 1780 session entitled
―An act for recruiting this state‘s quota of troops to serve in the Continental Army‖ in order to assist the
Revolutionary War effort. The State had a quota of ―three thousand able-bodied men shall be forthwith
raised for the said purpose…The several counties shall furnish within fifty days after their militia shall
have been laid off into divisions...the following number of men...the county of Culpeper one hundred
and six.‖ The act further required that the ―county lieutenant or commanding officer of each county or
corporation within this commonwealth,...shall immediately after receipt of this act, summon the field
officers of his county or corporation...and divide the Militia, including all the commissioned and
noncommissioned officers under the age of fifty years, into as many divisions as the number of men
required by this act...taking care to number each division…if any division shall then fail to deliver a
recruit as aforesaid…The said commanding officer, together with the field officers and captains, shall
immediately proceed to draft an able bodied man, by fair and impartial lot, out of each division to serve
within the continental army...who may nevertheless be permitted to procure a substitute to serve for the
said term of eighteen months.4
As noted within the above second paragraph, the men named on the ―Lists...probably [most
likely] had all been militia men, as training was required at this time.‖5 The entire ―list‖ consists of 28
pages, with 106 various classes or groups of men consisting of between 13-14 men within each class or
1
Tennie Selby Burk, The Culpeper County, Virginia January 1781 Revolutionary War Classes, Culpeper Regional Library,
introduction.
2
William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large being A Collection of all the Laws of Virginia from the First Legislature in the
year 1619 (Richmond: Printed for the Editor, by George Cochran 1822) Volume X page 327.
3
William Waller Hening, Volume X pages 330-331.
4
William Waller Hening, Volume X pages 326-333.
5
Culpeper Classes Militia Men Selected by County to serve with Lafayette and the Continental Army, Culpeper Public Library
Culpeper, Virginia introduction of manual #R975.53Cu
54
group. One man from each class was selected and in some cases a substitute‘s name is provided. Thus
these lists provided the required 106 men to fulfill their quota requirement for Culpeper County, Virginia.
Thomas Graves and John Graves of Culpeper County are listed in four of the classes of Culpeper
County, either singularly or together. John is individually listed in classes 62 and 77. Thomas is
individually listed in class 101, and both are listed in class 81.6
Class No. 81 lists the following 13 men7,8
John Neal
Jonathan Coward
Thomas Graves, Sr.
Charles Neal
John Graves
Joseph Eddins
John Simpson
John Leatherer
Thomas Banks
Gideon Underwood
Elijah Underwood
Downing Smith
Robert Bradley
(Thomas Graves, Sr., a Draft)
Since transportation within 18th century Virginia was by foot, horseback, or a combination of
horse and buggy/wagon, individuals developed close associations with their neighbors. Most business and
official transactions were by necessity conducted locally and grouped within those specific areas where
individuals tended to live their entire lives. This is evident with marriages, being witnesses to wills and
deeds, attending and purchasing various items from local estate sales, and acting as executors and
administrators of estates. More often than not, names within a document or in a list represent the area of
the County in which those individuals lived. As a result, one can use this locating mechanism to
differentiate between other same-named individuals when dealing with tax records, census records, and
the Culpeper County Classes.
Author John Blankenbaker, in his book entitled The Culpeper Classes-A List of The Classes in
Culpeper County for January 1781…for Recruiting this State‘s Quota of Troops to serve in the
Continental Army states on pages 1-2 that ―Thirty-nine of the classes contained 13 men and sixty-five of
the classes contained 14 men [Class 102 list is missing and Class 104 is fragmented]. Based on
knowledge of several known locations given, the men in any given class are assumed to be from one
neighborhood‖.9 Thus, by understanding that the men within any given Culpeper Class were from the
same neighborhood, one is able to distinguish between similarly named men. In other words, similarly
named ‗Graves‘ in the other Classes, were from other parts of Culpeper County and not from the presentday Graves Mill area of Madison County, which is the area inhabited by the members of Class #81.
Thomas Graves, Sr., and his son John, my lineal ancestors, lived and died within the western
portion of Culpeper County, an area today which is the western portion of Madison County. Both of their
wills were probated within Madison County. Specifically, they lived within the area of present-day
Graves Mill (German Ridge, Jones Mountain, Garth run area) which is bisected by the Rapidan River,
formerly called the Stanton River. It was originally named the Stanton River from its headwaters within
the Blue Ridge Mountains down to its intersection with the Conway River. From this intersection on, it
was referred to as the Rappadan [present-day Rapidan] River. Occasionally the names are interchanged;
however the name refers to the same body of water. It can be seen, therefore, that the Stanton/Rapidan
River and the Conway River watersheds are closely associated with each other and are geographically
6
John Blankenbaker, The Culpeper Classes, A List of The Classes in Culpeper County for January 1781 for Recruiting this
State‘s Quota of Troops to Serve in the Continental Army, Copyright 1999, Index page 41.
7
Culpeper Classes A List of The Classes in Culpeper County for January 1781, Class #81, Library of Virginia Richmond,
Virginia-Microfilm Reel #7 System Number 001231080.
8
John Blankenbaker, page 27.
9
John Blankenbaker, page 1-2.
55
represented within a specific part of then-Culpeper County. That area is today the western portion of
Madison County, precisely the Graves Mill-Wolftown-Hood area of Madison County.
This paper will show that ten of the remaining eleven individuals within Class #81 also have direct
ties to this same geographical area. Thus, twelve men of the Culpeper Class #81 are grouped
geographically within the Rapidan/Stanton and Garth Run/Conway River watersheds. The lineal ancestry
of Thomas and John Graves have already been established by other documentation. Their patriotic
service in support of the Continental Army is strongly supported by the knowledge that the Hood/Graves
Mill area of western Madison County is the specific area (Culpeper Class #81) where my ancestor John
was born, where they both lived, and where both raised their families, and died. Furthermore, both are
differentiated from the other Thomas and John Graves listed in the three other Culpeper Classes because
the other Culpeper Classes represented other geographical areas within then-Culpeper County.
Three types of documentation are provided herein to geographically locate my two lineal
ancestors and the remaining men within Culpeper Class #81. This documentation will illustrate that all of
the men within Class #81, except Robert Bradley, were drawn from within the Stanton/Rapidan River
and/or the Conway River area of the County, the exact area where my lineal ancestors lived and died.
The first type of documents used are Deeds and Wills in Culpeper and Madison Counties, showing
the men owning property, being witnesses to each other's deeds, and having attended local estate sales.
All are located along the Stanton/Rapidan Rivers, to include the Conway River area.
The second type of source is Tax Lists, specifically, the book entitled, The Personal Property Tax
Lists for The Year 1787 for Culpeper County, Virginia, by Netti Schreiner-Yantis and Florene Love. This
publication states that the ―1787 tax list is a unique one.‖10 A law was passed by the Virginia Assembly
on October 11, 1786 ―which mandated that the tax commissioner should, on the tenth day of March
annually, begin and continue proceeding without delay through their respective district, and call on every
person subject to taxation or having property in his or her possession for a written list thereof…make four
alphabetical general lists therefrom, shewing in columns according to the form hereto also annexed, the
date when each list was received, the persons chargeable...‖11 There was one tax list providing the names
of the taxable/chargeable individuals within the County, and a second list showing the dates on which the
commissioner visited the individual taxpayer. Because of these two lists, ―this second list makes it
possible to identify who the neighbors were since it appears evident that the commissioner visited those
living in the same vicinity on the same day.‖12 This statement, along with the belief that the Culpeper
Classes were arranged by geographical locations and the men were grouped together based upon being
within the same neighborhoods, one can conclude that the Thomas Graves and John Graves of Culpeper
Class #81, are my lineal ancestors, and that they lived within the western portions of then Culpeper
County along the Stanton/Rapidan River watershed-present day Graves Mill, Madison County, Virginia.
The final source is the book entitled, The Underwood Family from Madison County, Virginia by
Ben H. Coke. In this book, Mr. Coke identifies the early descendants of his ancestor, Nathan Underwood,
who died within Madison County in 1802.13 Mr. Coke platted old deeds onto topographical maps so as to
―locate the land he [Nathan Underwood] owned; to identify some of his neighbors...‖14 In doing this, Mr.
