Formation of Fairfax County Chapter of The Temperance Society
On April 8, 1833 in the Alexandria Gazette, there appeared an Article about The Temperance Society's promotion of anti-slavery. By April 30, 1833, there appeared another article in the Richmond Enquirer about The Temperance Society’s promotion of anti-slavery. The Temperance Society was an organization that promoted abstinence of alcohol and also promoted anti-slavery and in many regions combined other moral actions into their movement. At a citizens meeting at the Fairfax County Courthouse on July 3, 1842, attended by many of the prominent men of Fairfax County, Richard Chichester Mason, 1793-1869, grandson of George Mason, 1725-1792, who was a Founding Father of the Nation, author of the Virginia Bill of Rights which served as the draft for the US Bill of Rights, spoke eloquently at that meeting as to why a Temperance Chapter should be formed. Upon motion, it was agreed to form the Fairfax County Chapter. The motion was adopted and at that meeting - Silas Burke was elected Vice President of the Chapter... with Richard Chichester Mason, elected President.
When Silas helped form the Fairfax County Chapter of the Temperance Society, he had already drafted a provision for William Henry Fitzhugh’s Will for a slave release. William was the largest landowner in Fairfax County at the time, with 22,000 acres and 208 slaves on the land known as ‘Ravensworth.’ By the time of the Temperance meeting in Fairfax, William had died in 1830. The Will with the provision that Silas and William had written called for the release of all of William’s slaves by 1850 (11 years prior to the Civil War). Silas participated in the preparation for and release of slaves in accordance with the Will provision, including Silas’ preparation of the Inventory. The formation of The Temperance Society in 1842 in Fairfax County, with Silas participating in a leadership and guidance role, was in alignment with Silas’ documented actions over this period, which gives some insight into his character. This documented first person conversation illustrates the compassion and forward thinking of Silas Burke.
It is further noted, as reported in the Alexandria Gazette, Silas went on to represent the Fairfax Chapter of The Temperance Society, when he attended a State-wide conference of representatives of numerous like-minded temperance societies of Virginia to discuss effects of temperance intellectually, morally, politically - and civil interests and changes to society needed for the future. A Temperance Union combining efforts of these various State organizations was formed and Burke was elected one of the Vice Presidents of that combined Union.
Sources:
April 8, 1833 Article in Alexandria Gazette referenced above
