City Council Encourages Honoring of Revolutionary War Soldiers

The Woburn City Council approved the following resolution Tuesday night, asking politicians and residents to urge the honoring of 16 African-American Woburnites who participated in the Revolutionary War. 

Whereas, the United States Senate is considering passage of bill S. 883, the National Liberty Memorial Act, to authorize the construction of an entirely citizen-funded National Liberty Memorial to African Americans of the Revolutionary War at a location in the monumental core of Washington, D.C.; and 

Whereas, from 1775 to 1783, an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 slaves and free persons served as soldiers, marines and patriots in the Revolutionary War in addition to tens of thousands of men, women and children who provided civilian assistance, ran away from slavery and petitioned courts and legislatures for freedom; and

Whereas, more than 1,570 African Americans served in the Revolutionary War from 194 of 351 municipalities and all 14 counties of Massachusetts; and

Whereas, according to the National Mall Liberty Fund, D.C., sixteen  African American soldiers and patriots from Woburn participated in the struggle for independence; and

Whereas, although the original memorial was not constructed, and the authority to do so has lapsed, genealogical research and the publication of hundreds of books over more than two decades reaffirm the significant contributions made by African Americans of the post-colonial period and validates their influence on the patriotism of future generations and the movement for civil rights; and

Whereas, beginning in 1984, landmark legislation was approved by Congress, including Public Law 98-245 commemorating African American patriotism and Public Laws 99-558 and 100-265 that authorize a national memorial and declare the history of “preeminent historical and lasting significance to the nation.”

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the City Council of the City of Woburn that the that the City Council of the City of Woburn encourages volunteers to discover the names of still-unknown African American Revolutionary War soldiers, sailors and patriots, enlarge the body of knowledge about their lives and forward the information to National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. for inclusion in a database that will celebrate the trail blazers of the City of Woburn together with those of hundreds of proud American communities; and

Be It Further Resolved that the City Council of the City of Woburn urges the Massachusetts Delegation to the United States Congress to work for the enactment of the National Liberty Memorial Act and to spread knowledge of the history to institutions in Massachusetts while promoting its potential for understanding and unity throughout the nation; and

Be It Further Resolved that the Clerk of Woburn City Council forward certified copies of this Resolution to the entire Massachusetts Delegation to the United States Congress, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Speaker and President of the 187th General Court and the Superintendent of the Woburn Public Schools, the Director of the Woburn Public Library, the Woburn Historical Commission, and the Woburn Historical Society. 

Woburn Revolutionary War Patriots

Prens/Prince Eighten

Pomp Beachman/Beackman

Kemer/Kemor/Kamer Blackman

Adam Caldwell

Prince Eaton

Cornelius Lenox

Francis Liberty

Ornelius Lunnox

Prince Merco

Jack/Austin Rand

Salem Scipio

Prince Sutton

Jack Toy

Caesar Wiman

Cato Wyman

Pompe Wymon