Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame Induction held at Butts Hill Fort
Share this Page
On Sunday, July 19th, the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame inducted four people associated with Rhode Island’s Revolutionary War history. The 19th is a also a special date as that is when Rhode Island officially ratified the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
The four inductees were:
• Major General John Sullivan – Overall commander during the Rhode Island Campaign of 1778. Sullivan made his headquarters at Butts Hill Fort.
• Lt. Colonel Samuel Ward – Commander of the Black Regiment.
• Rev. Dr. Roderick Terry – Noted Philanthropist, past President of the Newport Historical Society and savior of Butts Hill Fort .
• Rev. Henry Wight – Revolutionary War veteran, Congregational Church leader, prominent Bristol civic leader who started the Bristol 4th of July celebration which began in 1785.
Lawrence Reed, Hall of Fame President, conducted the ceremony. Information on each of the inductees was presented to explain why each person was selected. Richard Schmidt, BORIA Treasurer and Gloria Schmidt, BORIA Historical Advisor, accepted miniature statues of the Rhode Island Independent Man in recognition of three of the inductees. The Artillery Company of Newport was there with their Paul Revere-made cannons to close the ceremony.
