The Lawnside Historical Society will join the Borough of Lawnside on Saturday, March 30 at 12 noon to dedicate a marker on East Charleston Avenue to Black fighters in the Revolutionary War. The sign is provided through the Camden County American Revolution Heritage Trail with federal and county funding as the 250th anniversary of the War for Independence approaches.
The marker will be installed in front of the Wayne R. Bryant Community Center, 323 East Charleston Avenue. Those cited include the Rhode Island Regiment, composed of Black, Native American and mixed race soldiers who fought for the colonists and those the British promised to emancipate if they fought for the King.
In addition to the Regiment, the sign depicts Oliver Cromwell of Burlington County crossing the Delaware River with George Washington and Colonel Tye of Monmouth County who raided plantations freeing the enslaved to join the British cause.
Noah Lewis, a reenactor who portrays Ned Hector, the free, Black teamster who fought for the Continental Army at the Battle of Brandywine, will present at the installation and a reception immediately following.
The event is free and open to the public.