Dorothea Henry Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution 

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DAR PATRIOT MARKER HONORS DOROTHEA HENRY

    On October 9, 2002, the Dorothea Henry chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), dedicated a DAR Patriot Marker in honor of the chapter's namesake, Dorothea Henry, at her grave site next to her first husband, Patrick Henry. Members of the chapter traveled to "Red Hill” in Charlotte County for the dedication service.

    After welcoming the group, Mrs. Audrey T. Moss, chapter regent, called on the chaplain for the Invocation. Mrs. Joan R. Clark, American Heritage Chairman, placed the Flag of the United States of American beside the Henrys' graves.  Making the flag special was that a member of the DC police force had given it to the Dorothea Henry chapter representatives on July Fourth, following the parade in DC.  Mrs. Judy W. Edmonds, DAR Service to Veterans Chairman, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

     Mrs. Mary Leigh D. Boisseau, state chairman of DAR Speakers Staff, presented a tribute to Mrs. Dorothea Dandridge Henry  Winston.  Noting that this dedication was on the 225th anniversary of the marriage of Dorothea Dandridge and Patrick Henry, Boisseau remarked on the nineteen years difference in their ages and the six Henry children by the husband's first marriage. Then she gave a brief biography of the honoree.

    With their marriage in 1777, the new Mrs. Henry became the first First Lady of the Commonwealth of Virginia and moved into the Governor's Mansion in Williamsburg. Shortly after Henry left this term of office as governor, the couple and their growing family moved to his Henry County plantation, "Leatherwood." To the young Dorothea, this was a culture shock because the Henry County territory was a frontier wilderness compared to what she had previously been accustomed. One can imagine her relief when Henry again became governor and moved his still growing family to Richmond, the new capital. Now her "real" daughters of the American Revolution could find more eligible suitors.

    Following this stint as governor, Henry moved to "Red Hill” and renewed his law practice to recoup the fortunes of both his wife and himself, fortunes which they had spent in support of Washington's army during the Revolutionary War. By the time he died in 1799, Dorothea had borne him eleven children. Henry's will stipulated that his widow was to receive nothing
if she remarried; but after struggling for three years to care for the underage children and to manage the various plantations Henry had acquired through the years, Dorothea married Judge Edmund Winston and moved her family to his home near Lynchburg. This action resulted in lawsuits and counter suits over Patrick Henry's property, a legal hassle that outlasted Dorothea.

    When her second husband died in 1818, the 63-year-old Dorothea found herself with all of Henry's seventeen children grown up and either married or away at college. She then moved to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Alexander Scott at their plantation, "Seven Islands" in Halifax County, VA. Here she died on 14 February 1831, in her 74th year.  At her request, her children buried her at "Red Hill," next to her beloved first husband, Patrick.

    In her role as First Lady of Virginia in both Williamsburg and Richmond, she entertained the great statesmen of the day. In her role as wife and patriot, she provided Patrick Henry the freedom to fulfill his role as one of the nation's founding fathers by relieving him the worry of his home and family while he was often away.

    From her obituary in the Lynchburg Virginian (15 August 1831, page 3), one reads, "married... in the midst of the Revolutionary War, [Dorothea Dandridge Henry Winston] participated largely in those toils and perils to which the extraordinary part [Patrick Henry] acted in those days exposed him. ... When... his fellow citizens elevated him to the first gubernatorial chair of Virginia under the new government, this estimable and venerable lady enjoyed with him the honors of this trust; and... [when] he felt compelled to resign his office and remove to the frontier of Virginia to repair a broken fortune, she never failed to cheer and animate that great man in providing for his numerous family. Every man who has tasted the sweets of the conjugal state well knows the important duties which devolve on the wife, and it may be truly affirmed that no woman ever acted her part with more sincerity and cheerfulness."

     Following this tribute to Dorothea Henry, Revolutionary War Patriot, Moss and Miller dedicated the DAR Patriot Marker, according to the DAR ritual. Then, Mrs. Edith Poindexter, member of the Red Hill DAR chapter and curator of the Patrick Henry Museum at "Red Hill," unveiled the marker. Beside this newly dedicated marker, Mrs. Nancy C. Robinette, Community Service Awards Chairman, placed a memorial wreath prepared by Ms. Deanna W. Woodall.

    Mrs. Charlotte H. Lowther, Commemorative Events Chairman, pronounced the Benediction. Ending the ceremony, Edmonds led the assembled persons in a rousing version of "Yankee Doodle," the song Washington's troops had sung at Cornwallis's surrender of Yorktown.

    From the gravesites, Poindexter directed the DAR members and guests on a special tour of the Red Hill reconstructed buildings and grounds and of the museum. She enlivened the tour with her extensive knowledge and anecdotes about the Henry family. All present thanked Poindexter for the special treat of having her join them for their dedication service and for the tour.

    When leaving, Moss expressed appreciation to Mrs. Katherine L. Colburn, NSDAR Historian General, for approving the designation of Dorothea Henry as a Revolutionary Patriot and thus eligible for the DAR Patriot's Marker. Also she thanked Dr. Jon Kukla, Director of the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation, and its board for approving the placement of the marker at the grave site of the DAR chapter's namesake

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