I was honored to be one of three featured guest speakers at this year’s Louisiana’s Commemoration of Bernardo de Galvez and the Battle of Baton Rouge held at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center on Sept 17, 2024.
It was a special time for me and several members of my family who were also in attendance. My mother Frances Henderson, a member of the New Orleans Chapter DAR, sister Cynthia Henderson, sister, Jane Bronner, a member of the Atlanta Chapter, Georgia Society DAR, and my wife Anita to the right in the photo joined Me with others guest seated at my family’s table, Russ Godwin, President, Louisana Society SAR, Linda and Cliff Normand, former Registrar of the Louisiana Society SAR were also present commemorate this wonderful historic event.
We were all pleased to also join in welcoming President General, Pamela Rouse Wright as she too, joined the Louisiana State Society, Daughters, Sons of the American Revolution, and the Los Granaderos y Damas de Galvez La Luisiana to commemorate, Bernardo de Galvez and the Battle of Baton Rouge victory against British Forces.
At the noon luncheon, I shared briefly the importance and significant discovery of my 4th generation great-grandmother Agnes Mathieu’s manumission (Freedom papers) which was signed by the then Spanish Colonial Louisiana Governor and General Bernardo de Galvez on Dec 16th, 1779 just 80 days after the victory at the Battle at of Battle Rouge on Sept 21, 1779. I also spoke briefly about the challenges, I faced during my research as I journeyed through my family’s historical connections to both the French and Spanish Colonial Louisiana slave past. Finding four Spanish Colonial Louisiana slave manumission documents between 1763-1800 allowed me to appreciate the value of knowing what Spain and its governing body in Spanish Colonial Louisiana did for my ancestors in providing a pathway to freedom, well before the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and Louisiana became a state in 1812.
I also spoke briefly about the discovery of my first Louisiana Patriot ancestors named Mathieu Devaux dit Platillo, a French National who signed an oath of Allegiance to Spain on Aug 26, 1769, shortly after the Insurrection of 1768 and within ten years later would end up serving in the third company of New Orleans Militia (Artillery), and how he too played a significant role in assisting Agnes in gaining her freedom. The story of these two ancestors has forever linked our family ancestral history to both Spanish Colonial Louisiana’s slavery and Spain’s role in providing a pathway to Freedom for their enslaved population. See more of the story in the Galvez Papers.
Following my presentation, I was honored to be presented with the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 1776 – 2026 DAR American 250! Commendation Certificate and Medal for “Demonstration of Extraordinary Effort in Raising Awareness of Revolutionary Patriots and America’s 250th Anniversary”.
Afterward, my 95-year-old mother whom I dedicated in my award-winning book, GOT PROOF! My Genealogy Journey Through The Use Of Documentation, by the following “To my mother, Frances Jane Henderson who kept records of family members long enough for me to come of age and discover the importance of knowing from whom and where we have come”. As a tribute to her I decided that during his historic occasion and our attendance at this event, I would gift my Mother, a Life Membership and Pin in the National Society DAR. It was graciously presented to her, at the Luncheon by the Louisiana Society State Regent, Cheryl GOTT, and the President General, Pamela Rouse Wright. I am forever grateful to LSDAR Regent Gott and PG Wright for making this moment very special for me and our family.
The Mom’s Life Membership certificate in the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Family photo with Jane Bronner, Cynthia Henderson, President Genera DAR Pamela Rouse Wright, Frances Henderson, Louisiana State Society DAR Regent, CherylGott, Anita Henderson, and Michael Henderson.
Here are a few more photos of friends who attended the morning symposium, luncheon, and the Battle of Baton Rouge Victory Banquet later that evening.
Next Photo below: Maria Isabel Page, Honorary Consul of Spain, New Orleans, Louisana, Michael N. Henderson, LCDR, USN. Ret. Past -President, Button Gwinnett Chapter, Georgia Society, SAR, Anita Henderson, and a member of the Damas de Galvez.
Next Photo Below: (L-R) Maria Isabel Page, Honorary Consul of Spain, New Orleans, Louisana, President General DAR, Pamela Rouse Wright, Louisiana State Society DAR Regent, Cheryl Gott, Ann Reynolds Bergeron, Governor, Los Granaderos y Damas de Galvez La Luisiana
Next photo below: Mom and Jane having a little fun.
Next Photo (L-R) President General, Pamala Rouse Wright, Jane Bronner, Atlanta chapter DAR, Frances Henderson, New Orleans Chapter DAR, Cynthia Henderson. 
Next photo below (l-R). Jane Broner, Atlanta Chapter Georgia Society DAR, John R. Espinosa, Governor General, Los Granaderos y Damas de Galvez, Frances Henderson, New Orleans Chapter, Louisiana Society DAR, Cynthia Henderson, Lea Evans, Vice-Regent, Louisiana Society DAR
Next Photo John R. Espinosa, Governor General, Los Granaderos y Damas de Galvez, President General Pamela Wright, Frances Henderson, New Orleans Chapter DAR, Louisiana State Society DAR Regent, Cheryl Gott, Michael N. Henderson, LCDR USN Ret. Past0President Button Gwinnett Chapter Georiga Society SAR.
Photo below: (L-R). Jane Bronner, Atlanta Chapter DAR, President General Pamela Wright, Frances Henderson, New Orleans Chapter DAR, Frances Henderson, New Orleans Chapter DAR, Michael N. Henderson, LCDR USN Ret. Past0President Button Gwinnett Chapter Georiga Society SAR. Louisiana State Society DAR Regent, Cheryl Gott, 
Photo of the family who attended the event with me: Jane Bronner, Cynthia Henderson, Anita Henderson, Me Bottom Row: President General Pamela Rouse Wright, Frances Henderson, New Orleans Chapter DAR, Louisiana State Society DAR Regent, Cheryl Gott. This was a beautiful experience at the 2024 Louisiana Commemoration of Bernardo de Galvez and the Battle of Baton Rouge. Congratulations to all who made this event successful. Viva Galvez
To learn more about Spain’s support and contribution to the Patriot cause for freedom and independence from Great Britain, especially while under the Command of the Spanish Colonial Louisiana, Governor Bernardo de Galvez. See here: Spanish support for the American Revolution