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DIVERSE DOCUMENTS: OUR VARIED HERITAGE by S. Gardner

A guide to selected historical documents, events, places, and other material focusing on Black History, Native Americans, and other racial minority populations in the Town of Warwick.

Biographies

THIS AREA UNDER CONSTRUCTION - CONTRIBUTIONS WELCOME!

Hodges, Jacob (1763-1842)

One of the most well known of our Town's early free black citizens was Jacob Hodges of Sugar Loaf, who had been tricked by white men into being involved in a conspiracy to murder Richard Jennings in 1819.. The crime became of sensation and received much publicity. Hodges was exonerated and achieved greater fame as an inspirational example of reform and faith when his biography was written by A. D. Eddy for the American Sunday-School Union in 1842.

His biography, Black Jacob: A Monument of Grace can be read and downloaded here.

The trial transcript of this sensational murder, which gripped the nation, was published, and a recent book examines the details of the crime. ( see The Murder of Richard Jennings by Michael Worden).

Contributions & Achievements: Black Americans and other racial minorities

Starting with earliest days, the achievements and  contributions of individuals who were in the racial or ethnic minority of community's population had a huge impact.  These are just a few of them.

Robinson, George and Teabout, Hewie  of Warwick were honored for community service by the City of Middletown in 1999.  The George Robinson Center on Mt. Hope Road in Middletown serves special education youth.  (see Warwick Advertiser Feb. 19, 1999.)

Delsarte, Louis (1944-2020), a celebrated mural artist, spent his summers at Greenwood Forest Farms.  His life and accomplishments were noted in The New York Times on May 15, 2020.