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 29th 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.”