HISTORY OF VIRGINIA SOCIETY

SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Chartered July 7, 1890, Richmond, Virginia

The movement to establish the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution began in Washington, D.C., in early 1890. On February 10, several Virginia Congressmen convened in the nation’s capital and appointed a committee to organize a state society without delay. The committee reconvened at the Capitol on February 28, adopted a constitution and bylaws, and elected the following distinguished Virginians as officers:

• President – Hon. William Wirt Henry (Richmond)
  Grandson of Patrick Henry, the famed Revolutionary patriot and orator. A distinguished attorney, historian, and public speaker, Henry brought scholarly leadership and deep ancestral connection to the Society’s founding. National SAR No. 1551; Virginia SAR No. 1.
• Vice President – General William H. F. Lee (Burke’s Station, Fairfax County)
  Grandson of Henry “Light‑Horse Harry” Lee, celebrated cavalry officer of the American Revolution. A former U.S. Congressman, Lee provided national experience and a direct link to one of Virginia’s most storied patriot families.
• Vice President – Colonel George Washington Ball (Alexandria)
  Nearest living male relative and aide-de-camp of General George Washington. Ball was long active in Virginia civic affairs and represented the Society’s commitment to preserving the legacy of the nation’s founding generation.
• Secretary – Thomas Nelson Page (Hanover County)  
  A noted author, diplomat, and early advocate for historical preservation. Page served as the first Secretary of the Virginia Society and was present at the formal chartering on July 7, 1890.
• Treasurer – Joseph Poryall (Richmond)
  A respected civic leader and early supporter of the Society’s organizational efforts, entrusted with stewarding its financial foundation.
• Registrar – Rev. J. William Jones (Richmond) 
  A prominent historian and archivist whose work in preserving Virginia’s documentary heritage made him an invaluable contributor to the Society’s mission.

Lieutenant J. C. Cresap, USN, Secretary‑General of the National Society, and Professor G. Brown Goode, Ph.D., Registrar of the District of Columbia Society, formally chartered the Virginia Society in Richmond on July 7, 1890, with 62 charter members.

The first Minute Books of the Virginia Society—documents of significant historical value—are preserved today at the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond. Notable Secretaries of the Virginia Society included William MacFarlane Jones and Kenneth C. Patty. Jones, who joined in 1893, managed the Headquarters office from its opening until his death in December 1951. Kenneth C. Patty served as Secretary–Registrar from 1954 until his passing in March 1967.

Real Sons of the American Revolution in the Virginia Society

Among the earliest members of the Virginia Society were two of the rarest compatriots in SAR history: Real Sons of Revolutionary War soldiers. A “Real Son” was a man whose father rendered qualifying service in the American Revolution and who lived long enough to join the SAR after its founding in 1889. Only a small number of such men were ever enrolled nationwide, and the Virginia Society is privileged to have counted two among its earliest compatriots.

Miles Turpin Phillips—National SAR No. 1559 • Virginia SAR No. 9  

Miles Turpin Phillips was the son of Mourning Phillips (1758–1831), who served as a Private in the Virginia Continental Line. Born late in his father’s life, Miles Phillips joined the Virginia Society in 1895 and holds Virginia Society membership number 9, placing him among the first compatriots enrolled. His membership provided a direct, living link to a soldier of the Continental Army and to the founding generation of the Republic. 

Richard Fox—National SAR No. 1771 • Virginia SAR No. 71

Richard Fox was the son of Ensign Nathaniel Fox, an officer in the King William County Militia during the Revolution. His Virginia Society number, 71, reflects his place within the first generation of members. Through his membership, the service of a Tidewater militia officer—part of one of Virginia’s oldest military traditions—was carried forward into the modern era.

These Real Sons formed a tangible connection between the Revolutionary War and the early years of the Virginia Society. Their presence underscored the immediacy of the Revolution’s legacy at the time of the Society’s founding and remains a meaningful part of the Virginia Society’s history.

