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America 250 – Exeter Style!!

Lots of people have been working for years to plan events together for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. I have created a separate America 250 Exeter page where you can find all the details for any 250 event happening in Exeter this year.

Things are happening all around the region and the country. too! Tall ships, fireworks, reenactments, etc.

Fun fact: did you know that a person who signed the Declaration of Independence (Josiah Bartlett) is buried in Kingston, NH? You can attend a festival about that in Kingston on July 18th. Maybe you can even take up a quill pen there and put your John Hancock on parchment. I will 🙂

Lots of things going on EVERYWHERE! I have three different colonial costumes and they will be getting a workout this year as I make the rounds as the regent of the Exeter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution through the 13 towns we serve. What fun!

You might see me in the parades at Lexington, or even at Bunker Hill in Charlestown. My peeps and I get around.

I have two Minuteman ancestors that fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill. (James Andrews of Essex, Ma., 25yrs old and James Patch of Hamilton, Ma., 48 yrs old). Have you seen the Ken Burns documentary? It is unfathomable the sacrifices that generation made. I feel a debt of gratitude to them and I am happy to remember and honor them.

Seems a perfect time to set aside our differences and join together in appreciation, if even for a few moments. The pendulum of history often makes violent swings to each side. Chances are we will meet in the middle again. We always have.

I hope I bump into you at some of the events this year. I might be looking something like this…

With deep gratitude to Mr. Andrews and Mr. Patch. And their wives!!!

~R~

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Full Text of Black Heritage Markers in Exeter, NH

On a snowy New England day in February 2025, WMUR recently did a news segment on the two new markers in Exeter. The Black Heritage Trail of NH marker was placed in the spring of 2024, and the “America 250” DAR sign was placed in the fall of 2024. Kelly O’Brien of WMUR reports on both of them here. The full text of both markers are below the photo.

Click link to watch the news segment https://www.wmur.com/article/exeter-black-revolutionary-war-soldiers-21225/63776206

Below is the full text of the sign that honors all the Black soldiers and sailors that fought in the Revolutionary War. It was placed in November, 2024 by all 25 NH Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, as an “America 250” project of NH State Regent, Mrs. Kay Sternenberg.

“Many Black soldiers and sailors, including those whose service went unrecorded, played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War. This burial ground serves as the final resting place for several Revolutionary War veterans including at least two Black veterans, Private Jude Hall and Private Tobias Cutler, who are buried in the Northeast corner of the yard near the crypt mound. Possibly many more Black veterans lie at rest here as well. Exeter, the state capital during the war, was also a significant center for Black history in New Hampshire, with a substantial Black population in the post-war period. Their contributions were instrumental in securing United States independence and the freedoms we all share today.”

Below is the full text of the BHTNH marker at the head of Swasey Parkway. It was placed in April 2024 by the Exeter Black Heritage Pocket-Park Committee in partnership with the Black Heritage Trail of NH.

“Exeter, the Revolutionary capital of New Hampshire, included a Black community which was nearly 5 percent of its population in 1790. Although enslaved Africans were forcibly brought here in the early 1700s, after the American Revolution several free Black men and their families, many of whom fought for American independence, found community by coming together and living here.

Those veterans included Cato Fisk, Cato Duce, London Daly, and Jude Hall, whose grandson was Moses U. Hall, a Civil War veteran. London Daly and Rufus Cutler proposed the first society to benefit people of color in the region. Leaders in subsequent generations include ministers Thomas Paul, Nathaniel Paul, Benjamin Tash, and abolitionist poet James M. Whitfield. In the 1800s philanthropists Harriet P.C. Harris and Catherine Merrill provided ongoing support and generous bequests. They were among many Black residents of Exeter who supported one another through struggles and victories.”

In 2023, a large, engraved granite step in the Memorial Staircase of the American Independence Museum, ascending from Front Street, was placed by local author, RM Allen, to honor one of the longest serving soldiers of the Revolutionary War. It reads:

“Pvt. Jude Hall 3rd NH 1775- 1783”

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Patriotic Happenings in Exeter

Happy Birthday -almost- to the USA! **1776-2026=250** The semiquincentennial approaches. That is a mouthful so let’s just call it the 250th. Its a 2-year long celebration because all the pre-war skirmishes, like the Boston Tea Party and the Battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, happened before independence was declared. Minutemen were at the ready since 1774. (One of my ancestors, Minuteman Capt. James Patch of Ipswich, MA, fought at Bunker Hill.)

On a cold day in November, 200 people gathered to witness the unveiling of two DAR “America 250!” commemorative signs in Exeter, NH. This was the NH state-wide kick off of the Daughters of the American Revolution celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the founding of America. One standard 250th sign was placed at the American Independence Museum on Water Street. Here’s a picture with some of the DAR women who made the day possible. Many of them are the leaders in their respective chapters from all around the state. The woman in the red blazer is the state DAR leader (regent) who spearheaded the entire project. Huzzah to her!!

The other sign was placed at the Winter Street Cemetery. This was a custom sign that honored the service and sacrifice of ALL the Black soldiers and sailors from NH. That number is estimated by scholars to be near to 400.

Two Black soldiers, and probably more, are buried there. A gorgeous wreath was laid at the stone for Pvt. Jude Hall by two DAR women in his direct family line who had traveled from afar. It just made my heart sing!

There are 30 Revolutionary War soldiers buried in that olde yard. Here is a map in case you want to visit sometime. And here is the program from that historic day.

Stay tuned for more 250th action in Exeter in the coming years!