Fifteen descendants of Cesar and Lois Peters showed up for the Sept . 25 meeting of the Hebron Historical Society . They came from as far away as New Jersey to hear Vicki Welch talk about their locally famous forebears , who were helped to escape from slave traders by the residents of Hebron , and who went on to become landowners in town after the Civil War . “ This whole event has been just wonderful , ” said Alethia Daughtry , the family historian and author responsible for organizing the reunion .

While doing research on her family history , Daughtry had come across information on the Peters House . In August of this year, she organized a reunion that brought over 100 descendants of Cesar and Lois together in Hebron , from as far away as California . When Donna McCalla , of the Hebron Historical Society , told Daughtry about the research being done by Vicki Welch , Daughtry decided that another family gathering was in order .

Family members were not disappointed , as they listened to Welch reveal new information about their descendants . Welch , founder of the Seven Generations Research Center for People of Color in New England , had logged many hours of research in preparation for the event . She is a recognized expert in the areas of native American and African American genealogy , and is a frequent contributor to historical publications . Welch was the 2008 Grand Prize Winner of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists Literary Award for her book “ And They Were Related Too . ” “ We are very fortunate to have someone of Vicki’s caliber speak at our meeting , ” said McCalla .

Welch says she became interested in the field because her father is a native American from the Mahican Tribe . When asked about her connections with African American genealogy , Welch said that her studies naturally led to this involvement . “ People that were recording vital records didn’t differentiate between different people of color , ” she said . “ They were pretty much all just thrown into the same category . ”

As for her interest in the Peters family specifically , Welch said after she attended the Peters family reunion in August , she wanted to delve further into the family history . “ I wanted to weigh in on the positive side of the fight , ” she said . “ I think it’s important that we recognize their struggle , and their family’s continued struggle through time . ”

Welch began her presentation with the story of Cesar’s acquisition by Samuel and Mary Peters in Boston . Cesar was purchased at the age of 8 , she said , and it was unknown whether he’d been born in America or brought over from Africa . She then told the familiar story of Samuel Peters’ loyalty to England during the Revolutionary War . Because of his unpopular position , Peters was run out of town and left his possessions , including Cesar and Lois Peters and their 8 children , in the care of a local attorney . When the attorney sold the family to slave traders who took them to Norwich for transport , Hebron townspeople pursued the group and managed to keep the family in Hebron by claiming Cesar was in possession of stolen items . Welch made the story poignant by painting a picture of a family dragged from their home , with Lois cradling a small infant .

Welch said that Cesar and Lois purchased two acres of property in Hebron after emancipation , and lived there with their children . Cesar’s will showed that he’d been a successful man , who’d acquired significant possessions to leave behind to his progeny . Two of his sons served in the 29 th Infantry during the Civil War . His descendants continued in the service of their country , with members of the family serving in both World War I and World War II . After the program , family members in attendance revealed that they were following family tradition through service in various branches of the military . “ I’m proud to be a part of the freedom fight , ” said Stefany Jones from New Jersey , who is working her way through nursing school via the Air Force .

Two especially notable Peters descendants discussed by Welch were George Lewis Ruffin and Josephine St . Pierre Ruffin . Josephine was an abolitionist and a suffragist , who helped found the National Association of Colored Women . George graduated Harvard law school , and became the first African American judge in Massachusetts in 1883 .

As Welch ended her lecture with a photo of Harold Peters , born in 1907 , there were delighted gasps from the audience as family members recognized their relative . “ I learned a lot about our family history , ” said Tanya ( Peters ) Abdul-Karim after the presentation . “ This was wonderful . ”