The Modern Era of the Virginia Society

• Alvan Herbert Foreman of Norfolk — President General, 1947–1948
• Howard L. Hamilton, Ph.D. of Charlottesville — President General, 1982–1983
• Reon G. Hillegass, Jr. of Norfolk — President General, 1996–1997
• Bruce A. Wilcox of Alexandria — President General, 2007–2008
• Joseph W. Dooley of Falls Church — President General, 2013–2014
• Michael J. Elston, Esq. of Woodbridge — President General, 2025–2026

National SAR Congresses Hosted in Virginia

Throughout its history, the Virginia Society has played a prominent role in the national life of the Sons of the American Revolution. One of the clearest demonstrations of this leadership is the number of times Virginia has hosted the National Congress, bringing delegates, officers, and Presidents General from across the country to meet in the Commonwealth.

• 1896 – 7th Congress, Richmond
• 1927 – 38th Congress, Richmond
• 1942 – 53rd Congress, Williamsburg
• 1954 – 64th Congress, Williamsburg
• 1968 – 78th Congress, Williamsburg
• 1988 – 98th Congress, Tysons Corner
• 1992 – 102nd Congress, Norfolk
• 2007 – 117th Congress, Williamsburg
• 2020 – 130th Congress, Richmond (Cancelled)

These gatherings reflect both Virginia’s historic importance in the American Revolution and its continuing influence within the National Society.

Major Commemorations and Historical Initiatives

The Virginia Society commemorates numerous battles, sites, and events of the American Revolution across the Commonwealth each year. In addition to these regular observances, the Society has also undertaken a number of distinctive commemorative efforts and historical initiatives. The examples below reflect moments when the Virginia Society played a leading role in marking Revolutionary history, supporting national remembrance, or advancing projects of particular significance to Virginia’s patriotic heritage.

The successful effort to honor George Mason of Gunston Hall, the brilliant statesman and author of the Fairfax Resolves in 1774, on a United States postage stamp was led by Conrad Mook of the George Mason Chapter. The stamp was issued in May 1981.

The annual commemoration of the Battle of Yorktown on October 19 receives major support from the Virginia Society. As part of this observation the Virginia Society annually sponsors a wreath laying ceremony at the grave of General Thomas Page Nelson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Virginia Society is a member of the Yorktown Day Association.

The annual commemoration of the Battle of Point Pleasant (now in West Virginia) in early October was initiated by and receives major support from the Virginia Society. As a part of the Memorial Ceremony, the President of the Virginia Society and other State Society Presidents and SAR Chapter Presidents place memorial wreaths on the graves of the Virginia militiamen buried there.

In the spring of 1983, the Virginia Society commemorated the presence of Virginia patriots at Valley Forge by dedicating a monument at the Valley Forge National Park. The monument was made possible by gifts from many compatriots throughout the Virginia Society and by a bequest from the estate of a former member.

The Wilderness Road State Park and U.S. National Park cooperative venture received official status in the National Societies list of Historic Celebrations during the fall Trustees Meeting in 2004. The Virginia Society participates in the wreath laying event on the 2nd weekend of May each year which is hosted by the Martin’s Station Chapter. The wreath laying commemorates the pioneers who traversed the Wilderness Road and those who manned and defended the outpost at Martin’s Station. The outpost served as a beacon of light on the Wilderness Road as the pioneers journeyed through the Cumberland Gap.

Continuing the Legacy

From its founding in 1890 through the present day, the Virginia Society has remained committed to preserving the memory of the Patriots who secured American independence. Early members — including descendants of Continental Line soldiers, county militia officers, and even two Real Sons whose fathers served in the Revolution — established a tradition of historical stewardship that continues to define the Society.

Throughout the twentieth century, the Virginia Society expanded its chapters, strengthened its educational and commemorative programs, and supported national SAR initiatives. Its members have participated in historical preservation, youth outreach, patriotic observances, and community service across the Commonwealth. The Society has also played a leading role in marking Revolutionary War sites, supporting research, and honoring the service of Virginia’s Patriots.

Today, the Virginia Society is one of the largest and most active state societies in the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Its work reflects the same principles that guided its founders: to honor the memory of the men and women of the Revolution, to promote the study of American history, and to inspire future generations with the ideals of liberty and civic responsibility.

The story of the Virginia Society is still being written. More than a century after its founding, the Society continues to uphold the legacy of the Patriots of 1776 and the compatriots who first gathered in Richmond in 1890 to ensure that their sacrifices would never be forgotten.

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