Members of the General Philemon Thomas Chapter, Louisiana Society, Sons of the Revolution,

held a ceremony to honor the memory of Revolutionary War Patriot James Penny at his grave in

Zachary, Louisiana, March 22, 2025.

The Penny Cemetery is located on land owned by the Hodgkins family, descendants of James

Penny. Present at the ceremony were members and friends of the Hodgkins family and

members of the General Philemon Thomas Chapter’s Color Guard.

James Penny was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1762, and moved to Pennsylvania with his

father at an early age. He joined the Pennsylvania militia as a teenager, earning the rank of

Private in the 1st class, and served in the 6th battalion of Captain James Clark, Chester County

Militia under Colonel James Taylor.

The ceremony included a brief presentation on the life of James Penny, including a summary of

his service in the Revolutionary War, his marriage to Baton Rouge native Lucy Kennard, and his

life in the northern rural area of East Baton Rouge Parish. Penny died at his home in 1840.

Events included a rifle and musket salute by the color guard, saluting the honorable service of

Patriot Penny, with bagpipe tunes interspersed by bagpiper Patrick Kennedy of the Caledonian

Society of Baton Rouge. A Sons of the American Revolution grave marker will later be placed at

Patriot Penny’s resting place.

The Sons of the American Revolution honors our Revolutionary War patriot ancestors by

promoting patriotism, serving our communities, educating and inspiring future generations

about the founding principles of our Country.