Chapter History

Our chapter is named in honor of New Bern native, Richard Dobbs Spaight, who was the first native-born governor of North Carolina. During the American Revolutionary War, he served as Lieutenant Colonel of the Craven County Regiment. Richard Dobbs Spaight took part in some of the nation’s most important moments. He was a member of the Confederation Congress from 1782 to 1785, as well as a representative of North Carolina during the Constitution Convention. He helped to shape the nation we know by fighting to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America with the adding of the Bill of Rights. While a delegate of the Philadelphia Convention, Richard Dobbs Spaight has the distinction of drafting the Constitution of the United States of America, one of three North Carolinians to sign it.

Another important person to the history of our chapter is Gertrude S. Carraway, one of the twelve founding members. Gertrude Carraway was a New Bern native, historian, and journalist. She was not only a chapter regent but had the distinction of becoming an NSDAR President General from 1953-1956. She made many important contributions to the New Bern community including being the driving force in the reconstruction of Tryon Palace, the first state capitol building of North Carolina. Tryon Palace also housed the state legislature until 1798, when Tryon Palace was destroyed by a fire. Gertrude Carraway was deeply committed to the preservation of not only the history of her community but to that of the country by spearheading what is now known today as Constitution Week, a program that promotes education in schools on the importance of the Constitution of the United States of America, and how this important piece of history shaped our nation.

Quilt Photo

Photo Courtesy of Chapter Archives

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