Coke established a map of the western portion of Madison County which had been the western portion of
earlier Culpeper County. Specifically, this area incorporated the Garth Run -- Stanton/Rapidan River -Conway River area which is the exact area where my lineal ancestors, Thomas and John Graves, had
established themselves. Thus, it is possible to use Coke‘s map to determine the locations of the men listed
within Culpeper Class #81 and to further establish that all of the men within Class #81 were within this
specific geographical area of then-Culpeper County. With this graphic information, it is possible to
10
Netti Schreiner-Yantis and Florene Love, The Personal Property Tax Lists For The Year 1787 For Culpeper County,
Virginia (Genealogical Books in Print Springfield, Virginia 1987) Preface section.
11
Schreiner-Yantis and Love, Preface.
12
Schreiner-Yantis and Love, Preface.
13
Ben H. Coke, The Underwood Family from Madison County, Virginia, (McDowell Publications 1986) foreward iii.
14
Coke iii.
56
transpose the property locations discovered onto a larger Culpeper County map [before its division to
create Madison and Rappahannock Counties] (the map is included with this paper). Thus, one can visually
determine that the limited geographic area of then-Culpeper County-that the Militia Culpeper Class #81
represented is the western section of present-day Madison County inhabited by Thomas and John Graves.
Each man within Culpeper Class #81 is documented and reference is made to each specific one
appearing within various deeds as either the grantee, grantor, as a witness to the signing of these deeds, or
attending the estate sales of their neighbors. Twelve of these properties are within the Stanton/Rapidan
River, Garth Run, Conway River watershed areas (to include German Ridge and Jones Mountain areas),
thus the western portion of the County. The date on which they were visited by the tax commissioner is
also documented. Because of the same and/or few days‘ variance on the visit dates between the men
listed, the logical conclusion, given the speed of travel at the time, is that they are within the same
geographical area of the County. Combining these facts, one can conclude that Thomas and John Graves
in Class #81 are my lineal ancestors from Graves Mill and are differentiated from the other men named
Thomas Graves and John Graves listed within the other three Culpeper Classes, which represented other
geographical locations within Culpeper County and/or Madison County.
The men within Class #81 along with the related documentation are as follows:
Thomas Graves, Sr. (my lineal ancestor): Culpeper County Deed Book ―C‖ pages 654, 655, 656,
and 657. It is dated February 6, 1762. Thomas Graves is the grantee and William Stowers is the
grantor. The property is located in the ―Parish of Bromfield……lying…on the south side of the
Stanton River.‖ The Tax Commissioner Goodrich Lightfoot (Tax List ―C‖) visited him on April 5,
1787.15 Note that this is the same day that the Tax Commissioner also visited his sons John Graves
and Thomas Graves, Jr., along with his neighbors Joseph Eddins (see below), and William
Stowers.
John Graves (my lineal ancestor, son of the above Thomas Graves): Culpeper County Deed
Book ―N‖ pages 310, 311, 312, and 313. The land transaction is dated July 1, 1786. Mark Stowers,
the grantor, is selling a portion of land to Thomas Graves the grantee. The land appears to be an
extension of Thomas Graves estate ―on the side of a branch and in the Plantation…..being a corner
of the old patent and by the Road that leads from the Rapidan River to the Robinson River….and a
gum on the West Side of the River and corner to the whereon the said Graves lives….‖ John
Graves, son of Thomas Graves, is listed as a witness (teste) to the transaction as is John‘s brother,
Thomas Graves, Jr. See Thomas Graves above, for the Tax Commissioner information.
John Neal: Culpeper County Deed Book ―H‖ pages 317-318 dated February 19, 1776 provides a
deed in which Charles Neal [Senior] is the grantor and shows his son, John Neal, as the grantee.
The property is located within the ―fork of Stanton River and a branch of Conway River.‖ He was
visited by the Tax Commissioner, Daniel Brown (Tax List ―A‖) on April 19, 1787.16
John Simpson: A witness to the deed above, in which Charles Neal is the grantor and his son,
Charles Neal is the grantee.17 John Simpson was visited by the Tax Commissioner, Goodrich
Lightfoot (Tax List ―C‖) dated March 28, 1787.18
Charles Neal: Culpeper County Deed Book ―H‖ pages 313-314 dated March 6, 1776 indicates a
deed in which the grantor is Charles Neal, Sr., and the grantee is Charles Neal, Jr. The property is
15
Schreiner-Yantis and Love, Pages 721and 740.
Schreiner-Yantis and Love, Pages 692, 699, and 732.
17
Culpeper County Court Deed Book ―H‖-page 318.
18
Schreiner-Yantis and Love, pages 717, 726, and 739.
16
57
located ―on the Stanton River‖ [this is within the vicinity of his brother‘s (John Neal, above)
deeded portion]. Charles Neal does not appear on the 1787 Tax List.
Jonathan Coward: Culpeper County Deed Book ―D‖ pages 433-435 dated April 20, 1764. The
grantor is James Kirtley and wife, Jemima. The grantee is Jonathan Coward. The property is
―lying on the Stanton River in the afore Parish [Bromfield]‖. Jonathan Cowherd (Coward) appears
on the Tax List ―C‖, visited by Goodrich Lightfoot on April 3, 1787.19
Joseph Eddins: Culpeper County Deed Book ―D‖ pages 325, 326, and 327 dated May 2, 1760.
This deed has Joseph Eddins as the grantor, and Thomas Graves as the grantee. The property sold
is ―being in the Parish of Bromfield……on the Stanton River.‖ Joseph Eddins appears on Tax List
―C‖, visited by Goodrich Lightfoot on April 4 and 5, of 1787.20 Note that April 5, 1787 is the same
day the tax commissioner visited my lineal ancestors, Thomas Graves and John Graves and John‘s
brother Thomas Graves, Jr. It should also be noted that the son of Joseph Eddins, Joel Eddins,
married Lydia Graves, the daughter of Thomas Graves (first named individual above), on
December 22, 1795.21 This indicates that the Graves and Eddins families were neighbors.
John Leatherer: Culpeper County Deed Book ―H‖ pages 708 and 709 are dated July 20, 1778.
The grantor is William Henry, and the grantee is John Leatherer. The property is located ―in the
fork of the Conway and Rapidan Rivers. The Tax Commissioner (Tax List ―C‖) visited John
Leatherer on April 4, 1787.22
Thomas Banks: Culpeper County Deed Book ―H‖, pages 190, 191, 192, and 193 shows Adam
Banks as the grantee and Thomas Johnston as the grantor. It is dated May 20, 1776. Thomas
Banks, the brother of Adam Banks, is a witness to the transfer of this property. The deed
encompasses several plots of land totaling 1076 acres. All of the land is apparently joined to
include a portion of the property located at a ―Branch of the Stanton River.‖ There is no notation
from the Tax Commissioner for Thomas Banks in 1787; however, his brother, Adam Banks, the
grantee, is among Tax List ―C‖ and was visited by the Commissioner Goodrich Lightfoot on April
5, 1787. The same day the Commissioner visited Thomas Graves, John Graves, Thomas Graves,
Jr., and William Stowers.23
Gideon Underwood: Madison County Will Book I, pages 268 and 269, are dated January 22,
1801. These documents pertain to the estate sale of the late Thomas Kirtley [Stanton River and
Garth Run intersection]. Gideon Underwood is one of the individuals who purchased items from
this estate sale. Note also that John Graves, the lineal ancestor of the applicant; also purchased
items from this sale as did Downing Smith (see section below on Downing Smith). Gideon
Underwood was visited by Tax Commissioner Goodrich Lightfoot (Tax List ―C‖) on March 28,
1787.24 Additionally, within the Madison County Deed Book #1, pages 130 and 131, dated
September 25, 1794, Gideon Underwood is a witness to the transfer of property where Simon Rice
is the grantor, and George Harrison is the grantee. The property is ―adjoining the German Ridge‖.
German Ridge is located just a short distance southeast of the residue owned by Thomas Graves
and actually borders the lands of John Graves, both lineal ancestors of the applicant, and runs
19
Schreiner-Yantis and Love, Pages 719 and 740.
