Flora Adams Darling

“ To the students of naval history the harbor of Hampton Roads must ever possess interesting associations, for in its waters has been made history since 1607. Since Discovery Day Point Comfort has held prominent place in the annals of two worlds. As a government reservation on which Fortress Monroe stands, and two famous hotels have made record to attract the pilgrims of the James. The "dear old Hygeia" is now a memory, it was in the range of the guns of the fort and was removed by order of the U. S. Government, but it lives in many hearts to echo the voice of the past. ”

“ A man to count no effort to serve the Crown: but Virginians in their most melancholy fancies never dreamed nor visioned the fate awaiting their King until the blow fell with crushing force, to daze heads and make hearts faint. It is related when the fearful news reached Virginia in 1649—four months after the tragedy that left England without a King—men were dazed. Governor Berkeley would no longer act under Cromwell and retired from service, then it was that Matthews in his sorrow showed the greatness of his character to seize and accept conditions. "We must stand together." ”

“ The king makers of ancient Gaul,
Since Charles Martel led pioneers.
A name not written on the sand,
But on the hearts of founding men;
Who with their deeds make history
Regardless of the record pen. ”

“ To mark the tercentennial year,
An "alliance of education."
To unite the New World with the Old,
Through art, the wealth of a nation,
Each scholarship competitive,
The prize of higher education. ”

“ Bold Drake the viking of the sea,
The pioneers of New World fame,
To hold the great discovery.
Drake, Gilbert, Raleigh and Cavendish.
Historic men of enterprise,
The men of opportunity,
A world conquest before their eyes. ”

“ The basic arch of the new nation;
The river lands of Powhatan,
The cradle home of occupation.
With Civil War raging at home,
A second massacre ever near,
The chief an iron man of war,
A man insensible of fear. ”

“ It is left to our people to honor the sea, and to patriotic memorial societies to deck the waves with flowers of remembrance to "Our Vikings" who sleep well under the waves of old ocean, and "In Memoriam" we waft the grand old anthem, "Out of the Depths," for the dead seamen who have crossed the eternal bar, who have reached the shore beyond. ”

“ In conclusion let me add, it is my hope that you may make one of your homes on some part of "the sacred soil" of the Denbigh Plantation, the American home of your ancestor, to stand an enduring memorial to the Matthews family, a family with a grand colonial background since Founding Days of Virginia, to attest "to soil brave men are ever true." ”

“ The Alpha Matthews to unite,
The mountain bull with lion and bear.
Matthews
Sir John stood for "North country men,"
A Welsh-Norman from English view;
Under the motto of his race,
To soil brave men are ever true. ”

“ Men of conquest, men of crusades,
Descendants of Welsh chieftains bold.
Men of King Alfred's day, that stood
With Galahad, the Ap Matthew,
Disciple of the Druid creed,
To soil brave men are ever true. ”

“ When North and South gave the war cry
When victory of defeat was won.
Men of the South fought for a right,
Men of the North denounced a wrong,
A cry of war passed o'er our land,
To give the world an echo song. ”

“ Knowledge is power to win and hold,
It is the birthright of the free,
Our sons' children of heritage,
The men of opportunity!
And as it was so it is now,
And so it will forever be,
Knowledge is path to great results,
It is the path of destiny. ”

“ We are now turning the pages of history backward with educational results that will benefit our people, and it is easy to send "messages" and create "memories" through research to awaken pride in the founders of our country.
Virginia, named by Sir Walter Raleigh in honor of Elizabeth, Virgin Queen of England—the patron of his ambitions and achievements, but King James, her successor, had little veneration for her memory, and "The Queen's Favorite" became the King's victim, and as a consequence when Captain Smith and his mariners reached Virginia, many changes followed to honor King James. ”

“ The Exposition as an historical event should appeal to every American as an object lesson to create admiration, nor should we forget what the tercentennial celebration stands for. It is of little moment whether all detail to please the eye and secure comfort is perfected or not, but to keep in view the historical fact that Jamestown is the birthplace of our country is important. ”

