Many of us have heard tales of psychics contacting or repelling ghosts with séance circles, brightly lit candles and burning sage, but it’s rare to see a paranormal entity appeased by a painting.
That is, until James De Vercelly, owner of Two Streets Estate Jewelry, Antiques and Fine Art of Stuart, facilitated the momentous homecoming of the treasured portrait of Colonel Richard Butler to its rightful home, Ormond Plantation near New Orleans.
The 1805 oil portrait was included in the estate of Moira Moore, longtime friend of De Vercelly, when she passed away in January of this year. De Vercelly researched the painting and found a rich historical background that compelled him to return it to the Butler homestead. After arranging the sale of the painting to the present owners of Ormond Plantation, Robin Priest and her brother Wynne Waltman, the painting was restored to its original condition.
De Vercelly’s research led to the discovery that Col. Butler and his family held a significant position in American history. Born in 1777, Butler was descended from a litany of war heroes. His grandfather, Thomas Butler Sr., along with his father Richard and his four uncles, fought in the Second Infantry during the Revolutionary War under General Anthony Wayne. Known as the Fighting Butlers of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, these brave men fought in most of the major Revolutionary War battles including Valley Forge and the defeat of the British at Yorktown. In fact, Thomas was an aide to the men of the Continental Congress as well as one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The commander in chief of the Revolutionary troops, George Washington, recognized the Butler men for their intensity and bravery in battle. This was a tremendous recommendation for the family from a man who would later become the first president of the United States.
In 1799, Col. Butler married Margaret Farar, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Farar. The couple made their home in Destrehan, Louisiana, just outside New Orleans. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Butler called his mansion Ormond Plantation, after his family’s Ormond Castle in Ireland.
On returning the portrait, De Vercelly said, “My journey to Ormond was one of awe, now that the plantation has been brought back to its original grandeur and the portrait of its Master Colonel Richard hangs in its place of prominence.”
