Unveiling of Monument for the Arrival Daniel DuVal's 300 Anniversary
Took Place at the 2001 Richmond, Virginia Reunion
Monument Chairman Joseph Hays' Comments
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is indeed an honor to see this many faces gathered here today. Today,
we mark an anniversary that will not be seen again for another ten generations.
Hopefully, it will not bee another 300 years before our descendants gather here
again as we have. I do not believe that Daniel, whom we honor here today, would
have ever envisioned such a gathering of his descendants, a gathering I feel he
deserves and would be proud of.
Some of you have traveled from very far away to witness this event. It is not easy
to make such a journey, but consider Daniel's journey, the deprivation he must have
endured and the sacrifices he must have made in order in order to reach this new country.
As chairman of the Monument Committee, I was given the charge of overseeing the erection
and inscription of a memorial befitting our ancestor. The committee has tried not to
stray from we know to be factual and substantiated by the records that have been uncovered
to date.
We chose the Huguenot Cross; as we know Daniel was proud of his French ancestry and his
religious convictions. (Recently, I found a letter a grandson of Daniel's wrote to Thomas
Jefferson petitioning the government to implement a proposal he had drawn up to encourage
emigration, settlement and employment of his kinsmen in France so they could enjoy the
religious freedom Grandfather Daniel had provided for his progeny.)
Daniel prepared in the winter of 1700 in a section of London, England near the well know
shipping port of Blackwall to take passage aboard a ship known as "Nassau of Poole."
After many delays and under the command of Captain Tragian they set sail and in March of
1701 Daniel had arrived upon the York River just to our South.
It was not until the year 1704 when we find Daniel established here in Ware Parish of
Gloucester County in the Colony of Virginia. He was an architect and builder and I am
certain as you today wander the streets of Gloucester Court House and travel the County
of Gloucester the results of his diligence and workmanship in an effort to build for
himself, others, and the future generations a new life in a new world where he could
enjoy religious freedom as we do today 300 years later.
This is what we chose to state to honor Daniel DuVal. It is through his hard work and
foresight we are gather here today.
In 300 years maybe our descendants will not only gather to commemorate Daniel's coming to this
country but also they will commemorate our honoring him here today with this monument.