Schreiner-Yantis and Love, Pages 720 and 740.
21
Madison County Court Records, Marriage Bond between Lydia Graves and Joel Eddins, dated December 22, 1795.
22
Schreiner-Yantis and Love Pages 723 and 740.
23
Schreiner-Yantis and Love Pages 718 and 740.
24
Schreiner-Yantis and Love Pages 727 and 739.
20
58
parallel to the Stanton/Rapidan River. Also note that Gideon and Elijah (the next listed
individual), are brothers.
Elijah Underwood: On pages 133 and 134 of the Madison County Deed Book 3, dated January
26, 1802, Elijah Underwood is a witness to the sale of land. The grantor is John Hite, and Charles
Hume, Jr., is the grantee. The land is ―on the bank of the Rapidan River.‖ The Tax Commissioner
Goodrich Lightfoot (Tax List ―C‖) visited Elijah Underwood on April 6, 1787, just one day after
he visited the lineal ancestors of the applicant, Thomas and John Graves.25
Downing Smith: Within Madison County Deed Book 2, page 338 and 339, dated April 22, 1799,
is found Benjamin Smith, the grantor, and Downing Smith, the grantee. The land purchased by
Downing Smith is located ―on the south side of the German Ridge…..corner to William Smith and
John Graves,‖ lineal ancestor of the applicant. Within the Culpeper County Deed Book ―I‖ on
pages 83-85, dated October 19, 1778, is found Downing Smith as a witness to a deed. The grantor
is Benjamin Smith, and the grantee is Adam Banks. The land is ―lying on the Waters of the
Rappidan River…on the top of German Ridge.‖ As stated previously, German Ridge is located
only a short distance southeast of the residue owned by Thomas Graves; and as seen here, it
borders the lands of John Graves, the lineal ancestors of the applicant. On April 5, 1787, Tax
Commissioner Goodrich Lightfoot (Tax List ―C‖) visited Downing Smith. This day also coincides
with his visit to Joseph Eddins, William Stowers, and Adam Banks. On that date he also visited
the ancestors of the applicant, namely, Thomas Graves, and his sons John Graves and Thomas
Graves, Jr.26
Robert Bradley: Within Culpeper County Deed Book ―K,‖ pages 210 thru 212, dated October 17,
1779, is found a Robert Bradley as a witness to the purchase of land from Robert Johnson, grantor,
to Benjamin Johnson (grantee). The property is located on ―the North side of the Rapidann
River…..and corner to James Barbour.‖ There is no notation of a visit by any Tax Commissioner
for Robert Bradley in the year 1787. Possibly he had moved from Culpeper County or was
deceased. Additionally, very little documentation exists regarding Robert Bradley. He is not listed
within either the Culpeper or Madison County deed books as having owned property within those
geographical areas. It is possible that he may have been a tenant farmer, going from farm to farm,
and had no land and/or taxable property of his own. Although the land contained within this
paragraph is along ―the Rapidann River‖ this specific location is believed to be within the
southeastern portion of then-Culpeper County, which now is the southeastern section of Madison
County, possibly the Uno area. If this is correct, then this area is outside the small geographical
area depicted on the enclosed map of Culpeper County, illustrating the location of the remaining
men within Culpeper Class #81. Mr. Bradley most likely tenant farmed [thus he owed no property
and taxes would not be included within the Tax Lists] within the present Graves Mill area of
Madison County during the 1781 time period in which the Culpeper Classes were formed.
It should be noted that Thomas Graves, Sr., is listed as the ―Draft‖ for Culpeper Class #81. It is possible
that, because of his age (in 1781, Thomas Graves was 48 years old, having been born in 1733), his service
was limited based upon his advanced age and/or availability. Additionally, cursory searches of a number
of Revolutionary War Records indicate that at least five men from the Culpeper Class #81, or men with
the same names, participated in the Revolutionary War. Since each class was required to provide one
individual, it appears that Class #81 had far exceeded its mandated amount of one man per Class supplied
to the Continental Army, obviating the need for someone of Thomas‘s age to serve on active duty. The
25
26
Schreiner-Yantis and Love Pages 727 and 740.
Schreiner-Yantis and Love Pages 726 and 740.
59
five other men from Class #81, or men with the same names, that had active service within the
Revolutionary War were Thomas Banks, Charles Neal, John Neal, John Simpson and Gideon Underwood.
A review of pertinent deeds, wills, and estate sale records of Culpeper and Madison Counties; the
1787 personal property tax lists for Culpeper County; and information from The Underwood Family from
Madison County, Virginia, showed that all but one of the men listed in Class #81 of the Culpeper County
Military Classes, comprising the local Militia, were of the Stanton/Rapidan River and/or the Conway
River area of Culpeper, now Madison, County.
The conclusion reached through this research is that Thomas Graves Sr. and his son John Graves
who resided in present-day Madison County (Graves Mill), are the men listed in Class #81, and as such
were sympathetic to the cause of the United States of America and provided Patriotic service to the
American War of Independence.
60
North
Culpeper County
Prior to the Formation of Madison County
1792/93 and
Rappahannock County 1833
Red dots are the homes of Thomas
Graves and his son John.
Green boundary line of Madison
County
Yellow is the area wherein the men
of Culpeper Class #81 are
associated/grouped.
Note: the above map was taken from Schreiner-Yantis, Netti, and Florene Love. The Personal Property
Tax Lists For The Year 1787 For Culpeper County, Virginia. Springfield, Virginia: 1987
61
Works Cited
Blankenbaker, John. The Culpeper Classes: A List of The Classes in Culpeper County for
January 1781 for Recruiting this State‘s Quota of Troops to serve in the Continental
Army. United States: 1999.
Burk, Tennie Selby. The Culpeper County, Virginia January, 1781 Revolutionary War Classes.
Culpeper Town and County Library, Culpeper, Virginia R975.53 Re.
Coke, Ben H. The Underwood Family From Madison County, Virginia. Utica, Kentucky:
McDowell, 1986.
Culpeper Classes Militia Men Selected By County To Serve With Lafayette and The Continental
Army: Culpeper Town and County Library, Culpeper, Virginia R975.53Cu.
―Culpeper Classes.‖ Library of Virginia Online. 2002. <http://www.lva.lib.va.us>. Path: What
We Have; Military Records and Resources; Culpeper County Classes, 1781; Graves,
Thomas Sr.
Culpeper County Land Deed Books Culpeper, Virginia. Books lettered; C, D, H, N, K, and I.
Floyd, Tom. Lost Trails and Forgotten People: The Story of Jones Mountain. Vienna, Virginia:
1981.
Hening, William Waller. The Statues At Large: Being A Collection Of All The Laws Of
Virginia, From The First Session Of The Legislature, In The Year 1619. Richmond:
1822.
Lenzen, Connie. ―Researching Your Revolutionary War Ancestor.‖ The Genealogical Forum of
Oregon Library < http://www.gfo.org/revwar.htm>.
Madison County Marriage Licenses and Bonds Madison, Virginia. Copy of Marriage Bond
between Lydia Graves and Joel Eddins, December 22, 1795.
Madison County Land Deed Books Madison, Virginia. Books numbered; 1, 2 and 3.
Madison County Will Books Madison, Virginia. Book number 1.
Schreiner-Yantis, Netti, and Florene Love. The Personal Property Tax Lists For The Year 1787
For Culpeper County, Virginia. Springfield, Virginia: 1987.
62
VASSAR Color Guard with the Assistance of the Founders and Patriots
participated in the Norfolk Chapter Led Grave Marking Ceremony for
Lieutenant William Porter
April 26, 2009 was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the 90‘s, just the perfect time to set out marching for
Old Towne Portsmouth, Virginia at the request of the Norfolk Chapter.
Dr. Matt Hogendobler, Vice-President Norfolk Chapter, organized an impressive display of Historic
Societies SAR, DAR, Founders and Patriots, descendants of William Porter as well as current Church
clergy of Monumental UMC and local residents in honoring Lt. Porter.
