William Few, Jr., Signer of the US Constitution

DAR Ancestor # A038269 Red Flagged: "FUTURE APPLICANTS MUST PROVE CORRECT SERVICE".

Capt. William Few, Jr., was a representative at the Continental Congress from Georgia, ratified the Constitution from Georgia, and was one of the two first United States Senators for Georgia. This same William Few was also one of the founders and a member of the first board of trustees of the University of Georgia and later president of the National City Bank of New York.

http://www.fewgenealogy.com/Biographies/Educators/Few.William%20Pre...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Few#The_Statesman

U.S. Senator, Signer of the United States Constitution. Born into a small farm family, he overcame poverty, limited educational opportunities, and family hardships to become one of America's important military and political leaders. His passion for American freedom was fueled when his brother was hanged by Loyalists for his part in a North Carolina frontier uprising organized to protest the heavy taxes being levied by Britain. The family fled to Georgia leaving Few behind to tie up family financial and personal affairs. While in North Carolina, he participated in the state's militia training, but was unable to serve due to his family obligations. However, the training proved invaluable when he rejoined his family in their new home near Augusta, Georgia. When he moved to Georgia, he joined the local militia and spent the next few years training the citizen- soldiers. In 1778, he saw his first military action when his regiment attempted to impede a British invasion from Florida. The battle resulted in a sound defeat by the British, but inspired the young soldier to review the militia's strategy. Later that year, the British captured Savannah almost completely destroying the Georgia militia. Few's regiment, of which he was second in command, regrouped and, using "guerrilla warfare type" tactics, kept the British and Loyalist forces off guard protecting Augusta and keeping them from getting a stronger foothold in the area. Soon the forces were diverted to Virginia and Few was credited with helping save Georgia from falling completely into enemy hands. The leadership he displayed as a soldier propelled him into local political prominence and led the area's political leaders to appoint him to the Continental Congress and as a delegate to the Continental Convention. Even though he was not overtly active at the convention, he worked hard in the Congress to assure the Constitution's ratification. After the new document was ratified, he was selected as one of Georgia's original U.S. Senators. He served from 1789 to 1793 before returning to Georgia where he served another term in the state legislature and sat as a circuit court judge. In 1799, he left Georgia and moved to his wife's home state of New York. While there, he served in that state's legislature, was the state's prison inspector, and worked as Director and President of the Manhattan Bank before retiring to his New York country home. He died and was buried in New York in 1828, but in 1976, his remains were moved to Saint Paul's Cemetery in Augusta, Georgia.

Bio by: Bigwoo

Inscription
COLONEL
WILLIAM FEW, JR.
SOLDIER
PATRIOT
STATESMAN
BANKER
HUMANITARIAN

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4723/william-few