Support sought for monument to black Revolutionary War soldiers

More than a dozen Massachusetts cities and towns, ranging from Wellfleet to Great Barrington, have approved resolutions in support of establishing a national monument honoring African-Americans who served in the Revolutionary War.

At least 5,000 African-Americans served as soldiers or sailors in the war, according to Maurice Barboza, founder of the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. project. Nearly one-third of them resided in Massachusetts, far higher proportion than any other colony.

Barboza said the number of known African-American soldiers could end up being much higher, as genealogical research continues. As of now, 194 of the state’s municipalities have been shown to have been the residence, birthplace or site of military induction for at least one African-American soldier of that era.

“Some of them were slaves who became soldiers and were recruited to sign up for service to win freedom,” Barboza said. “Many patriots might have served a number of months or for a year or two before winning their freedom, but most African-Americans seeking freedom had to serve the whole war, as part of the deal.”

In the early 1980s, Barboza’s aunt, Lena Santos Ferguson, played a role in broadening awareness of African-Americans’ participation in the war. Her research indicated that an ancestor of hers had fought in the war, but the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution initially rejected Ferguson’s application for membership.

According to Barboza, pressure from the District of Columbia Council to revoke the chapter’s tax-exempt status helped lead to her aunt being accepted into the DAR in 1984. The DAR also agreed to research the role of African-Americans in the war. In 1986, Congress passed a resolution to eventually create a memorial to the soldiers on the National Mall.

Barboza described the local resolutions as a form of “moral support,” as well as encouragement to local historians to contribute further understanding of the roles that African-American soldiers played. He said municipalities that endorse the idea of the monument are not being asked to commit funding.

The Board of Selectmen swiftly approved the resolution in Great Barrington, where at least six African-Americans served during the war, according to Town Manager Kevin O’Donnell.

“It took the selectmen about 30 seconds to make a motion, second it and approve it,” O’Donnell said. “Given that no money was involved, it was kind of a no-brainer.”

Approval of the resolution also came swiftly in Natick, according to Board of Selectmen Chair Charles Hughes. Hughes said he learned of the project from a neighbor of his, who said she could trace her own lineage to an African-American who had served in the war.

Other Massachusetts communities that have endorsed the resolution include Chester, Deerfield, Edgartown, Harwich, Lancaster, Montague, Northampton, Oxford, Reading and Woburn.

In some communities, selectmen have asked the local historical society to weigh in before they act on the resolution, Barboza said.

He encouraged local officials with questions about the national monument project to contact him at (703) 299-0408 or mbarboza@malldc.org.