So, I was toiling away the other day, determined to shed light on an incredibly poignant and important (yet somehow undiscovered) case law, when I get a ring on the old dog and bone. I answer it, and our secretary tells me that I have a "new call".
Steeling myself for another "I et a burger wit a worm in it, an I wanna soo MCDONALD'S!" call, or better yet a "I had a most terribly risky and complicated surgery, but still don't piss liquid gold- let's you and I sue the bastard who held the knife!" call, I field the call.
Good morning, this is ---- Wilson.
"Ah, yes, my name is (and for anonymity, we'll call him) Morgan Robinson!"
Mr. Robinson, what can I do for you, sir?
"What's your name again? Wilson? Ah you have a good name! We must be kin!"
Oh, possibly, sir, quite possibly.
"Yes, we Robinsons are around a good bit and I'm sure we're somehow related! You know, my family is directly descended from Francis Drake, well he never had children but his brother Edward married and had some."
Oh, yes sir, I'm quite familiar with Sir Francis; my father's from England so I grew up hearing about all their heroes. He was famous for sailing around the world...
"Yes, hahaha! He was having it off with Queen Elizabeth! Sailing around the world..haha! Well, you see I've been practicing law for 31 years in North Carolina!"
And then he proceeded to tell me his legal quandary, for which I recommended a lawyer who practiced in that area of the law.
"Well, how long have you practiced law Mr. Wilson?"
Oh, I'm not a lawyer, I'm a legal assistant. I'm taking the LSAT next year.
"Excellent! Look up any of the Francis/Drake/Robinsons in Charleston and you'll see we're everywhere! All my friends, they grew up all around 5th street there, you see. SOB's! Haha!"
Haha, marvelous, sir. I make it a point to go to Charleston every year, I love the place. I'm going to apply to their school of law as well.
"Well I could definitely help you there! Well, you don't know me from a hat stand, but my first cousin is[let's just call him, for the sake of anonymity] SamuelCartwright, the representative of North Carolina! You'll find I have quite an influence in Charleston. Oh, you know, I got in the top 1% when I took the LSAT. "
Oh, wow. Well, how long are you in Savannah for sir?
"Well, I have 5 houses in Charleston but I'm staying at (ridiculous rich community in Savannah) and I'll be here for the winter. Do you play golf, Mr. Wilson?"
Oh, a little, I do enjoy the greatest of all Scottish drinking games.
"Ha! Excellent, tell you what, have you ever been to the Oglethorpe Club?"
No, sir, I can't say that I have.
"Well, let's have lunch there. Friday. You'll need a coat and tie, of course."
Of course, sir.
"Yes, I'm a consummate story teller. I was a Captain in the Army once, I did two tours in Vietnam, with the 82nd airborne."
Oh, I see. Well, I'm a consummate listener. My good friend from college is in the 82nd right now.
"Marvelous, well, I'll be in a silver Mercedes, and I'll tell security to let you in. Don't be late. It's on Bull Street. I look forward to meeting you Mr. Wilson. You'll like law, you can see it's been very good to me. And after all, you're kin! If you claim me!"
I would say so, sir. I look forward to meeting you!
And that's how I got invited to the oldest Gentleman's Club in Georgia, the Oglethorpe Club. Here's a little context:
"Built in 1857 in the Classic Revival style, Molyneux lived in this stately home, but it also served as the British Consulate until his return to England in 1863. Union General Oliver Howard appropriated the mansion as headquarters for himself and his staff during Sherman's occupation. Much of the library and all of the expensive wine and brandy were found missing after they departed. A Union subordinate later confessed to "finding" the missing items at headquarters, much to Howard's embarrassment. Representatives of the family allegedly presented Howard with a bill for damages in the amount of $11,000.
The Molyneux home remained in the possession of the family until 1885, when it was sold to Confederate General Henry R. Jackson, who occupied the home until his death in 1898. Perhaps one of Savannah's most distinguished citizens, Jackson served as a lawyer soldier, diplomat and poet. He was Judge of the Eastern Circuit of Georgia from 1849 to 1853 and served as a special prosecutor for the U.S. in the famous case of the slave ship "Wanderer." Judge Jackson loved history and served as president of the Georgia Historical Society from 1875 until his death 1898. He was laid to rest in Savannah's Bonaventure Cemetery.
The historic mansion is now home to the Oglethorpe Club, the "oldest gentlemen's club in Georgia." Organized in 1870, the Oglethorpe Club was established by a group of Savannah's leading citizens. It still remains a fashionable private club today."
As they say, it's all about who you know these days, dear boy.
-J
