Culpeper SAR honors forgotten Patriots of the American Revolution

The annual remembrance of Forgotten Patriots of Culpeper and surrounding counties was held at the State Theater in Old Town Culpeper, Sunday, February 2. Sponsored by and hosted by the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution, the remembrance was attended by several descendants of Forgotten Patriots. Forgotten patriots are those of African-American descent, including those recorded as Multatto, and Native Americans. It was appropriate the ceremony was held on the second day of Black History Month.

Attending were: President of the Freedom Foundation Howard Lambert; African-American Historical Association President Michelle Tutt and Simone Logan; Culpeper Historian Zann Nelson; Past President of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) , Joseph Dooley; President of the Virginia Society SAR, William "Bill" Greaf; Culpeper Minutemen DAR, multiple attendees; Colonel James Wood II VASSAR, Multiple attendees; Pack Horse Ford Chapter West Virginia DAR, Michelle Phillips; Sgt Maj John Champe Chapter VASSAR, President Barry Schwoerer; and the Elizabeth McIntosh Hammill Chapter DAR, Paula Schwoerer.

Twenty (20) men have been identified and confirmed as Patriots by Culpeper researchers. Leading the research effort is Culpeper Minutemen Chapter SAR Past President Charles Jameson, a descendant of a Black Patriot from Culpeper County. The twenty men are: Francis, Thomas and William Bundy, Thomas Camel/Campbell, William Clark/Clarke, Zachariah Hill, Luke Hughes, Benjamin Newell, James Peters, Philip Phillips, John Ralls/Rawls Ross, Jonathan and Reuben Ross, Thomas Shaw, Joseph Tyler, William Underwood, Moses Watkins, Henry Welch, and Spencer Slaughter. Of note, several descendants of Spencer Slaughter attended the ceremony honoring their ancestor.

The Sgt Maj John Champe Chapter was represented by President Barry Schwoerer who marched in Color Guard to present and post the colors, present a wreath, and was part of an honor guard saluting the Forgotten Patriots as their biography was read and a bell rung to remember them. For more information on the John Champe Chapter visit our website at www.https//johnchampe-sar.org