Lt. William Porter was born ca.1749-50 in
Norfolk County, Virginia, to William and
Patience Porter. His father died 1760-61,
and in 1762, his mother married Joshua
Nicholson, who, in 1761, had been
appointed to the vestry of Elizabeth River
parish and, in 1765, signed a petition of the
Sons of Liberty protesting the Stamp Act.
Nicholson's will was probated two years
later.
In 1772, William Porter, the younger, began
attending the Methodist Society meetings
held in the home of Isaac Luke in
Portsmouth. He served as a lieutenant in the
Revolution in the 12th Virginia Regiment,
returning home to marry Isaac Luke's
daughter, Elizabeth, on October 31, 1782.
According to early census records, they
lived in the Western Branch/Deep Creek
area after their marriage. He took the
appropriate oath to become a vestryman for
Trinity, but he converted to the Methodist
church, when it became an independent
denomination in 1784.
Photo
courtesy of Carter B.S. Furr, Norfolk Chapter
William and Elizabeth are mentioned in the
earliest roster of Monumental UMC.
William was also one of the trustees on their deed when they bought the property now known as
―Glasgow Street Park.‖ Tradition holds their first house of worship; ―South Street Meeting House‖ was
moved to Glasgow Street, where he would have been buried, when he died on June 20, 1807.
VASSAR Color Guard led by Committee Chairman Larry McKinley consisted of Andrew Johnson and
we welcomed our most esteemed colleague Mike Lyman, Governor, Order of Founders and Patriots of
America, Virginia Society. Together we displayed and or carried seven different flags adding the
appropriate amount of color to honor Lt. William Porter.
63
Pictured in Norfolk, Left to Right:
Col. Andrew Johnson & Larry
McKinley, VASSAR Color Guard,
William Simpson, III, Representing
the Founders and Patriots, and
Mike Lyman, Governor of the
Founders and Patriots.
Mr. Alf Mapp, nationally
known authority on Thomas
Jefferson delivers a talk at
the ceremony honoring Lt.
Porter. To his side is Ms.
Margaret Nix Windley, a
direct descendent of Lt.
Porter, a member of the
Fort Nelson Chapter, DAR
and Historian, Monumental
United Methodist Church,
Portsmouth.
Notice the color of the flags
adding to this
remembrance.
_________________
64
George Yeardley Scarborough
Founder – Captain Edmund Scarborough
Captain Edmund Scarborough (I) (b. 1565 d. 1619) born in Norfolk, England, emigrated to Virginia
about 1628. He married HANNAH BUTLER (daughter of Robert Butler) in England prior to 1613.
Their children were (Sir) Charles Scarborough (b. 1615), Edmund Scarborough (II) (bye 1617 d. 1671.)
Hannah Scarborough (II) (b. 1625 d.?) and Catherine Scarborough.
Patriot – Americus Scarborough
Captain Americus Scarborough (II) (1750 - 24 March 1818) married RACHELL WATSON (b. 1765 d.
14 September 1840) 22 August 1798. Their son Americus Scarborough (III) (b. 9 April 1799 d. 6 May
1852)
George Yeardley Scarborough of Presbyterian faith was born in Norton, Wise County, Virginia, October
13, 1924, the son of George Carson Scarborough and Ethel Vivian Paden Stephens Scarborough.
George Yeardley Scarborough is descended from the enviable stock who are identified with and played
and outstanding part and the early building history of Virginia. A direct family descendant of Captain
Edmund Scarborough, a 1618 emigrant to Virginia. A descendant of Sir George Yeardley, a 1619 Royal
Governor of Virginia- who introduced bicameral government to Virginia, later adopted for governing the
United States of America.
All of his World War II military service was in the United States Navy. A Veteran very proud of being an
American having served in what he considers the greatest event of the 20th century. There are not many
event in History of the magnitude of World War II and there are certainly even fewer of these where you
can be proud but why you did it. The sacrifices were great but so was the objective...freedom and the
rewards.
U.S. Navy duty was with the antisubmarine task force. Over 2 years of World War II Navy duet was
spent outside of the continental limits of the United States. Performing his duty as a Navy First Class
Sonar petty officer, with an Antisubmarine Task Force accredited with the destruction of seven enemy
submarines.
All World War II duty was aboard the same ship, serving with the same crew members aboard the
Destroyer Escort USS Snowden DE-246. A ship accredited with the sinking of 3 submarines and
assisting in the capture and rescue of 60 German submariners from the German U-Boat - 490.
His life was spent as a professional Fire Protection Engineer. A Life Member of the Society of Fire
Protection Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association.
George Yeardley Scarborough is a member of the "Jamestowne Society," "The Sons of the Revolution,"
and "The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America," The Virginia Society of the Sons of
Confederate Veterans and ("Ghotes") - The Genealogy and History of the Eastern Shore, of Virginia. He
is a proud member of the Southwest Virginia ("Texas Club.")
65
66
Walk In Their Footsteps
By Frank Hyland, Deputy Governor
This article was submitted to the Bulletin Editor for publication in the OFPA Bulletin in 2009.
Join OFPA Governor General Bourne and Mrs. Bourne at 2:30PM on Saturday, October 17th for a
trip back in history. The Virginia Society of The Order of Founders and Patriots of America, along with a
number of other heritage societies, will gather at the Warner Hall Plantation Graveyard in Gloucester
County, Virginia, to honor several of our distinguished forebears with a grave-marking ceremony.
The Warner Hall Plantation ceremony is another milestone in the ongoing Virginia Society,
OFPA, program to honor America‘s founders and patriots, a program that began in 2007 and that has
been so well received that it gives every evidence that it will continue as long as the Virginia Society can
continue to find eligible gravesites. It should be noted that ―well received‖ pertains to the heightened
interest shown by churches, congregations, and other heritage societies involved as well as by present and
prospective OFPA members.
The October 17th ceremony will honor Augustine Warner I and Augustine Warner II, both 17th
Century-era founders, and their great grandson, Warner Lewis, a Revolutionary War Lieutenant. For
those not familiar with the Warner name and associated history, among the ―footsteps‖ you will be
following will be those of George Washington, himself. Descendants of Colonel Augustine Warner, in
addition to George Washington, include General Robert E. Lee and Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of
Great Britain.
In addition to attending this particular ceremony, if you and your Society would like further
―How-To‖ information on beginning a very worthwhile program such as Virginia‘s, you may feel free to
contact The Virginia Society Governor, ―Mike‖ Lyman, whose contact information is on the OFPA
website and in the back of this issue of The Bulletin. Governor Lyman will also gladly provide you with
directions to the ceremony. The program has fostered a great deal of interest from other heritage
societies, and from individuals who are prospective OFPA Associates. The opportunities are great for
OFPA Societies in all the former Colonies that saw action in the Revolutionary War to honor their
founders and patriots as well.
67
"I'm Not Cracked Like My Sister:"
The Bell and Bruton Parish Church
(Author: Unknown)
(Originally Published: Unknown)
I was born in England and came to America in 1761. I have an older sister who lives in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania--she's known as the "Liberty Bell." She was also born in England. We both came from the
Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London.
My name is "Virginia Liberty Bell," and I'm not cracked like my sister in Philadelphia.
I live at the Bruton Parish Episcopal Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, and take care of all the special
occasions there. Why on June 1, 1774, I rang and rang and rang! You know that's when the British
closed the port of Boston. They surely were upset about all that tea being dumped into the harbor.
Actually, I was pretty busy for a few years. I rang for all the great occasions...May 15, 1776 when
Virginia adopted the Resolution for Independence...when we won our independence...and when the
Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783.
I was told a fire destroyed the statehouse at Jamestown in 1699, and the capitol of Virginia was moved
to Middle Plantation and renamed Williamsburg. The small wooden church at Middle Plantation was
replaced with a larger brick one in 1683. They named it Bruton Parish Church and Reverend Rowland
Jones was its first rector. His great grand-daughter, Martha Dandridge, married George Washington,
A larger Bruton Parish Church was built in 1715, and that's where I live. Things were surely different
back then. Men and Women sat on opposite sides of the church, and the parish was really small--it only
had 110 families. There is an upstairs gallery in the church where students from William and Mary
College sat ... carved their initials on the pews, and debated religion and the need for self government.
Although I wasn't there at the time, I understand Thomas Jefferson was one of them ... expressing his
views on all subjects.