“ The expense of restoration is a free-will offering—$27,000, and a fund is being raised for the perpetual maintenance of the Mecca Church, that is not only regarded the Colonial Abbey of our country but a shrine to perpetuate eternal memories of great men and great deeds—men whom the world delight to honor. ”

“ A flag to guide the patriots,
From a confederate point of view.
Each star a State in her own right,
The heritage of men born free,
Each stripe a warning "to beware,"
The blood bought rights of victory. ”

“ We must be prepared to meet conditions and make most of opportunities. Virginians are loyal to Charles of dear memory; to us our King still lives and it should be considered and imagined that he reigns as he has since the death of his father." Again he said: "We want clear heads and bold hearts to ever be ready to meet the enemies of England and every man at his post." ”

“ The great naval fleet gave me an opportunity to moralize upon changed conditions since the arrival May 13, of the God speed of 40 tons, under command of Captain Gosnord; the Sarah Constant, 100 tons burden, under command of Captain Newport, and the Discovery, of 20 tons, under command of Captain Ratcliffe. May 13, 1907—only three hundred years ago—yet what progress: To-day in line of battle a wonderful sea view of the great battleships lying at anchor in Hampton Roads, the haven of the pioneers, where scores of mighty warships stand a monument to the centuries. ”

“ King James died 1625, King Charles took Virginia affairs into his own hands. The London Company was abolished, the Virginia Charter declared null and void. The new King gave more power to the Royal Councillors, and to Matthews he gave the same confidence his father had awarded "The King's Commissioner," and designated him "The Guardian of Virginia."
This Great Pioneer of Results, one of a family of many shields and quarterings, was true to the motto of his race.
"Every soil is native land to the hero." He was destined to organize and carry a colony through perilous trials ”

“ A new era dawned upon the Colony. The Virginians knew and trusted the life-elected Governor, and no man enjoyed more confidence, respect and affection than "the Dead King's Representative"; but it is said, "it was hoped by Cromwell, without much expectation, that Virginia would rebel," but in this hope Parliament was disappointed and the Dictator accepted the independence of Virginia without hostile action. ”

“ Men born to lead the advance quest,
Native sons of the Dominion.
The mind of man no seal can hold,
Nature makes men bold, brave and free,
The forest sons true champions,
To voice the claim of liberty. ”

“ The Bolling race—Americans,
Sons of the soil through mother's right,
Allied with British kin of fame,
To found a race of blood and might.
The sons of pioneers were brave,
True cavaliers to build a nation ”

“ A man like Matthews was a Godsend to King James. He was a Royalist and Loyalist, well fitted to represent the Crown as a Special Commissioner, and no doubt his finding of facts gave satisfaction to the King.
Upon his return to England "the King appointed Col. Samuel Matthews, of Essex, England, commander-in-chief under the Crown, "to seize, occupy and hold Virginia," which he did.
Governor Yeardley died 1627. Wyatt, Harvey, Bennett and Diggs succeeded as Governors of Jamestown; Matthews Commander-in-chief at Point Comfort Fort under the king, with absolute military power. ”

“ At the Council of April 30, 1652, Captain-General Matthews, Col. John West, brother of Lord Delaware, and Colonel Yeardley, son of Governor Yeardley, acted as Councillors of Virginia "to treat with the enemy." Each a faithful adherent to "the waiting King"; each devoted to the welfare of Virginia, and fully determined to secure the most that could be secured in her interest. ”

“ You shall to your utmost bear faith and allegiance to the King's majesty, his heirs and lawful successors, and shall assist and defend jurisdictions and authorities granted unto his Majesty and annext unto the Crown, against all foreign princes, persons, prelates or potentates whatsoever, be it by act of Parliament or otherwise, and generally in all things you shall be as a faithful and true servant and subject ought to do. ”

“ They claimed their happy hunting grounds,
The heritage of destiny.
When England realized her loss,
The Government changed point of view;
"King James dissolved the Company,"
He called for men of courage true. ”

