The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-26

lnS greater interest among the de-
scendants in Virginia in the patriotic
work OF the National Society OF De-
scendants of the Signers. the increas-
Ing Of the membership in the same
from Virginia, and the taking of pre-
liminary. steps incidental to the for.
nation of State society, under a
charter from the national society.
The descendants of Carter Braxton
are greatly in excess of all others.
Thomas Nelson. Jr., coming next.
Thomas Jefferson has numerous de-
scendants. followed closely by Benja-
min Harrison, then Richard Henry Lee.
in all making about 375 recorded by
the society. There are no direct de-
scendants, of course. of Harry Light
foot Lee and George Wythe, the for
nler never having any children, and
the latter never marrying.
There are also direct descendants
residing In Virginia of John Penn, Of
North Carolina; John Witherspoon, of
New Jersey; William Ellery. of Rhode
Island; George Taylor and Robert
Morris, of Pennsylvania; George Read
and Caesar Rodney. of Delaware;
Thomas Stone. of Maryland, and Lewis
Morris, of New York, so far as the
records of the Society Of Descendants
OF the Signers show.
1t IS probable there are others,
whose residence will soon become
known. as it is a part Of the work of
the society to obtain as complete a
record Of descendants of the signers
as is possible. in order that they
might become enlisted in the great
work formulated by the society, as the
organization was conceived for pat.
rlotio work. particularly among the
young and future generations.
Patriotism I'm Schools.
tangible plans arc now being for.
mulated looking to the placing In
all the public schools of the country
OF copy of tho Declaration of Inde-
pendence. the establishing of a certain
day each year in the public schools
for proper celebration of the ami
versary of the adoption and enuncia-
ton of the Immortal document" and
causing general and well-dehned
movement In all the States for a more
appropriate celebration of the annlver-
sary than has heretofore been the
case. 1t Is being urged by the De-
scendants of the Signers that October
10 Is a day which should also be cele.
brated with intensity OF patriotic
ardor Tor at Yorktown on October 10
l7sl, eliminated successfully all TO.
WHlcn 1ne parrots or ZIG took such
risks and pledged each to the other
their lives. their fortunes and their
sacred honor, In the great struggle for
American independence from British
oppression.
Meeting VIII no Public.
Tho meeting at the Hotel Jefferson
on Tuesday Will be public one, and
will no doubt be made one OF in.
spiration. coming as 1t will but few
days prior to the anniversary Of
July 4.
The invitations for this meotine
We're issued by the Virginia member
OF the board of governors OF the De,
scendants OF the Signers, Peter viviar
Daniel Conway, one of Fredericks
burs's popular and prosperous citl.
zens who Is q direct descendant q
Thomas Stone, a Maryland signer o,
the Declaration OF Independence. Mr.
Conway was born In Falmouth, Stat
ford county, In 1s4a, and was hu
nineteen years of age when the CIV!
War began. He was in baltimore a
the time, but ran tho blockade slip
ping through the lines on Chesapeak,
Bay In an. oyster ppngy,5 to Join tn,
Fred Artillery, whiah he d.,
immadintely ppon his return home. II
followed Stonewall Jackson and A. F
Hill until 1866, when, under John q