BELFAST — Join the Belfast Free Library and the Wawenoc Chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society on Wednesday, April 17, at 2 p.m., in the Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library, for a presentation all about the “Peterborough Veterans Memorial Monument.”

The Town of Warren, Maine holds a rich history of its early settlement, varied industries, and the development of the Georges River Canal amongst other notable items. Did you know that Warren was also the location of Maine's largest historical African American community?

The community of Peterborough started with the family of Amos and Sarah Peters. Amos was born in Massachusetts of African and Wampanoag Indian ancestry. He served in the American Revolutionary War and moved to the District of Maine after its ending. Sarah was born in Guinea, was kidnapped through the slave trade and brought to Damariscotta by Captain Brown. She was then sold to Captain McIntyre of Warren. Sarah won her freedom after paying $1.00 to a representative, Mr. P. Pebbles, who helped sanction her rights to emancipation. The two married and settled for the remainder of their lives on 150 acres that Amos Peters was deeded near South Pond in Warren by General Henry Knox in the mid 1780’s. By the 1950’s the community had dwindled and the last of its residents moved away.

In 2019, the Town was contacted by a Midcoast community member, who upon learning about Peterborough and its inhabitants, wanted to honor their memory and struggles. They asked about doing restoration work at the cemetery, as this is all that remained of a once vibrant community, which led to the commissioning of a monument dedicated to its Veterans, spanning five wars.

Amanda Shelmerdine, Cemetery Sexton for the Town of Warren, researched the names for the monument, and this presentation will focus on the different research methods utilized in her search to identify the Veterans. She will also discuss the current plans for restoration and preservation of the cemetery and that of the community’s history.

This event is free and open to the public. It is an in-person event, with a Zoom option available. Please email to request the link. The Wawenoc Chapter is a local chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society. It meets monthly on the third Wednesday at the Belfast Free Library. Genealogists of all abilities and skill-levels are encouraged to join.

For more information, contact Sharon Pietryka at spietryka@belfastlibrary.org or 338-3884 ext. 25.