William and Mary College was new then, too. It was chartered in 1693 and was the second college in
the Colonies. In fact, during much of the eighteenth century, the President of the College of William and
Mary also served as rector of my church.
My church soon became the center of activities for Williamsburg and surrounding areas. When the
legislature was in session, it was filled with members of the House of Burgesses. George Washington,
Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and George Mason all worshiped here.
My belfry is so high, I can't hear everything, but I know the services were often used for political
discussions and debates. Since there wasn't separation of church and state then, plans for independence,
propaganda and allegiance to the King of Britain were all discussed inside my church.
We have many priceless relics of yesteryear here at Bruton Parish. The baptismal fond that George
Washington stood before fourteen times as a godfather is believed to be original to Jamestown, as is a
communion service given to Governor Botetourt by King George III. In 1907 President Theodore
Roosevelt gave a bronze lectern commemorating the 300th anniversary of the first English Church built at
Jamestown.
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Throughout colonial times, people gather here to discuss troubling issues and seek comfort and
assurances from one another. Men who first saw young America as a free republic gathered here to
exchange ideas and preach their convictions.
During the Civil War both Confederate and Union soldiers wounded in battle sat in the churchyard
visiting while their more seriously injured comrades were treated at the Union hospital inside the church.
Fortunately, the church didn't suffer damage during the hostilities.
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Ancestors at Warner Hall
By Associate Cranston Williams
This talk was given at Warner Hall on October 17, 2009.
"Thank you Governor Lyman for that kind introduction.
It is an honor and a privilege to have been asked to talk to you today at this historic location. Warner
Hall was a part of the beginning of the United States of America.
You could say that I like history and genealogy. My Father's Salzburger ancestors settled in Ebenezer,
GA, near Savannah in 1734. My Mother's ancestors date back through the Warners, buried here to
Charlemagne. I spent my first 18 years each summer at Jefferson's Poplar Forest in Forest, VA, My
maternal grandparents' summer home outside Lynchburg. My Grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Christian S.
Hutter, and Grandparent's family owned Jefferson's Poplar Forest for 118 years. A Hutter son married a
daughter of the neighboring Cobbs Family. The Cobbs are my Order of Founders and Patriots ancestors.
I am married to Marilyn, who is also here today, who is also here today, along with our daughter, Sally
Warner. We have a son, Cranston Reade.
The name Warner Hall instantly brings to mind an association as the home of the Lewis family.
Warmer Hall is to the Lewis family as Westover is to the Byrd Family. Warner Hall stands in relation to
the Lewis family more in the position which Shirley has to the Carter family. In both of these cases the
original ownership and the building of estates were inherited from other ancestral families. Thus, Warner
Hall was originally owned and built by the Warner Family and it came into the Lewis Family through
inheritance by an heiress of the Warner family, named Martiau and Reade. Warner Hall was also the
headquarters for a time during Bacon's aid into New Kent and Gloucester counties.
The first Warner came to Virginia with the heraldic title of "Gentleman." He was Augustine Warner,
Sr., called Councillor until his death in 1674. He married Mary Townley/Towneley. She and her family
lived at Stonehenge in England for many generations. It was nephew Lawrence Townley that married
their daughter Sarah. One of her descendants is Queen Elizabeth II. The Warners made their home in
York County which became Gloucester. He was Justice of York County, was Burgess of York County in
1652 and for Gloucester in 1655 and was "Councillor" from 1659 to 1667. It was about 1653 when he
patented Warner Hall. His original house was destroyed by fire in 1845. He served as a Captain in the
VA Militia until 1658 and thereafter held the rank of Colonel.
Councillor Warner, Sr. died 1674 and his wife Mary died in 1662 and they are buried here. They left
only one son and one daughter, Sarah Warner, wife of Lawrence Townley and the ancestor of Robert E.
Lee. The son, Col. Augustine Warner, Jr. was born 1642 and was later known as "Speaker."
Like many heirs of then-prominent VA families, Warner, Jr. was sent in childhood to be educated in
England. In 1658 he entered the Merchant Tailor's School in London. We don't know how long he
remained in England but he probably completed his education at one of the universities since records are
silent on this point. He became very prominent in the social and political life of the colony at an early age
upon his return.
Before 1671 Augustine Jr. married Mildred Reade, daughter of Col. George and Elizabeth [Martiau]
Reade of Yorktown. They had three sons [Augustine who died soon after turning 20, George and Robert]
who stayed with their Mother and without issue and three daughters: Elizabeth, Mary and Mildred. I will
mention them later.
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Upon Augustine Warner, Sr.'s death in 1674, the son inherited the Warner Hall estate. He and his
family undoubtedly lived here during the remainder of Mildred's and his life except during the time when
he was attending to his duties at the Capital. In 1676 he was elevated to be the "Speaker" of the House of
Burgess. Singularly enough, since no other case is known, within a few months thereafter he was also
functioning as the dual office of "Councillor."
"Speaker" Warner, Jr.'s public services did not consist entirely of holding offices. He was Colonel
Commandant of the Gloucester County militia. Like his great-grandson, George Washington, he spent a
considerable amount of his personal funds in public business as well as in his church. He died in 1681 at
the age of 39 - having risen in his short life time to be one of the most prominent men in VA. He is
buried at Warner Hall beside his parents' graves. His will bequeathed Warner Hall to his family in which
they continued to live in addition to all the lands owned by his father.
Speaker Jr.'s wife Mildred's will in 1694 stated that if neither son, George nor Robert left heirs, then
the estate would revert to Mildred's brothers, Robert, Francis, Benjamin and Thomas Reade.
The daughters of Speaker Jr. and Mildred were Elizabeth, Mary and Mildred Warner.
Elizabeth Warner, born 1672, married "Councillor" John Lewis bringing the Lewis family of the
ancestral lines of Martiau, Reade and Warner into the continuance of Warner Hall.
Mary Warner married Maj. John Smith of "Purton", Gloucester and had many descendants.
Mildred Warner married Lawrence Washington in 1686 and in time became the grandmother of
George Washington. She was a woman of some substance when Lawrence Washington
married her in 1686 in Virginia. He had made a will in March of 1698/99 and died shortly
afterwards leaving Mildred with three children, a girl and two boys. The elder boy was John,
named after his paternal grandfather and the younger Augustine, named after his Mother's
Father. It was the younger son, Augustine, who fathered George Washington by his second
marriage in 1730 to a 23-year old orphan named Mary Ball. George was their first-born in 1732
and the first President of the United States. Thus, George Washington was the great grandson
of "Councillor" Augustine Warner, Jr.
In the autumn of 1700, Mildred Reade married a second time to George Gale, the son of John Gale II
of Whitehaven, England. Gale brought Mildred, now pregnant, her three children and a female Negro
servant to England. By the time she got to Whitehaven she was ill and her maid also could have been
ailing. The St. Nicholas Church's register entries thereafter the next few months tell a poignant story. On
January 7th, 1701, Mildred's Negro maid was baptized and given the name of Jane. On January 25th, the
newly born little Mildred Gale was baptized. On January 30th, Mildred herself was buried; on February
20th, Jane was buried, and on May 26th, the baby Mildred Gale was buried. Mildred, Jane and the baby
were buried in Old St. Nicholas churchyard. Marilyn and I were there in Whitehaven, England, in May of
2001 on the National SAR recognition trip to visit a few of the ancestral homes of George Washington. It
was there that we saw the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities inscribed plaque in
memory of Mildred Warner.
It is interesting to note that, at George Washington's special request, stone quarried on the Whitehaven
side of St. Bees Head was sent to America in 1785, to pave the portico of his home at Mount Vernon.
When this pavement required renewal, similar stone was sent from the same quarry in 1915.
In conclusion, Warner Hall is an unusual and historic place that has many connections to our country's
founding and connection to the American Revolution. I could go on for a long time with more Warner,
Lewis, Reade and Martiau history and information about their relationship to our nation's evolution as we
have known.
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Thank you for having me and my family here today at Warner Hall."
