The Natick Historical Society’s new Revolutionary War Traveling Memorial is now on display in the Morse Room at the Morse Institute Library, just in time for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The Traveling Memorial honors 249 men with ties to Natick who fought in the American Revolutionary War. It consists of three retractable banners that feature an honor roll with all 249 names and an adapted historical map that shows the family homes and burial sites of some of those soldiers. A QR code on the display will link visitors to a soon-to-be-available online resource featuring additional information and short biographies of 30 + soldiers.
This project anchors a larger initiative, Natick in the American Revolution, which is funded by Mass Humanities, Mass Cultural Council, and the Frank and Sheila Magullion Foundation. The goal of the initiative is to revisit and update a list of Natick’s Revolutionary War soldiers first compiled in 1913 by a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. After four months of delving into the archives, the Research Team has generated an updated honor roll and a wealth of additional sources and information about Natick soldiers. Their work will enable the Natick Historical Society to create not only the Traveling Memorial and companion website, but also primary source curricular materials for Natick High School.
One of the most complex and challenging questions facing the Research Team has been: what does it mean to be from Natick? Town boundaries shifted frequently in the latter half of the 1700s, and many people moved regularly or mustered from other towns. The Research Team also paid close attention to records that identified soldiers of Indigenous and/or African backgrounds. At least 44, or 18% of Natick’s soldiers, were men who were recorded as having Indigenous and/or African backgrounds. Natick’s Revolutionary War soldiers were, in fact, a far more diverse group than many may realize.
All are invited to meet the Research Team and learn more about Natick’s Revolutionary War soldiers–and the research that went into uncovering their stories at the Revolutionary War Research Roundtable on Wednesday, June 10th at 7 pm in Lebowitz Hall, Morse Institute Library. The Research Team includes Pamela Ellis, Mia Kheyfetz, Sean Osborne, and Fran Weisse. They’ll share stories from the project and discuss the tips, challenges, and surprises they found on their research journey. History Professor Brenna Greer will moderate the conversation.
The Traveling Memorial will occupy many public spaces in Natick over the coming year. Today, you can find it at the Morse Institute Library. Check the Natick Historical Society’s social media to follow it to its next location.
By Jennifer Richards, Archivist, Natick Historical Society
Thank you!