Our Family's Legacy of Service

A tribute to the generations of our family who have served in the armed forces, honoring their sacrifice, courage, and commitment.

Conflicts

French / Indian War

Walter Hewitt
- Enlisted in 1755 in the 3rd Regiment, 2nd Company of the Connecticut militia.
- Served during the French and Indian War as part of colonial defensive forces.
- Assigned to frontier and regional defense duties, including guarding settlements and supply routes.
- Participated in militia service aimed at protecting Connecticut and New England communities from French and Indigenous raids.
- Contributed to sustained wartime readiness and colonial security rather than large-scale battlefield engagements.

Conflicts

French / Indian War

Walter Hewitt
- Enlisted in 1755 in the 3rd Regiment, 2nd Company of the Connecticut militia.
- Served during the French and Indian War as part of colonial defensive forces.
- Assigned to frontier and regional defense duties, including guarding settlements and supply routes.
- Participated in militia service aimed at protecting Connecticut and New England communities from French and Indigenous raids.
- Contributed to sustained wartime readiness and colonial security rather than large-scale battlefield engagements.

Family Members Who Served

Join the journey of rediscovering your roots and building stronger family bonds. From fun quizzes to newsletters & virtual reunions, stay connected and celebrate the legacy that unites us all.

More Family Members

Join the journey of rediscovering your roots and building stronger family bonds. From fun quizzes to newsletters & virtual reunions, stay connected and celebrate the legacy that unites us all.

Theodore Joseph "Ted" Davenport Sr

Ted was the backbone of a large and thriving family, working hard his entire life to give his children a better future

Professor "Fess" Strickland

She wasn’t just Professor in name. She was a teacher, a guide, a leader, and a protector… the Mayor of Birch Street.

Frank Alexander

From Mississippi farm boy to Chicago machinist, Frank Alexander carved out a life of dignity and purpose, raising 13 children while navigating segregation, war, and the rise of Black homeownership. His journey from cotton fields to urban property ownership embodies the triumph of perseverance across generations.

Amanda Goolsby

Born enslaved and buried free, Amanda Wilkerson Davenport outlived slavery, Reconstruction, and the loss of ten children to become the matriarch of a liberated lineage

Dinah Hawkins

Dinah Hawkins was born into bondage in 1861 and rose to become a symbol of resilience and generational strength. From her childhood in the cotton fields of postwar Georgia to her later years as a matriarch in Michigan, Dinah endured the brutality of slavery.

Mercer Davenport

Despite these hardships, Mercer's legacy of resilience and dedication to his family's education and well-being continued to shape the lives of his descendants. His life journey, from the fields of Georgia to the bustling streets of Chicago, reflected the broader experiences of African Americans during the Great Migration.

Bernice Alexander

From Chicago’s South Side to the Michigan State Capitol, she rose from drugstore clerk to civil rights trailblazer—shattering racial barriers, raising twelve children, and becoming the first Equal Employment Opportunity Officer in the state. A true matriarch of justice and resilience.

James Samuel King

Owning land during this period was a monumental achievement for an African American man, particularly in the deeply segregated South… the soil on which he had once toiled as a slave now became a place of refuge and promise for his family.