The BoRIA Post
The official newsletter of the Battle of Rhode Island Association featuring news, events and Rhode Island history. Learn more at www.battleofrhodeisland.org.
Jim Stearns, Editor
May 1st, 2026
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Butts Hill Fort on American Battlefield Trust's "Liberty Trail"
The Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee (BHFRC) are working with the American Battlefield Trust (ABT) to make BHF the first state location developed in ABT’s “Liberty Trail Rhode Island” initiative. A combination of virtual and tangible tour resources that span across a state to form a connected set of locations . ABT Liberty Trail Massachusetts, South Carolina, New Jersey and others already exist. Portsmouth stops would also include Turkey Hill, Patriots Park, Friends Meeting House/Quaker Hill, and Prescott House amongst others and connect throughout the state. Liberty Trail is a virtual QR-code application, so only where there are stops, would physical signage be part of the visitor experience.
Click here to access the current Liberty Page Site.
On March 31, BoRIA, in partnership with the Redwood Library and Athenaeum, presented Rhode Island’s Role in the Abolition Movement in the North, 1763–1784 by noted Rhode Island historian Christian McBurney to a capacity audience in Newport. Christian was introduced by Secretary of State Gregg Amore.
McBurney framed the movement against slavery in Rhode Island as a “Second American Revolution,” unfolding alongside—and in many ways propelled by—the struggle for independence. While Newport played a role in the transatlantic slave trade, he noted that its economic dependence on that trade has often been overstated; participation was significant but uneven and often risky. Beginning in the 1760s, moral, religious, and political opposition to slavery gained momentum, driven by Quakers, leaders such as Moses Brown, and Black petitioners across New England. By 1774, Rhode Island had taken a decisive step by banning the importation of enslaved Africans, aligning with the broader resistance embodied in the Continental Association.
During and after the Revolution, these antislavery currents accelerated, shaped by the emerging ideals of equality. Black men secured freedom through military service—most notably in the First Rhode Island Regiment (Black Regiment) —while the state enacted a series of measures restricting slavery. These efforts culminated in the 1784 Gradual Abolition Act and, shortly thereafter, a full prohibition on participation in the African slave trade in 1787. McBurney argued that these legal, social, and ideological shifts amounted to a profound transformation in Northern society—one that paralleled the significance of political independence and marked a decisive turn toward the end of slavery in the North.
Butts Hill Fort and American Battlefield Trust's Park Day
The BHFRC held a volunteer cleanup on Saturday, April 25, in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust’s Park Day event. Volunteers cleared winter debris from the Southern Battery and barracks areas, and completed the clearing of the corner closest to Portsmouth High School. Tours of the Northern Battery end of the fort complex were provided to participants and visitors. We appreciate Sen. Linda Ujifusa and husband Dr Mark Ryan for participating. They have been stalwart supporters since BHFRC’s inception.
401 Gives
This Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee sends its thanks to the generous donors who helped raise $1,025. The funds will be utilized for the ongoing efforts to take back Butts Hill Fort.
Powered by the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact at United Way of Rhode Island, 401Gives brings people together to make a difference for local nonprofits that deliver vital services to our communities throughout the state.
Lafayette Trail Markers Installed in Bristol and Tiverton
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, The Lafayette Trail installed a historical markers in Bristol and Tiverton commemorating Marquis de Lafayette’s time in the towns following the Battle of Rhode Island. After the battle, Lafayette encamped in Bristol as he worked to stabilize relations between American and French forces, helping to ease tensions that had arisen after the French fleet’s withdrawal. The marker was installed at Independence Park on the waterfront in collaboration with the Bristol Historical & Preservation Society and was formally dedicated in a ceremony attended by local officials and community members.
In Tiverton, Lafayette encamped with Continental Army troops from August 30 to September 2, 1778. The marker is across the street from Fort Barton , a Revolutionary War defensive post.
The Lafayette Trail, which led the effort, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to documenting and promoting Lafayette’s contributions to the American Revolution, including his 1824–25 farewell tour and his role in strengthening the Franco-American alliance during the war.
BoRIA Outreach to Middle School Students on the Revolutionary War
On Monday, April 27th, fifth grade students at Pennfield School in Portsmouth had plenty of questions about the writing and illustrating process behind the book The Black Regiment of the American Revolution. Through a grant from RI250 Commission, the Battle of Rhode Island Association has received funding to create and distribute curriculum materials for teachers on Revolutionary Rhode Island. Author Linda Crotta Brennan and illustrator Cheryl Kirk Noll gave a presentation on the steps they used to create their children’s picture book.
