The purpose of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Virginia is to recognize the importance of American colonial history, commencing with the settlement of Jamestown on May 13, 1607 and leading up to the Battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775.

The Society was formed to commemorate the events of that colonial period and commemorate the military and naval personnel and high civilian officials during that period who assisted in the establishment, defense and preservation of the American colonies, and were the founders of this Nation. Any person who is interested may sign up for our regular newsletter.

History

On June 28, 1894 a group of distinguished Virginians gathered at the State Capitol Building in Richmond to organize the Virginia Chapter of the Society of Colonial Wars. There were sixteen original members of the Virginia Society. Joseph Bryan was the first Governor and Gustavus A. Walker the first Deputy Governor. A charter from the General Society was received on November 12, 1894. The Virginia Society held its first Court on December 20 of that year at the headquarters of the Virginia Historical Society.

House of Delegates Bill H037 of the 1895-1896 session of the Virginia General Assembly gave the Society its charter and inspiration. This charter established the purpose of the Society to perpetuate and honor the “memory of the men who assisted in establishing the Colonies of America, and imperiled their lives and interests”.

The Society was active at the Tercentennial at Jamestown in 1907 and continued so until the death of Mr. Bryan in 1908 when it became dormant until it was reorganized in 1913. In the years following World War I, the General Society and the State Societies were revived with new life and energy.

James Alston Cabell was elected Governor of the Virginia Society in 1913 and served until 1929. He was succeeded by Dr. Alexander Gustavus Brown, who was the first Virginian to be an officer of the General Society, and was Governor General from 1945 to 1948.

In May 1935 Virginia was host to the General Council of the Society held in Williamsburg. Again in May 1945, Virginia was host, this time to the Seventeenth General meeting at Richmond and Williamsburg. For a third time, in May 1966, Virginia was honored as host, when the Twenty-fourth General Assembly gathered at Richmond. Major General William Tompkins was Chairman, under the governorship of William R. Gardner. The General Society recorded “its gratitude for the manifest kindness and hospitality of the Virginia Society”. On May 28th through May 30th 1981, Virginia was again host to the “Regular Meeting” of the General Society in Williamsburg. The then Governor Russell Cecil Scott ably handled this with charm and ability. The most recent meeting of the General Society in Williamsburg occurred in 2015. 

The Council of the Virginia Society conducts its affairs through regular meetings. The Spring Court is held annually as near May 13th as appropriate to commemorate the Jamestown landing.

Russell Cecil Scott became only the second Virginian to be elected to the position of Governor General, serving 1993-1996 (he had been Virginia Governor 1984-1986). The Virginia Society was host to the 95th General Council Meeting in May 1998. Its chair, Cannon Hobson Goddin, former Governor of the State Society, was instrumental in gathering a team that performed a task of hosting a conference that will be remembered for years to come. A decade later, it was former General Society Governor and Virginia member Russell Scott who was to host the 2007 104th General Council meeting, in conjunction with the celebration of the 1607 settlement at Jamestown, but member of the Council Francis (Jay) Johnston was called on to complete the work when Russell fell ill.

To meet the responsibilities set forth in its charter, the Virginia Society has contributed to the restoration and acquisition of documents, publications and portraits pertaining to Colonial Wars. The Society has been active in marking and preserving historic sites of Colonial War significance, donated a stand of four Colonial Colors to Colonial Williamsburg, rebuilt the Gates and Gate House at Stratford, and gave the Chancel Rail in the restored Jamestowne Church (and a horse watering trough near the church).

The Virginia Society has in the past offered awards to outstanding students of history and annually contributed financial support for education about colonial history to organizations such as the Virginia Historical Society (Virginia Museum of History and Culture), Wilton Museum House, Henricus Foundation and the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

In addition to its Spring Court of Warriors and their ladies, the Virginia Society sponsors annually a Fall Court for Warriors and gentlemen guests, which includes the primary business meeting of the membership. The interest in the Society is reinforced by the submission of articles for publication in The Gazette of the General Society.

The Virginia Society has an active membership that continues to provide strong support for the Society and its goals. The Society hosted the General Assembly meeting held in Jamestown and Williamsburg in 2007, the 400th Anniversary of the establishment of the Colony in 1607. The great success of this meeting was due to the careful planning and management of Francis Claiborne Johnston, Jr., Lieutenant Governor of the Virginia Society.

In 2009, the Virginia Society funded the publication through the Virginia Genealogical Society of a book titled The Effects of the French and Indian War on Civilian Life in the Frontier Counties of Virginia, 1754–1763 by Chester R. Young.

In 2012, the society decided to hold a mid-winter luncheon in Richmond at the Commonwealth Club. The event was spearheaded by Past Governor Cy Nicholas who wished to revive an annual luncheon that was originally held by the society in prior years. The Virginia Society was saddened by the passing of Governor Nicholas on the very day of the luncheon and decided to name the luncheon in his honor. The Society continues to this day to hold the Cy Nicholas Luncheon every February.

In 2013, the Virginia Society (with financial assistance from the General Society) restored the tablets originally placed by the General Society in 1936 at Stratford Hall. Stratford Hall is the ancestral home of the Lee family. The two matching bronze tablets (one on the exterior and one on the interior) at the gatehouse honor Thomas Lee and reflect the role of the General Society of Colonial Wars role in the original restoration of the mansion in 1936.

On March 22, 2014, the Society erected (with financial assistance from the General Society) a granite marker at Henricus Historical Park on the James River below Richmond to commemorate the Indian Massacre that took place on March 22, 1622. The surprise attack was a coordinated effort by the Powhatan Indians against English settlements along the James River. Over one quarter of the English population died in the attack, including men, women and children. The ceremony was attended by representatives from various Virginia hereditary and historical organizations as well as descendants of the victims, who laid wreaths at the marker. The ceremony produced a large turnout, and local media covered the event.

Starting in 2014, the Virginia Society began co-hosting an Oyster Roast with the Sons of the Revolution in the Commonwealth of Virginia at Ft. Pocahontas, which is adjacent to Sherwood Forest Plantation on the James. In 2016, the location was changed to Wilton House and The National Society of the Colonial Dames of American in the Commonwealth of Virginia joined the Warriors and Sons to co-host the event.