On July 24th, 1867, 154 years ago this week, 2 years after being freed, my GG Grandfather Ned Mills registered to vote. This would be the first year African Americans were allowed to vote.

In 1868, the Black vote was instrumental in electing President Ulysses S. Grant, the General who led the Union Army to victory in the Civil War. Not everyone was happy about that. There would be a cost.

As an effect, paramilitary groups (like the KKK) began using intimidation to suppress the Black vote, which included many murders. As years passed, Southern states used Poll Taxes and Literacy Tests as a new means to disenfranchise Black voters.

As shown in the 1880 census, my GG Grandfather couldn't read nor write, which was common since it was illegal to teach a slave to read and write in many locations. So basically, he was given the right to vote, but couldn't pass a literacy test, so may not have been allowed to vote beyond 1868, all due to his circumstance established by past racist rules setup by that same government. What's up with that???

Bringing this back to Prince Mortimer; stolen from his country, given a new name (which was a common name given to many slaves), not required to be listed on any census (because of course he was a slave...just property in the country's eyes) and not required to be identified in Revolutionary War service to our country, especially if a slave serving as a servant, laborer or messenger. Then imagine, 250 years later, the country tells his people, "We can't honor him because there's not enough documentation"; the same country that created the scenario of devalue and lack of documentation.  What's up with that???  Shame on this system.

Thank you for your continued support towards getting Prince Mortimer's life and service recognized.  Any additional support in sharing this petition would be greatly appreciated.  God Bless.