The presentation was professionally videotaped and will become a teacher resource available online for teachers everywhere. The Black Regiment of the American Revolution is one of the very few books on this topic for middle school readers. Because this presentation focused on the process of creating a non-fiction book, teachers can more easily include it in their curriculum. The author and illustrator shared their experiences researching, using primary sources, and going through the editing process. The last part of the talk was a brief and very accurate overview of the Battle of Rhode Island that is perfect for students.
The book has been re-released and is available on Amazon for purchase. Lesson plans based on the book are available on the BoRIA website for teachers: TeachingRevolutionaryRhody.
Gloria Schmidt, Historical Advisor
RI250 Quest Kicks of on RI Independence Weekend
We are excited to help kickoff the RI250 Quest on May 2nd and 3rd! Teams are registered and eager to explore our state’s history, while competing for prizes! We invite you to venture over to our partner events, all celebrating Rhode Island’s Independence Day.
May 2nd – Smith’s Castle
May 3rd – Greene Homestead in Coventry
May 9th – Varnum House in East Greenwich
For more information on RI250 Quest click here.
May 2nd, 10 AM – 12 PM – America’s Tapestry Send Off Party, Portsmouth Free Public Library.
May 2nd, 11 AM – 4 PM – Smith’s Castle Opening Day, North Kingston.
May 2nd, 3 PM – 4 PM – Jane’s Walk, Walking the Fort – A tour of Butts Hill Fort, Portsmouth
May 3rd, 10 AM – 4 PM – Forgotten Founders Talk, Nathanael Greene Homestead, Coventry.
May 6th, 4 PM – 6 PM – Revolutionary Era Food, Jamestown Philomenian Library.
May 9th, 2 PM – 3 PM – Varnum House – Liberty Tree planting, East Greenwich.
May 13th, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM – Fred Zilian Lecture “RI and the American Revolution, Tiverton Public Library.
May 22nd, 7 PM-8 PM – Robert Geake Lecture on Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 2115 Broad St, Cranston.
May 31st, 2 PM – 3 PM – Middletown Liberty Tree Installation, Paradise Valley Park, Middletown.
By John Landry
From December 1774 to March 1776, Captain James Wallace of the British Navy patrolled Narragansett Bay. He had two objectives: first, to minimize smuggling that evaded imperial custom duties; and second, to procure supplies for the sailors on his ships and the British army troops controlling Boston. In both goals, he largely succeeded—yet his intimidating presence failed to prevent most Rhode Islanders from favoring independence from Britain. Many people still hoped for compromise in late 1774, and Wallace hoped to make Newport a “post for the King.” But by early 1776, the majority seems to have resolved on the break, and his squadron left Newport without a sendoff. How did this happen?
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Did You Know?
Barrington in the Revolutionary War
Barrington was a small farming and trades community of 700–800 residents, largely Anglo-American families with roots in early Massachusetts Bay settlers. The town also included enslaved individuals, reflecting the complex social fabric of 18th-century Rhode Island.
Despite its modest size, Barrington was a “full participation” town in the war effort.
- Nearly universal militia service: Almost all able-bodied men (ages 16–60) served in the local militia, illustrating the depth of community commitment.
- Early engagement: Barrington men were among those sent to the Battle of Bunker Hill (June 1775), one of the war’s first major battles.
- Local organization: Like much of Rhode Island, Barrington trained and organized its militia locally, drilling on land near today’s Town Hall.
Barrington also contributed to one of Rhode Island’s most significant military units:
- Service of formerly enslaved men: At least a dozen enslaved men from Barrington enlisted in the famed 1st Rhode Island Regiment (“Black Regiment”) in exchange for freedom.
- One such soldier, Scipio Freeman, survived the war, gained his freedom, and is buried in Barrington.
Barrington sat in a strategically sensitive position:
- Located along Narragansett Bay, just ~17 miles from British-occupied Newport (1776–1779), the town lived under constant military tension and British raids on nearby towns.
- While not economically devastated like Newport—due to its limited ties to Atlantic trade—Barrington still experienced disruptions to farming, trade, and coastal activity from British naval operations.
Barrington may have escaped physical destruction, but it did not escape the war. Its residents served, sacrificed, and lived daily under the shadow of British power in nearby Newport.
Joe Studlick
