Lilly McIlhaney Bowen Chapter, NSDAR
Seneca, South Carolina
Members of the Lilly McIlhaney Bowen Chapter, NSDAR, with historic preservation honorees on the Square in Downtown Pendleton, South Carolina
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The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR) is a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer service organization composed of women with a common purpose of serving their communities through education, historic preservation, and patriotism.
Lilly McIlhaney Bowen Chapter, NSDAR, members are lineal descendants of men and women who gave their lives and fortunes to establish the United States during the American Revolutionary War. Our members predominately live in the greater Oconee County area.
As a volunteer women's service organization, we are dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, patriotism and honoring the Patriots of the American Revolutionary War.
If you are interested in learning more about our membership, please contact us here. If you need assistance in tracing your lineage, please contact our Chapter Registrar for assistance!
All photos provided by chapter members.
About the Lilly McIlhaney Bowen Chapter, NSDAR
The Lilly McIlhaney Bowen Chapter, NSDAR, of Seneca, South Carolina was originally organized as the Wizard of Tamassee Chapter ion February 23, 1916.
Who was Lilly McIlhaney Bowen?
Lilly McIlhaney Bowen, the daughter of Henry McIlhaney and Jane McGeehan, was born circa 1705 in Ireland, and she was of Scotch-Irish descent.
Lilly traveled with her mother, step-father Mr. Hunter, and siblings to Pennsylvania. Lilly was known as an expert spinner; she was also known for being strong, having a discriminating mind and energy of character.
Circa 1726, Lilly married John Bowen, the son of Moses Bowen and Rebecca Reese of Pennsylvania.
Lilly and John moved to Augusta County, Virginia, where they had a large landed estate, which Lilly managed after John’s death in 1760. Lilly and John had several children, and their sons served in the Revolutionary War, fighting for American Independence. Her sons Robert (married to Mary Gillespie), Arthur (married to Mary McMurray), William (married to Mary Russell), and John (married to Rachel Mathew) earned the rank of Captain. Her son Reese (Louisa Smith) was killed at the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780.
In 1777, Lilly supported the cause of American Independence by loaning funds and providing food and military supplies; she is named on the Smyth County Revolutionary War Memorial in Marion, Virginia. John and Lilly owned enslaved African Americans, who made it possible for Lilly to have funds to loan and provide patriotic service.
After 1779, moving from Augusta County, Lilly purchased 800 acres from Colonel Patton’s Executors, along the Great Road on the middle Fork of Holston. It is said that the first missionaries to the Holston settlement held services in a ballroom named for her.
Lilly was predeceased by a few of her children, including Moses, who died on the Expedition with the Fincastle Troops; she died before June 20, 1780, in Washington County, Virginia.
Information provided by the NSDAR Pathway of the Patriots Program.
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