A Shower of Patriots

A SHOWER OF PATRIOTS

Just like the numerous meteors that showered our state in 1833, over 1,200 brave Revolutionary War patriots settled throughout Alabama during its earliest years of statehood. Their passion for liberty burned as brightly as the “falling stars” that entranced the residents of Alabama. The glory of the meteors faded quickly, but the contributions of these and thousands of other patriots must continue to glow eternally. Our journey will begin with a brief look at the Marquis de Lafayette’s travels through Alabama and the Creek Nation in 1825. We will focus on the patriots he encountered along the way, including Reverend Isaac Smith and Representative Bolling Hall Sr. As we continue, we will explore the lives and impact of a diverse group of patriots from across the state who also supported the cause of liberty. Among those we will honor are Mary Witherspoon Conyers of Greene County, Jim Capers of Pike County, James McCrory of Pickens County, James Langley of Chambers County, Elizabeth Duckett Casey of Lauderdale County, and Frederick Gowen of Lawrence County. These patriots helped establish our great state and embodied the spirit of Alabama’s state motto: “We Dare Defend Our Rights.”