A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring African‑American Revolutionary War Patriots of North Carolina and supporting the Proposed National Liberty Memorial.
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 250 African‑Americans served in the Revolutionary War from 41 of 100 counties in North Carolina and 11 of the 13 Congressional Districts; and
Whereas, John Ellis and Drury Tann were two of the 250 African‑Americans from North Carolina that participated in the struggle for independence; and
Whereas, on April 27, 1776, John Ellis enlisted as a private in the 10th Regiment in the North Carolina Continental Line and, during his two and one‑half year enlistment, spent a year guarding the North Carolina legislature while it met in the Town of Hillsborough; and
Whereas, on August 1, 1782, Drury Tann, who was born a free person of color, enlisted as a private in Captain Hadley's Company of the 10th Regiment of the North Carolina Continental Line and served for about 18 months; and
Whereas, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in January 2012 recommended that the United States Senate act favorably on Senate Bill 883 to create a citizen‑funded National Liberty Memorial in Washington to complete the unfinished business of two decades: the construction of a fitting honor to the inspiring struggle of African‑Americans of the Revolutionary War era; and
Whereas, the leadership of Senator Richard Burr, a member of the National Parks panel during the 111th Congress, and former Senator Elizabeth Dole, a cosponsor of a predecessor bill during the 110th Congress, contributed significantly to the progress of the legislation; 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 postcolonial period and validates their influence on the patriotism of future generations and the fulfillment of the principles of the Declaration of Independence; 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;" and
Whereas, these efforts over 24 years helped propel the publication in 2008 of "Forgotten Patriots, African‑American and American Indian Patriots in the Revolutionary War," which contains the most extensive list so far of African‑Americans in the Revolutionary War; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives honors the memory of the 250 African‑American soldiers and patriots from North Carolina that participated in the American Revolutionary War, as follows: Josiah Abshier, Joseph Allan, Arthur Allen, Caleb Archer, Archibald Artis, John Artis, James Baltrip, Council Bass, Elijah Bass, Benjamin, Absolem Bibby, Edmund Bibby, Solomon Bibby, Thomas Bibby, Reuben Bird, Moses Bird/Byrd, Martin Black, Benjamin Blango, Moses Blango, Thomas Blango, Jacob Braboy, John Braveboy, John Brown, Brutus, Charles Burnett, David Burnett, William Burnett, John Butler, Isaac Carter, John Edward Carter, John Carter, Joshua Carter, Moses Carter, Jonathan Case, Joseph Case, Caesar Chavis, Drury Chavis, Henry Chavis, Solomon Chavis, Cato Copeland, Byrd Cornet, Cubit, Cuffee, Gibson Cumbo, Jack Currituck, Richard Davis, John Day, Allen Demery, William Dove, Thomas Dring, William Dunstan, Henry Ellis, John Ellis, enslaved man of Mary Walker, enslaved man of Edward Starkey, enslaved man of George Ormsby, enslaved man of Mr. Cogdell, enslaved man of Mr. Ellis, enslaved man of Mr. Wunford, enslaved man of David Ambrose, enslaved man of Captain Rooke, enslaved man of Henry Toomer, enslaved man of Presly Nelms, Benjamin Flood, William Foster, Ambrose Franklin, Charles Franklin, Frederick, Frederick, Christian Free, Anthony Garns, Jeffery Garns, Black Garrick, Charles Gibson, Edward Going, Jenkins Gowen, Ezekiel Graves, John Gregory, Ned Griffen, Aaron Haithcock, Frederick Haithcock, Holiday Haithcock, Isaac Hammond, John Hammond, Edward Harris, Gibson Harris, Jesse Harris, Sherrod Harris, David Hatcher, Henry Hawkins, Benjamin Hawley, Joseph Hawley, Peter Hedgepeth, Frederick Heithcock, William Hersey, John Hethcock, Micajah Hicks, Charles Hood, William Hood, Jackson Hull, David Hunt, Elisha Hunt, Isaac, David Ivey, Jack, Francis Jack, Zachariah Jacobs, Ezekiah Jacobs, Benjamin James, Elisha James, Frederick James, Isaac James, Jeremiah James, Thomas James, William James, Jacob Jefferies, Drewry Jeffrey, John Jeffries, John Jeffries, Brutus Johnston, Abraham Jones, Francis Jones, James Jones, Jonathan Jones, Philip Jones, James Kersey, William Kersey, Morgan Lewis, Valentine Locus, William Lomack, Job Lott, Billing Lucas, James Manley, Littleton Manley, Moses Manley, William Manley, Christopher Manuel, Jesse Manuel, Nicholas Manuel, Absalom Martin, Jesse Martin, John Martin, Patrick Mason, Thomas Mason, Daniel Mills, Mingo, Simeon Moore, William Morgan, Isaac Morgan, Booth Newsom, Moses Newsom, Ethelred Newsom, Carter Nickens, Malachi Nickens, Edward Nlckens, Noonday, Jacob Norton, Obed Norwood, Theophilius Norwood, Peter Order, John Overton, Jonathan Overton, Lemuel Overton, Samuel Overton, Titus Overton, Elisha Parker, Israel Pearce, Thomas Peavey, Richard Pendergrass, George Perkins, Isaac Perkins, Jack Peter, Elias Pettiford, Drury Pettiford, George Pettiford, Philip Pettiford, William Pettiford, William Pierce, Stephen Jr. Powell, Arthur Pugh, David Pugh, Quash, William Redman, Benjamin Reed, Dempsey Reed, Isaac Reed, Jacob Reed, John Revell, Benjamin Richardson, James Roberts, John Roberts, William Roberts, Ishmael Roberts, Ishmael Roberts, Jonathan Roberts, Jack Rock, Charles Roe, James Roe, Parker Rogers, Caesar Santee, Hill Scipio, Steven Scott, Emanuel Scott, Exum Scott, Isaac Scott, Isham Scott, Saul Scott, Sterling Scott, Lewis Sims, James Smith, Aaron Spelman, Asa Spelman, Dempsey Stewart, William Stewart, Hezekiah Stringer, Mingo Stringer, Abraham Sweat, George Sweat, William Sweat, Allen Taborn, Burrell Taborn, William Taborn, Joel Taborn, Benjamin Tann, Ephraim Tann, James Tann, Joseph Tann, Drury Tann, Pompey Terry, Ishmael Titus, Anthony Toney, Arthur Toney, John Toney, Charles Turner, Bartlet Tyler, Asa Tyner, Daniel Valentine, Peter Valentine, Drury Walden, John Weaver, Samuel Webb, Henry Wiggins, Absalom Wiggins, Arthur Wiggins, Matthew Wiggins, John Wilkinson, and John Womble.
SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives joins the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C., the congressional sponsors of the National Liberty Memorial Act, and those who applaud the decision of Congress and President Reagan in 1988 to declare the history of "preeminent historical and lasting significance to the nation."
SECTION 3.  The House of Representatives 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 the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. for inclusion in a database that will celebrate the trailblazers of North Carolina together with those of hundreds of proud American communities.
SECTION 4.  The House of Representatives supports the enactment of the National Liberty Memorial Act to spread knowledge of the history to the State's institutions and citizens while promoting its potential for understanding and unity throughout the nation.
SECTION 5.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit certified copies of this resolution to North Carolina's congressional delegation, the Governor of North Carolina, local superintendents of schools, librarians, and historical societies.
SECTION 6.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.