DeVane Dispatch Newsletter of John DeVane Chapter General Society Sons of the Revolution

Transcription

1 DeVane Dispatch Newsletter of John DeVane Chapter General Society Sons of the Revolution Inaugural Gala A Hit! John DeVane Chapter General Society Sons of the Revolution August 9, 2008 On Saturday, August 9, 2008, the John DeVane Chapter, Sons of the Revolution in the State of Georgia, held its Inaugural Gala and Charter Ceremony at the Thompson House near Athens. General President Paul Davis, of Arizona, State President William Bland and State Historian Gordon Smith, both of Savannah, were in attendance. General President Davis, the keynote speaker, delivered an inspirational and informative address sharing the history and the goals of the General Society Sons of the Revolution. President Bland conducted the chartering ceremony and the installed the Chapter Officers, as follows: President Bobby Towns, Vice President Walker Chewning, Secretary Hall Martin, Treasurer George Ellis, Registrar Kirby Towns, Historian Robert Hale, Chaplain Bill Neely, Surgeon Dr. Van Morris, Color Guard Captain Jim Hubert, and Solicitor Joe Neighbors. Kirby Towns delivered a biography of John DeVane, the patriot for whom the chapter is named. DeVane is Kirby s 7th great grandfather. In addition to the officers and honored guests, members attending were Jim Cooper, Hal Dayhuff, Jay Guest, Dr. Allen Henson, David Martin, and Mike Tomme.

2 Ladies in attendance were Harriet Bland, Jo An Chewning, Susan Cooper, Judy Ellis, Kathy Henson, Jane Hubert, Katy Leverett, Anne Martin, Libby Morris, Kay Neely, Cilla Tomme, and Robin Towns. Also present was Matthew Hubert, son of Jim and Jane Hubert. All members present signed the Charter marking the official beginning of the newest chapter in Georgia. The Georgia Society is headquartered in Savannah and the Nathaneal Greene Chapter is located in Atlanta. Guests enjoyed delicious fare and excellent desserts catered by Delightful Bitefuls of Athens. Special thanks go to Robin Towns, who organized the evening, and to Jay Guest for his assistance in providing and setting up the Thompson House for the event. (L to R) General President Davis, Georgia Society President Bland, Chapter President Towns with Chapter Charter Mike Tomme enjoys a good laugh with Gordon Smith

3 Kirby Towns, Katy Leverett David and Anne Martin with President Towns Hal Dayhuff, Jim Cooper, Susan Cooper Bill Neely, Kathy Henson, Allen Henson, Kay Neely Jay Guest Signs Charter Officers of John DeVane Chapter Sons of the Revolution in the State of Georgia are sworn in by President Bill Bland

4 ssss Chapter Dues Dues are $20 for the current year. Please mail your check to: George Ellis, Treasurer John DeVane Chapter 208 Concord Drive Watkinsville, GA Make check payable to: John DeVane Chapter SOR ssss Jo Ann Chewning and Cilla Tomme enjoy socializing before dinner. SAVE THIS DATE! NOVEMBER 8, 2008 A SCOTTISH EVENING Kirby Towns delivers John DeVane biography (page 5)

5 John DeVane John DeVane was born in Bladen County in the Colony of North Carolina in He was the son of Huguenot emigrants, Thomas DeVane and Margaret Conde`, who had escaped from France to Scotland, after which they went to Barbados, then made their way to the Carolina coast, eventually settling in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina. In 1752, John married Ann Larkins, daughter of John Larkins, in New Hanover County, North Carolina. They had nine children, four sons and five daughters. John DeVane served as a Justice of the Peace in New Hanover County, being commissioned in He was a noted statesman and lawyer, senator, and Member of the North Carolina House of Burgesses. He owned more than 1100 acres of land in Bladen and New Hanover Counties and 29 slaves. economic group; it was a ruling class, an oligarchy which controlled and directed Cape Fear society from 1730 until A vast kinship network of families related to the DeVanes and Herrings were the ruling families of Middle Cape Fear writ large. Three of John DeVane s sons served as Officers in the Revolution: Captain John DeVane, Jr., Lieutenant Thomas DeVane and Captain James DeVane. John DeVane and his family were members of Saint James Episcopal Church, where he served on the Vestry for a number of years. John DeVane died in 1806 and both he and his wife are buried at the church. This brief record of the patriot John DeVane s life should inspire us as Americans and Sons of the Revolution, just as it inspires his many descendants. Our chapter should be proud to bear the name of this most worthy Patriot, John DeVane. John DeVane served as a member of the Wilmington-New Hanover Committee of Safety and as a delegate to the Halifax Provincial Congress, which was responsible for the Halifax Resolves. In the Revolution, John served as a Major in the New Hanover County Militia. He also rendered support freely in the way of supplies. John DeVane and Richard Herring owned a munitions factory in the Wilmington Militia District on the Black River, serving the Patriots cause until it was destroyed by Tories. Richard Herring and John DeVane belonged to what historians call the planter class, men owning more than 500 acres of land and 20 or more slaves. But this planter class was more than just a particular President Towns signs Charter