Colonial Dames Society Welcomes New Members in Thomasville

The John Lee of Nansemond chapter of the Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century recently welcomed three new members during a meeting held in Thomasville. The new members are Charlotte Brown and Nancy Inman from Thomasville, along with Catherine Wells from Valdosta, Georgia. Each member joined the society through notable ancestral connections tracing back to the seventeenth century.

New Members and Their Ancestral Links

Charlotte Frances Brown established her membership through her ancestor, Nathaniel Everett, who was born in 1678 in Chowan County, North Carolina. Everett married Mary Mitchell (Harrison) in 1699 and lived in the colony until his death in 1794. His will was probated on December 5, 1749, in Tyrell County, North Carolina.

Nancy VanDevander Inman joined the society through her ancestor, James Taylor. Born on February 12, 1634, in Carlisle, England, Taylor immigrated to America in 1675 at approximately 41 years of age. He became a landowner in Virginia after marrying Frances Walker, who was baptized in Warwickshire, England, on February 28, 1640. The couple married in New Kent County, Virginia, in 1666 and lived there until their deaths in the late 1690s.

Catherine Fussell Wells traced her lineage to Lieutenant William Spencer, born around 1601 in Stofold, Bedford, England. Spencer settled in Connecticut before 1634 and married Agnes Harris in Hartford at approximately 39 years old. His contributions to the early colonial community are recognized through his descendants.

Highlighting the Society’s Legacy

The meeting featured a presentation by society president, Jinanne Parrish, who spoke about the life of Mary Florence Taney, the founder of the National Society Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century. Taney, born on May 15, 1856, in Newport, Kentucky, believed genealogical research fosters camaraderie among women and serves communities. In July 1915, she helped organize the society at the International Genealogical Congress during the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco.

Membership in the society is open to women aged 18 and over who can prove direct lineage from an ancestor who contributed to the settlement of one of the thirteen original colonies before 1701. Members are also encouraged to trace their ancestry further back to those with a Coat of Arms.

Taney’s remarkable lineage includes connections to Francis Scott Key and Roger Brooks Taney, a former Chief Justice known for the controversial Dred Scott decision in 1857. Her life was marked by numerous achievements; she was a socialite, teacher, singer, newspaper correspondent, and the first woman Notary Public in Kentucky. In 1921, she founded the Dames of the Court of Honor, recognizing women who are direct descendants of commissioned officers from American wars between 1607 and 1865. Additionally, she established the Kentucky Audubon Society and was a strong advocate for women’s suffrage.

The Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century continues to honor its heritage while welcoming new members who contribute to its mission and legacy.