“ Your letter of the 14th reached me this morning, confirming the action of the Faculty and Board of Visitors of the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Words can not express my deep appreciation of the highest honor that can be conferred upon an American. ”

“ This is Tide Water Day and men of the river, like Vikings of old, are gathering on the coast to pay tribute to tide water counties, and as it was in the wilderness period, so it is now, every path of the river leads to the sea.
The tide water men from each shore town. ”

“ The first permanent settlement of the country was called Jamestown in honor of King James, and made the center point of the New World possession.
The Colony passed through many trials and vicissitudes, alternating between hope and fear, courage and discouragement, until the year 1619, when affairs had progressed and plans culminated to justify the first form of government that was established and the first legislative council convened under the guiding hand of Governor Yeardley. The Council was called General Assembly. ”

“ He married Miss Dorothy Thornton Maloney, "A Daughter of Virginia," and from this fact it is easy to understand that when a man is in love with his wife it is easy for him to adopt her sentiments of state. ”

“ To-day she is a "relic." But it was the mission of the Merrimac and Monitor to stand for the birth, and to be known as the progenitors of the new navy of destruction, 1862, but the scientific succession of expansion in art of naval armament and war, to stand a miracle of progress, is demonstrated, 1907, and one of the largest ship building yards in the world is located at Newport News, on Hampton Roads, where the first encounter between iron armored vessels of war took place. ”

“ Virginia so far removed from Great Britain was not very much affected by the war; in fact many distinguished persons emigrated from England to escape war at home, and increased her prosperity. Virginians were loyal to King and Crown, but too feeble to declare power, much less defend Cromwell's aggression. History, however, relates, "One of Matthews' ships was confiscated for Cromwell's use ”

“ He made the silent return to his British home to sleep well with his kindred. He left the coast of Virginia mourned, loved and regretted. Nor was the dead Governor forgotten in the great event when England had a King, and amid the joy notes that sounded over the James, September 20, 1660, there was a requiem in hearts: "He comes no more."
A name beloved as no other Virginian from 1622 till 1660. A great man of a great race
Samuel Matthews,
Founder of Jamestown, the Birthplace of our Nation. ”

“ The metal employed is historic and relics valued as heirlooms were contributed by American descendants of the Seventeenth century, to ring out the Legends of the Indian Girl.
There is sentiment and historic interest in the Bell of Many Memories that will win and hold place in the hearts of our people only second to the Liberty Bell of 1776. ”

“ The Council to take care of every plantation upon the death of their chief; to sow great quantities of corn for their own use; to support the multitudes to be sent yearly; to keep cows, swine, poultry, and as to raising staple commodities, the chief officers ought to set example and to aim at the establishment of the Colony. ”

“ He was the first of the race to settle in England, and his descendants use two t's while the family in Wales still use one t. Governor Samuel suited his convenience, his name spelt according to custom of locality. His son, Francis, was educated in England and passed down to his descendants through Baldwin the name of Matthews. His son, Samuel, who died about the date of his father, Governor Matthews, remained in this country, and through his son, Captain John, employed the name Mathew, but both sons of the same "Ap" of Wales and England. ”

“ Charles B. Tiernan, a lineal descendant of Pocahontas, through the Bolling line, presents old coin and other relics of founding days.
John Quincy Adams, lineal descendant of Henry Adams, 1630, Henry Sampson, 1620, presents, as Secretary of the Flag House Association, Philadelphia, Penn., a gold ring of the colonial period in memory of Betsy Ross, who made the first flag of the American Republic. The glory of the flag, like the ring, stands a symbol without end. ”

“ As you are aware my sister reached Washington to meet me at Williamsburg October 12th, but her heart made her realize the effort would be more than she could endure, and that home was her safety. She, however, attended the next meeting of the order November 15th, where she died with her friends, presiding over a society that honored her with its highest gift, "Daughters of the Founders and Patriots of the State of New York," could bestow. ”