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2009 VA OFPA SPEAKERS
March 14 2009, 11:30am to Noon at the Hampton History Museum: OFPA Society arranged for
Michael Cobb, Curator of the museum to provide a walking presentation on the History of Hampton, VA,
the First Permanent American Settlement in 1610. Attending were VA associates that attended the annual
meeting plus invited members of VASSAR, VA Chapter DFPA, VA DAR, VA Chapter NSSDP and
other guests. Michael Cobb is an MA Studies graduate from the College of William & Mary and has coauthored the book Hampton and authored the book Fort Wool & the Star Spangled Banner Uprising. To
make the presentation more effective he gave the presentation with discussion while escorting the
attendees through the museum displays.
March 14, 2009 2:45-3:00pm inside the St John‟s Episcopal Church, Hampton, VA
OFPA Society arranged for (The Rev.) Donna-Mae Siderius, Rector of the church to provide The
History & Special Features of Hampton’s St John’s Episcopal Church. Part of her presentation included
information that the Parish is the oldest in continuous service in America as it was established in 1610
and that the current church was built in 1728.
October 17, 2009 10:15am-10:25am at the Riverwalk Restaurant in Yorktown, VA
During the business meeting of the VA OFPA, Governor General John M. Bourne spoke on The
Activities of the Order.
October 17, 2009 12:15pm-12:20pm at the Riverwalk Restaurant in Yorktown, VA
During the luncheon of the VA OFPA, Judge Edward F. Butler, Sr. gave greetings and talked about The
National Society Sons of the American Revolution of which he is President General. He has previously
served as Presiding Municipal Judge for South Padre Island, Texas. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt
University School of Law and the author of six books. He has written numerous articles for the SAR
magazine on the Revolutionary War in Texas and Spain‘s assistance to the Americans during the war.
October 17, 2009 1:35pm-1:55pm at the Riverwalk Restaurant in Yorktown, VA
During the luncheon of the VA OFPA author Tony Williams, was the keynote speaker who gave a talk
entitled The Great Pillars of Human Happiness: Religion, Virtue, and American Liberty. He discussed the
details of how the key founders of this country thoughts and writings supported religion, virtue and liberty
and the need for human happiness. He is the author of the book Hurricane of Independence: the Untold
Story of the Deadly Storm at the Deciding Moment of the Revolution. He has appeared on C-spans Book,
TV and has an M.A. in history from the Ohio State University
October 17 2009 2:45pm-2:55pm at the Warner Hall Plantation Cemetery, in Gloucester Co, VA.
At the VA OFPA grave marking ceremony, Associate Cranston Williams, a direct descendant of the
Founders being honored, Augustine Warner I & II, gave a presentation entitled Ancestors of Warner Hall.
He talked about the Founders and how they are also the ancestors of George Washington, Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth, and Richard and Henry Lee.
October 17 2009 2:55pm-3:00pm at the Warner Hall Plantation Cemetery, in Gloucester Co, VA.
At the VA OFPA grave marking ceremony honoring Founders & Patriots by installing granite grave
markers,
James A. Swords, President of the Thomas Nelson, Jr. Chapter, VASSAR presented the Military &
Family Information on Lieutenant Warner Lewis, Esq. In his remarks he gave details of Lt Lewis‘s
military career and how he was descended to become the 3d great grandson of Augustine Warner I.
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October 17 2009 3:05pm-3:10pm at the Warner Hall Plantation Cemetery, in Gloucester Co, VA.
At the VA OFPA grave marking ceremony honoring Founders & Patriots by installing granite grave
markers,
Lt Colonel L.H. “Bucky” Burress, (USA Ret.) gave a presentation on The Gloucester County Militia
During the Revolution. He discussed the Militia‘s involvement in the ―Battle of the Hook‖ at Gloucester
Point in October 1781
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ASA WESLEY GRAVES, VI, VII, VIII
On Sunday October 17, 2009, the Virginia Society of The Order of the Founders and
Patriots of America hosted a business luncheon in Yorktown, Virginia. Attendees included
OFPA Governor General John Bourne, OFPA Deputy Governor General Charles Hampton, and
a host of dignitaries from a number of hereditary organizations. Following the meeting, a plaque
presentation ceremony was conducted at Warner Hall, located within Gloucester, Virginia, in
conjunction with the Thomas Nelson, Jr. Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American
Revolution. Honored at Warner Hall were two Founders, Augustine Warner I and II, along with
a Patriot, Lt. Warner Lewis.
The highlight of the business meeting was the induction of six new members of the
Virginia Society of the OFPA. The new members are Dwight W. Lyman, John (Jake) C. Lay,
Cranston Williams, Jr., Asa W. Graves VI, Asa W. Graves VII, and Asa W. Graves VIII. As you
see, therefore, three Graves family members -- grandfather, son, and grandson -- were installed
by Governor General Bourne! Additionally, their Virginia Society order numbers also reflect this
uniqueness by having the last digit equal to their generation number, namely: 196, 197, and 198.
Biographies of: Asa W.(Wes) Graves, VI--VA Society of OFPA #196 Order #5878
Asa W.(Asa) Graves, VII--VA Society of OFPA #197 Order #5884
Asa W.(Wesley) Graves, VIII--VA Society of OFPA #198 Order #5885Y
The three new Graves members are descendants of Thomas Graves, who settled in
Graves Mill, Va., in the mid- 1700s, and can trace their line back to Captain Thomas Graves, an
original ―Founder‖ of the Jamestown Colony of 1608. Thomas Graves, of Graves Mill Va., was
a patriot during the American Revolution, serving with the Culpeper County, Va., Militia.
Asa W. Graves (IV), a physician, moved to Lacey Spring, Va., in 1911 from Graves Mill
and practiced medicine until 1940. His son, Asa W.Graves (V), also a physician, practiced in
Lacey Spring for almost 50 years. Lacey Spring is located within Rockingham County,
approximately ten miles from Harrisonburg, Va.
Wes (VI) was born in Harrisonburg, Va., and grew up in Lacey Spring. Today he lives
with his wife, Glenna, just outside Harrisonburg. They have two children, Asa W. Graves VII
and Amanda S. Aker, and have four grandchildren namely: Alexandra E. Aker, Carson A. Aker,
Caroline C. Graves, and Asa W. Graves, VIII.
Wes graduated from Roanoke College and is a Managing Director with the Graves-Light
Wealth Management team of Wells Fargo Advisors. He currently serves on the Board of
Trustees of Bridgewater College, the Board of Directors of James Madison University
Foundation, is President of Massanutten Regional Library, the Chairman of the Harrisonburg
Rockingham Community Services Board, and is a Life Member of the Harrisonburg
Rockingham Historical Society.
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Asa (VII) was born in Harrisonburg and grew up in that area. After graduating from the
University of Richmond with a concentration in Finance in 1991, he worked as an economic
sector analyst for Wheat First Butcher Singer. His roles have included being portfolio manager
analyst of the strategic sectors market portfolio and the market strategy mutual funds. In
addition he was a service equity analyst for five years. In 2001 he was named ―Best on the
Street‖ in both earning estimates and stock-picking categories by the Wall Street Journal.
Asa joined his father in 2002 as a Managing Director-Investments of Graves-Light
Wealth Management of Wells Fargo Advisors. He is twice-named Top Financial Advisor Under
40 by On Wall Street.
Asa resides in the Harrisonburg area with his wife Kathleen M. Graves. They have two
children, Caroline C. Graves and Asa W. Graves, VIII.
Wesley (VIII) was born in Harrisonburg VA on May 17, 2006. He enjoys preschool and
John Deere tractors. Wesley is a Youth Associate of the OFPA.
The three newest Graves members wish to thank everyone associated with their
application process and are honored to have been accepted within The Order of the Founders and
Patriots of America.
Four of the six new members installed within the Virginia Society OFPA
October 17, 2009
Yorktown, Virginia
(l-r)—Governor General-John M. Bourne, Asa (Wes) Graves VI, David W. Lyman, Asa Graves VII holding his son
Asa (Wesley)VIII, and the Governor of the Virginia Society-Mike Lyman
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Speech at Culpeper Courthouse July 3, 2010. by Mike Lyman, VA
OFPA Governor
In the 1760s there was a large change in attitude regarding liberty and independence by the Virginia
populace from the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown 403 years ago, and a second
settlement 400 years ago this year at Hampton. The offspring of these initial Founders, six or so
generations later in the 1760‘s would be great or great, great grandchildren. Most of these later
generations, having never been in England would have less loyalty to the Crown than their forefathers.
