Revolutionary War soldier, slave, honoured by families

PLAINFIELD, N.H. – A Revolutionary War soldier and slave is being commemorated for his service and by the descendants of the people who enslaved him.

A ceremony to commemorate the headstone at the final resting place of Derrick Oxford in Plainfield was scheduled for Saturday at the Coryville Cemetery.

Jane Stephenson of the Plainfield Historical Society worked for more than a year with the Department of Veterans Affairs to have the headstone carved.

New Hampshire Public Radio reports that Stephenson reached out to some of Oxford’s descendants.

Descendent Bonita Johnson she didn’t know of Oxford’s existence until Stephenson got it touch, but she was grateful to learn of her ancestor’s military service.

Stephenson says descendants of the family that who enslaved Oxford for part of his life also planned to attend.