Spring Meeting
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Volume 42 • No. 1 • January 2008 The PublishedSSPIRIT byPIRIT the Descendants of the Signers of OF OF the Declaration of Independence’76’76 Wonderful Williamsburg e had a wonderful celebration of the Centennial meeting in Williamsburg.W One hundred years ago, on the same weekend, the founders of this organization met to formalize the organization of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Immediate Past President Thomas Heyward Parade Jr., and his wonderful wife Joanie, with the assistance of many others, created an moved north on England Street, crossed Francis event worthy of the celebration of the Society’s Street and proceeded down Duke of Gloucester founding. Street to the Old Capitol Building. Our proces- sion attracted a large group of interested watch- The weekend began with the Board of ers as we progressed down the main street of Governor’s meeting on Friday afternoon. Our Colonial Williamsburg. Following welcoming Host informed us at that time of the anticipated remarks by host Tommy and President General attendees – 259 – the most in Society history. Ward, we were privileged to have Thomas Following the Board meeting, our large Jefferson talk to us. He had returned to group assembled at the Colonial Williamsburg Williamsburg after his recent writing of the Lodge for our 4:45 PM parade to the Old Declaration of Independence. When asked what Capitol Building. Leading the parade was a fife Continued on page 4 and drum ensemble. They were followed by two past-presidents of DSDI, Allan Heyward and Dr. Richard Corson, carrying the DSDI ban- WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE ner. Next came the symbol of freedom, the American flag, carried by Donald Ward, Jr. President-General’s Message . 2 Behind him were Junior DSDI members carry- Spring Meeting . 3 ing the 13 state flags. Ben Franklin joined us Eulogy for Thomas Gaillard Heyward . 7 and walked in the parade with us. Our parade Scholarship Recipients . 8 Scholarship Information . 8 Restoration and Recognition Project . 9 Annual Giving . 9 Signers Biographies . 10 Registrar-General’s Report . 13 Biography Project . 15 Future Meetings . Back Page The Peyton Randolph House Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence Officers,______ 2007-2008 Board of Governors President-General DONALD CROSSET WARD, SR. 15 Wards Way, Boyertown, PA 19512 2007-2008______ First Vice-President JOHN CURTISS GLYNN, JR. 105 Elmsford Court, Brentwood, TN 37027 NEW HAMPSHIRE - Mrs. Kenneth S. Peterson Second Vice-President PHILIP ROBERT LIVINGSTON, JR. 77 Oak Knoll Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 MASSACHUSETTS - Ms. Marianne M. Brinker Chaplain-General REV. FREDERICK WALLACE PYNE 3137 Periwinkle Court, Adamstown, MD 21710 RHODE ISLAND - Blaine Huntting Worth Registrar-General JAMES HERBERT ALEXANDER, JR. 7157 SE Reed College Place, Portland, OR 97202 CONNECTICUT - Truxtun Ennails Brodhead NEW YORK - Melvin Phillip Livingston Assistant-Registrar JOHNNY DOW ALEXANDER P.O. Box 425, Salem, OR 97308 NEW JERSEY - Emery Livingston Flannery Historian-General EDWARD RIDLEY FINCH, JR., ESQ. 860 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021 PENNSYLVANIA - Mark Crosby Ward Treasurer-General DANIEL HEYWARD McNAMARA 8507 Henrico Avenue, Richmond, VA 23229 DELAWARE - L. D. Shank, III MARYLAND - Mrs. Linda Coley Teare Assistant Treasurer ROBIN LEIGH RAWL 2528 Heyward Street, Columbia, SC 29205 VIRGINIA - Lawrence M. Croft Secretary-General THORNTON CALEF LOCKWOOD 17 Duck Pond Road, Demarest, NJ 07627 NORTH CAROLINA - Janet Anderson McKean SOUTH CAROLINA - Ms. Laura A. Heyward Assistant Secretary L. D. SHANK, III P.O. Box 634, Odessa, DE 19730 GEORGIA - Mrs. Julie Burnet McLaurine Chancellor-General T. MICHAEL KENNEDY, ESQ. 100 Flintshire Way, Coppell, TX 75019 WASHINGTON, DC - Mrs. Laura Haines Belman DSDI WEB SITE: http://www.dsdi1776.com/ Dear Friends; Greetings from the icy NorthEast. As I write this letter, the winds are blowing and ice is enclosing every branch. It is hard to believe that just a few short months ago we were all in Virginia enjoy- ing the warmth and all the excellent events of our Centennial Meeting. What a time the DSDI had celebrating 100 year of our organizations history! Our turnout was our largest in our history with 250 attendees. We were fortu- nate to see many old friends as well as new members. Highlights of the weekend included a Parade of the Descendents through Colonial Williamsburg, appearances by Mr. Benjaimin Franklin, General George Washington and Mr. Thomas Jefferson. Many of our members dressed in authentic Colonial costumes and this added to the festivities as we all gathered to honor our ancestors and give thanks for the freedom we enjoy due to the courage and sacrifices of those brave 56 men who pledged