>From the D-OGS Newsletter: Patriot James O'Kelley Grave Marking - May 4, 2008 Patriot James O'Kelley has been recognized by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Patriot number A085955, for his service as a minister and Patriot during the Revolutionary War. The North Carolina Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) will honor those services of Revolutionary War Patriot O'Kelley with a grave marking ceremony on 4 May 2008 from 3-4.30 PM. Activities will include color guard, music from drum and fife, musket firing, bagpipes, and special wreath laying by numerous chapters of SAR, DAR, and Children of the American Revolution. Patriot O'Kelley is buried in a cemetery located in the Colvard Farms Development community off Highway 751 in Chatham County, where O'Kelley resided. The cemetery has 6 tombstones and over 13 fieldstone markers. He was buried in 1828 and his burial location is identified with a prominent obelisk erected by his Christian friends and inscribed "Erected by his Christian friends to the memory of James O'Kelley of N.C. The Southern Champion of Christian freedom, 1738-1826." James O'Kelley was a man who truly believed and embodied the principles forged in America's quest for Independence. While little is known of his childhood and youth, the DAR records indicate he was born in Ireland. He experienced a powerful conversion to Christ as the first shots of Lexington echoed across the country. O'Kelley's fiery sermons attracted Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers, who sought to rid themselves of British rule. Catching the sprit of the Revolution, O'Kelley sought the same for the Methodist Church after the victory at Yorktown, VA in October, 1781. He stepped forward to lead his own rebellion against a controlling church leadership under Francis Asbury that reflected the old order. O'Kelley, as a Circuit Rider, favored a church that gave freedom to those spreading the word of God to the masses. In 1792, O'Kelley's campaign resulted in a major split in the Methodist Church. Together with other ministers he formed a sect known as Republican Methodists (Republican was a term for free), who claimed the Bible as their rule, decried episcopacy, and believed in the equality of all people, lay and ministerial, and black and white. This congregational, evangelical movement had many followers. The minister moved to Chatham County, NC, with his wife, Elizabeth Meeks, and their children. Reverend O'Kelley established a series of churches in and around the Durham and Burlington areas, and attracted a loyal following that would reshape the religious world of Southside VA and Piedmont NC. Ultimately, O'Kelley's initiatives came to fruition when many of his complaints against the Methodist Church were finally adopted. Directions to his grave: Take Exit 274 south off Interstate 40 in Durham onto Hwy 751; go 2 miles south and take a right at the Colvard Farms marquee, go 1 mile and take a left onto Crimson Oak, go about one-fourth mile until you see a bike/walking path, take a left and walk in about 150 feet, and the cemetery is on your right. From Hwy 64, take the exit for Hwy 751 north. There are myriad O'Kelley web sites; here are three for further information: http://www.therestorationmovement.com/okelley,james.htm http://www.okelley.net/Rev_James_OKELLEY.html http://www.okelley.net/Thomas_Jefferson.html ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Hollinghurst" <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 2:06 AM Subject: [NCDOGS] Newsletter May 2008 Now Online The D-OGS May 2008 Newsletter is now available online at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncdogs/memberspage/ Is your family having a reunion? Do you have news or events you want to include in the monthly Newsletter? If you are a faraway D-OGS member, do you have information of interest about your local genealogical society, library, cemetery, etc.? Email your write-ups and material to Newsletter Editor, Richard Ellington, [email protected] or call: 919.967.4168 Read about the Ellington Family Reunion in this month's Newsletter. To be held on 17 May 2008, "This reunion has been held almost every year since 1935." *************************