On July 15, 1915, The National Society Colonial Dames
XVII Century was organized during the meeting of the International Genealogical
Congress at the Panama
Exposition in San Francisco, California.
The Founder of the National Society was Miss Mary Florence Taney of Covington,
Kentucky, and five other ladies: Mrs. Alice Hardeman Dulaney,New York,
Miss Anna Taylor Hodge, Kentucky, Mrs. Georgena Hodge Bailey,Kentucky,
Miss Florence May Washington, Kentucky, and Miss Grace Marie Cheever, Ohio. Miss Taney was Founder,
President General, Treasurer General and Organizing President General of the
new society.
The daughter of John Peter Taney and Catherine Alphonse Rogers, she was born May 15, 1856 in Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky and died on October 9, 1936 while residing in Covington, Kentucky.
Miss Taney is buried among her family in St. Mary’s Cemetery,Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.
Miss Taney was a member of the Taney family of
Maryland. Her ancestors included, Roger Montfort Taney, who came to Maryland with Lord
Baltimore in 1632, and held office in the Council and Assembly; Roger B. Taney, Chief Justice of the United States, who married the sister of Francis
Scott Key, author of the “The Star Spangled Banner”. Her family traces its lineage
back to 1122 when Roger de Taney, who for valor at the Battle of Hastings, was
created a baron by King Edward I. The Taney line is direct from Richard
Neville, the great Earl of Salisbury and Warwick.
She
was the youngest child in a large family and was educated at the Catholic Immaculate Academy,Newport, Kentucky. Our founder lived in
an eloquent detailed Victorian brick home at 312 Garrard Street, Covington,
Kentucky. The home was built circa 1867 by a Mr. Whips in what is now a
beautiful historic district of Covington where there are many magnificent
mansions from the 1800’s.
Miss Taney was the
first woman to become private secretary to the Collector of Internal Revenue
during the Harrison administration. She also was the first woman in Kentucky to become licensed as a Notary Public, being appointed by Governor Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr. in 1889. Mary Florence Taney
had a long career, which won her a name as an author, musician, artist, and leader in civic,
religious, social and patriotic circles of her community, state, and nation.
Known for her brilliant mind, charming personality, and gift for leadership, she was the founder of three National Patriotic
Societies: Founder and
Honorary President General of the National Society of the Colonial Daughters; Founder,
Organizing President General and Treasurer General of the National Society Colonial
Dames XVII Century, July 15, 1915; Founder and
Organizer of the National Society of the Dames of the Court of Honor May 15, 1921.
The Roger
Montfort Taney Chapter Colonial Dames XVII Century Chapter in Covington,
Kentucky is named for Miss Taney’s colonial ancestor, Roger Montfort Taney.