But there are other reasons for the change in attitude that I will explain.
Initially persons coming in from Great Britain were men of influence called landed gentry. The gentry
were given land grants and patents by the British government. For example, Lord Fairfax and Lord
Culpeper had land grants of large areas in Virginia. Many of the initial immigrants brought with them
indentured servants, who after serving their time received land. The transporters of this influx of people
received land as well. Many people came because of religious reasons, so that they could practice their
faith here, what they were not allowed to practice under the King of England.
By 1634, there were eight shires or counties in Virginia which were all in the tidewater area near
Hampton Roads except for Accomack County on the eastern shore. The settlements were along the six
rivers emptying into the Chesapeake Bay, the Elizabeth, the James, the York, the Mattaponi, the
Rappahannock and of course the Potomac River leading up to Northern Virginia. Each of the original
eight shires or counties in 1634 expanded and broke off into other counties. Culpeper County for example
first came from York County, then into Gloucester, into Lancaster, into Old Rappahannock, into Essex,
Spotsylvania, Orange and finally Culpeper was formed in 1749. By 1772 sixty seven counties had
formed. Each of these counties had councilors which were representatives to the House of Burgesses
selected by the Virginia governor, and approved and ratified by the British government. Also for each of
these counties, Court Justices were appointed by the Virginia Royal Governor. The parishes of Virginia
expanded along with the counties. Virginia had expanded by its charter, all the way to the Mississippi
River and to the Great Lakes by the early 1770s.
It was in the mid-1750s, that the French and Indian War took place for a prolonged seven years. Many of
the men that fought this war from Virginia, were led by men of their own county or region and they got
the feeling that they were American soldiers rather than British forces. Yes, it was the mother country‘s
war but Americans were fighting it for them.
But the final attitude change came in 1765. The British Parliament, in order to find a way to pay for the
French and Indian War decided in March of 1765 that it was going to charge a stamp tax on all documents
and imports coming into America. It had an implementation date of November 1, 1765.
This of course was not well received by Americans as the British Constitution indicated in principle that
British subjects were not liable to any taxes, except those by their own consent or voted for by their
appointed representatives. In May of 1765, the House of Burgesses met at Williamsburg and was
represented by sixteen Court Justices from Culpeper County. It was during this session that Patrick Henry
from Louisa County presented a resolution indicating that only the VA Legislature had the right to lay
taxes on Virginians. This was considered treason by many and was not passed and it was removed from
the record. However, it was published in some Northern newspapers. The Virginia Gazette did not publish
it as it was real close to the royal government there in Williamsburg. The Resolution by Patrick Henry
had the effect of increased resistance to Great Britain in all the colonies. You should note that this was ten
years before Patrick Henry gave his renowned ―Give me Liberty or Death‖ speech.
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After the last session of the legislature in this year 1765, these sixteen representatives met and decided to
resign as they felt that they could not enforce the law. They provided the reasons for their resignation to
the Culpeper County court on October 21st 1765 and the court in turn sent by message their resignation to
the Virginia governor. In several other counties in Virginia, especially Westmoreland County, Justices
that were required to enforce the law resigned as well. Lieutenant Governor Fauquier forwarded this
information to the British Lords in England. Having received similar resentment and resistance from the
other colonies, in March 1766, the British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act.
But it was too late, as the discussion and uprising about the Act inflamed the populace throughout
Virginia and in the other colonies. This change of attitude about Great Britain had a dramatic effect and
was significant for what was to follow in the next ten years in the want of liberty and independence.
This County then played an important role in influencing the Virginia Colony‘s opinion about
independence from the mother country and the need for representation before taxation, The document
showing the reasons for the resignations of Culpeper‘s sixteen Court justices is in the Culpeper court
records here at the Courthouse in the Order book of March 21, 1765. It has been pretty well forgotten but
I feel it needed remembering on this Independence Day.
At this time I turn you over to Mister Lacey, who will describe what happened in the next ten years
between 1766 and 1776.
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Talk to the VA Society, Order of Founders & Patriots of America, Grace Episcopal Church, York Co., Yorktown, VA.
October 17, 2010
By Cranston William, Jr.
Thank you Mike for that kind introduction.
You could say that I like history and genealogy. My Father‘s Salzburger ancestors settled in Ebenezer, GA
near Savannah in 1734. My Mother‘s ancestors date back through the Martiau, Reade and Warner families. I am
married to Marilyn with old family roots in Virginia who is here today along with our daughter, Sally
WARNER, named from Warner Hall family. We have a son, Cranston READE, named after Col. George
Reade.
It is an honor and a privilege to have been asked again to talk to you in this historic area. Last year some
of us were at Warner Hall where the Warners made their home in Gloucester County. Warner Hall was
originally built and owned by the Warner family and it came into the Lewis Family through inheritance by heirs
of the Warner Family, named Martiau and Reade.
The first Warner, Councillor Augustine, Sr. came to Virginia in 1662 with the title ―Gentleman‖. When he
died in 1674, he left one son, Speaker Augustine, Jr. and a daughter, Sarah, the ancestor of Robert E. Lee.
Before 1671 Augustine, Jr. married Mildred Reade, daughter of Col. George and Elizabeth (Martiau) Reade of
Yorktown. Mildred was the g-grandmother of George Washington, the first President of the United States.
That‘s enough about the Warners.
It is difficult to believe all the history which took place in the area where we are today. The sturdy walls of
this church have been standing since 1697 despite the ravages of war during the two sieges of Yorktown in
1781 and 1862 and the ―great fire‖ of 1814. It is a National Shrine at the Cradle of our Republic. The bell of the
Church was cast in London in 1725, broken during the fire of 1814 and recast in Philadelphia in 1882. The
original Hammered Communion Silver, made in London in 1649, is still in use at Grace Church. The first
confirmation service in Virginia was held in this church in 1791.
Resting in the shadow of this historic church are men who shaped the future of our colony, commonwealth
and country and especially their descendants. Located here are General/Gov. Thomas Nelson, Jr., Nicolas
Martiau and Col. George Reade.
Colonel George Reade was born in 1608 in (Link-en-holt) Linkenholt, Hampshire, England, and was the
youngest of his siblings. George's Father was Sir Robert Reade and his Mother was Mildred (Wind-e-bank)
Windebank [a 3rd wife]. George had four brothers and a sister. His ancestors go back to the Kings of England
from 879 to 1016.
Having received nine shillings by the terms of his mother's will, George Reade came to Virginia from
England in 1637 as a member Sir John Harvey's party. Harvey was returning to Virginia to assume the office
of governor of the colony. Reade was one of about 100 colonists, who immigrated to the colonies from England
and Wales before the end of the 17th century. They were known ―-here we go again-―that had legitimate
descent from a (Plan-ta-ge-net) Plantagenet King like thousands of others who had also descending
relationships from Kings but were unaware of their history.
George Reade's immediate relatives occupied prominent positions in the English government of the day.
In addition to the services of his grandfather, we may note those of his uncle and older brother who at the time
of Reade's emigration to Virginia, was Robert Reade who was secretary to their uncle Sir Frances (Wind-ebank) Windebank, Colonial Secretary of State in London.
George Reade appears to have been attached to Harvey's service in a secretarial capacity. His letters to his
brother show that he resided at the Governor's mansion for some time after his arrival in Virginia. The same
letters show that he received the kindest treatment from the Secretary of State of the colony, Richard Kemp. It
is plain that Harvey and Kemp were very anxious to please and honor this young man with relatives so
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prominently placed in the office of the Colonial Secretary in London. This was particularly true as Gov.
Harvey's own standing in Virginia was so dubiously established.
Within the three or four years immediately following George Reade's arrival in Virginia, opposition to
Harvey's government again made it imperative for Governor Harvey to sail for England; and this second time he
was not to return to Virginia, as he formerly had. Kemp also made at least one trip to London during this period,
and was absent there at the time of Harvey's departure. During Kemp's absence at various times between 1637
and 1641 Reade acted as Secretary of the Virginia colony; and, as such, he is believed to have been acting
Governor during Harvey's absence also. The supposed dates of this acting governorship are 1638 and 1639,
though there is no actual record of Reade's filling the office; Harvey ceased to be Governor in November 1639.