their “ Lives, Fortunes and Sacred honors”. Our thanks and gratitude to the Heyward family for hosting this historic celebration. Tommy made this a truly memorable event for all of the Society. It is with deep sadness that I have to tell you that Tommy Heyward, our host of the Centennial Meeting, passed from this life just weeks after the event. We will all miss him and all he brought to the DSDI. Let us keep the Heyward family in our prayers. As President General I reminded the participants that the future of our Society rests in the hands of those that were there and urged them to take active participation in promoting the ideals for which we stand. I am pleased to be able to report that the DSDI Scholarships have been awarded. My special thanks to the Scholarship Committee and especially to Leslie Picket Sheehan for all the hard work done on this project. Our next Meeting is set for March 2008 in Greensboro, North Carolina we hope you are planning to attend. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, with a safe and prosperous New Year. Sincerely, Donald Crosset Ward Sr. 2 President- General The Spring Meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2008 Snyder. Charles Bruce and Other Heroes of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. 3 P.M. Board of Governor’s Meeting in the Conference Room at the Marriott. 9:30 P.M. Return to Marriott. 5 P.M. Gathering of the SODS in the Marriott Hotel Bar. ######## Dinner on your own (See suggestions in packet SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2008 upon arrival. Breakfast on your own. ######## 10:30 A.M. Church service at First Presbyterian SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2008 Church, 617 Elm Street. Breakfast on your own. ######## 8:20 A.M. Bus leaves for the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. HOTEL RESERVATIONS 9 A.M. Visit the park museum and watch the We have rooms reserved at the Downtown Marriott movie dramatization of the battle. in Greensboro, NC at a rate of $85.00 per night. 10 A.M. Board bus for tour of the battlefield and Please call and make your reservations early. Be sure monuments. to ask for the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence rate. The cut-off date is 11 A.M. Observance program at the Nathaniel Febraury 22, 2008. After this date, the hotel cannot Green Monument. This will be followed guarantee you a room at this rate. by the Dedication Service marking the graves of John Penn and William Hooper with a twenty-one gun salute. Downtown Marriott 304 N. Greene Street Noon Board bus for the Country Park Picnic Greensboro, NC 27401 Shelter #1 for the NC Barbecue Pig Pickin. 336-379-8000 1:15 P.M. Board bus to Price Park for the re- Bus transportation provided to all events. enactment of the battle. Parking and logistics make it necessary for everyone to ride the bus. It will not be necessary 2 P.M. Live Re-enactment of the Battle of Guilford to rent a car. We suggest you bring a folding Courthouse. chair in a bag for the re-enactment as seats are not provided. We have an exciting weekend 3:30 P.M. Business meeting at the Kathleen Bryan planned and look forward to seeing everyone in Library in Price Park. Greensboro! 4:45 P.M. Return to the Marriott. ######## 6:15 P.M. Board bus to Greensboro Country Club. Other important reservation information has been 6:30 P.M. Cocktail Reception (Cash Bar). mailed to all members. 7:30 P.M. Banquet Dinner (black tie optional or period costume). Guest Speaker: William 3 WILLIAMSBURG Continued from page 1 he thought of being elected President, he expressed his wonder at the ability to see into the future. Following the presentation, there was ample time to wander back towards the Lodge before the next scheduled event – a recep- tion on the Colony Terrace. The Virginia Society generously con- tributed to a very nice reception. Friday dinner was a real treat. The meal was called a Virginia Fare supper, and was very well done. Following dinner, our guest Out going President-General Thomas Gaillard speaker was Ben Franklin. He presented some of his insights into the Heyward receiving the DSDI Patriot Award. shaping of the country and even reported that one of his favorite quotes was commonly misquoted – something about a penny earned. The seating arrangements by Host Tommy enabled many families to sit together, and that was appreciated. Saturday morning was the General Meeting. Our large number of attendees became apparent, as the large room for the meeting was com- pletely packed, and folks were standing at the back of the room and in the doors leading into the room from the hallway. Following the busi- ness portion of the meeting, the DSDI Patriot Award was presented to Immediate Past-President Tomas G. Heyward. Tommy’s hard work and dedication to DSDI are remarkable and will be remembered for years to follow.