A new c
hapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) was formed in the home of Mrs. Richard C. Wight on March 15, 1924. Thirty-three names were enrolled, but only nineteen were present. Dr. Kate Waller Barrett, State Regent, presided. On October 4, 1924, the organization of the Nathaniel Bacon Chapter was ratified by the National Society. Seventeen members had received their certificates of membership at this time. By January 1926, membership had increased to fifty-three active members, which entitled our chapter to double our representation in the National Society and to quadruple it in the state. Pocahontas Wilson Wight (Mrs. Richard C.) was elected regent at this first meeting. She served in this capacity from 1924 to 1929, 1931 to 1935, and 1944 to 1947.
Pocahontas Gay Wilson was born March 9, 1873, in Cumberland County, Virginia, to Calvin and Annie Randolph Vaughan Wilson. Her Patriot was Benjamin Harrison who was born on the plantation “Berkeley,” in Charles City County, Virginia. He was a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1777 and, during the Second Continental Congress, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Harrison also served as the Governor of Virginia from 1781 to 1784. It has also been documented that Mrs. Wight was a direct descendant of Pocahontas, daughter of the paramount Chief Powhatan Wahunsenaca. She married Richard Cunningham Wight on November 1, 1897, in Richmond, Virginia. Mrs. Wight died on January 24, 1948, and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.