Sir Francis Wyatt was appointed in his place, and it is entirely possible that Reade acted as governor during the
period of unsettledness. There is no doubt of his acting as Secretary. The proceedings of a General Court held at
James City on February 4, 1640 are signed by "George Reade, Present Secretary"; and on August 27, 1640 a
letter from the King to the Governor and Council commands them to "admit George Reade to the place of
Secretary in the absence of Richard Kemp who has lately arrived in England; with power to enjoy all fees and
perquisites belonging to the office". Kemp remained in England for a period of two years and returned to
Virginia in 1642 with the new Governor, Sir William Berkeley, then resumed his old post as Secretary of State.
In 1641 George Reade was married to Elizabeth Martiau, who was born in 1625 in Elizabeth County, VA
and was oldest daughter of Capt. Nicolas Martiau [Father of Yorktown] and his wife, Jane Warner. The Reades
settled first in a plantation home in Williamsburg; but in later years they lived largely in York and Gloucester
Counties. George Reade acquired considerable land in other parts of Virginia. His earliest grant in 1649 on
record was for 2,000 acres at (Pi-a-ka-tank) "Pyankatank"; but our only record of this grant comes from an
order of the General Assembly in 1667, when it was decreed that "after the voluntary departure of the (Kis-kiack) Chiskiack Indians from a parcel of land of 2,000 acres formerly granted by patent to Colo. George Read
at (Pi-a-ka-tank) Pyankatank. Later grants to him include one of 600 acres in Lancaster County 1651, one for
500 acres in Northumberland County in 1653, and another for 2,000 acres in Westmoreland County in 1657.
These last three grants also fix for us the dates of George Reade's progressive promotion in the Virginia
militia; for in them he is respectively referred to as Captain, Major and then Colonel in 1657.
As was so generally the case in early Virginia, this increase in rank in the colonial militia was also an
index to the increasing political importance of the individual; for George Reade did not long remain out of
politics after his retirement in 1642 as the Secretary of the Colony. He was a Burgess for James City County in
the General Assembly which met in 1649; and he represented York County in the General Assembly during
1655-1656. The latter Assembly met in three sessions between March 1654 and December 1, 1656; and at the
first session "Leift. Collo. Reade" was one of those appointed to the Committee for Private Causes. It was
customary for the General Assembly to repeal and reenact the Acts of previous Assemblies from time to
time; and at the third session of this same Assembly, begun late 1656, "Coli. Geo. Reade" was one of four
members appointed to a Committee "for Review of the Acts" of previous Assemblies. These two references
also show promotions.
Col. George Reade was then appointed a member of the Council of Virginia, thus receiving that
promotion which came only to the most prominent Virginians of the colonial period This appointment was
usually made only after the new Councillor had gained considerable experience in the House of Burgesses, and
in practice was limited to the more wealthy and influential citizens of the colony. George Reade's name appears
in the list of the "Governor and Council of Virginia" submitted to the Grand Assembly of 1657 and he was one
of the twelve Councilors who joined with the Governor in the order dissolving the Assembly on the first of the
following month in 1658. An Act of the Assembly names "Coli. George Reade" as one of the Councilors
appointed by the Governor and approved by the Burgesses. From this Act it might appear that the appointment
of Councilors was not subject to approval in London during the Cromwellian era, as such appointment was at
all other colonial periods. Appointments were for life, though in rare cases a Councillor was removed for
cause.
Having attained the highest political office to which a Virginian of prominence could aspire -- for the
governorship was always filled by an appointee from England.-- Col. George Reade was to hold the office of
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Councillor for 18 years before his death in 1674. He was a member of the House of Burgesses and the Colonial
Council until his death.
During the latter part of their lives he and his wife resided in Yorktown probably on land which had been
inherited by his wife, Elizabeth, from her Father, Nicolas Martiau. No records of their life in Yorktown at this
period are available, but we can be sure that they filled a very important place in the political and social life of
Yorktown and the vicinity as well as that of the Virginia colony in general.
It was at Yorktown that Col. George Reade died leaving his widow and seven children, two
daughters and five sons yet his will listed five (5) unnamed children His will, no longer in existence,
is in a York County 18th century land transaction and was filed November 21, 1671. He died at the age of 66 in
1674 in Gloucester County, Virginia.
Elizabeth (Martiau) Reade survived her husband by 12 years, dying in 1686. Her will was
approved in York County Court on January 24, 1686
In 1691 son Benjamin sold 50 acres of inherited land for the site of present Yorktown, formerly known as
Yorke.
Col. George Reade and his wife Elizabeth were the ancestral grandparents of many notables including:
President George Washington, Gen./Gov. Thomas Nelson, Jr., Col. Armistead Watlington [Rev.
War hero in NC], Meriwether Lewis of Lewis & Clark Expedition, the Warners of VA and Queen
Elizabeth II.
While excavating on Buckner Street near Main Street in Yorktown near the original Martiau and Reade
home in 1931, two large stones were unearthed and were about to be destroyed When it was noticed that they
bore lettered inscriptions; upon further examination they were found to be the tombstones of Col. George Reade
and Elizabeth (Martiau) Reade. The names upon the tombstones were quite apparent and could be clearly made
out, though some of the dates were indistinct. Experts were hired to recut the stones. A descendant, Letitia Pate
Evans, had the tablets restored and moved to this church yard of Grace Episcopal Church.
The tombstone of Col. George Reade reads as follows:
HERE LYETH INTERED COLLEL GEORGE READ ESQR. WHO WAS BORN YE 25TH DAY OCTOBER
IN YE YEARE OF OUR LORD 1608 AND DECEASED OCTOBER 1674 HE BEING IN THE 66TH YR. OF
HIS AGE.
In cutting the stone of Elizabeth (Martiau) Reade it was found that the fourth and fifth lines were entirely
undecipherable. It is believed that in attempting to restore these stone mistakes were made in the dates placed
thereon.
HERE LYETH INTERED ELIZABETH MARTIAU DECEASED WIFE OF GEORGE READ E'SQR' WHO
WAS BORN IN YE YEARE OF OUR LORD 1625 AND DECEASED YE YEARE 1686 SHE BEING IN YE
61ST YEARE OF HER AGE
The genealogical book "Adventurers of Purse and Person 1607 - 1624/5 and Their Families" published by
the Order of First Families of Virginia, indicates in a footnote the discrepancy between the dates inscribed on
Col. Reade‘s Grace Church tablets and the filing of the wills for George Reade and his wife Elizabeth dates are
as follows: "His and his wife's gravestones were discovered during street excavations in Yorktown in 1931. The
inscriptions on both were recut with errors. George Reade's stone now states he died Oct. 1674, "he being in the
66th yr of his age." Since the date should be 1671 (per his will), either the age shown, or his year of birth, is in
error as well. His baptism is not recorded in the parish register of in (Link-en-holt) Linkenholt, Hampshire,
where all of his brothers and sisters are recorded. Either 1605 or 1608 is possible, considering the baptismal
known dates of his siblings.
The gravestone of Elizabeth (Martiau) Reade now states she was born in 1625 and died in 1696, "being in
ye 71 st yeare of her age." Since the year of death should be 1686 (per her will), again the age or year of birth is
in error. Since Nicolas Martiau c1aimed his son Nicolas and daughter Elizabeth as headrights, but not the
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children of his 2nd wife, it would appear Elizabeth was born prior to his arrival in Virginia in 1620 rather than
his family‘s visit to England and the second arrival in the colony. Hence, Elizabeth's birth occurred in 1615
rather than 1625."
In conclusion, Grace Church Cemetery is an unusual and historic place that has many connections to our
country‘s founding as well as connection to the American Revolution. I could go on for a long time with more
Warner, Lewis, Reade and Martiau history as well as information about their relationship to our nation‘s
evolution as we have known.
Thank you for having my family and me here today at Grace Church Cemetery to talk with you about Col.
George Reade.
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