Robert Mulliner was unjustly imprisoned and lynched in front of the city courthouse on Liberty Street on June 21, 1863 for the crime of rape of which he was falsely accused. On June 19, Mulliner’s memory and injustice were remembered by the parishioners and supporters of Calvary Presbyterian Church with a memorial service with songs and prayers.

The recorded tragic story of Mulliner, an African-American man, began with his arrival in Newburgh in the 1800s where he earned a living as a laborer. While living in Newburgh, Mulliner encountered an Irishwoman named Ellen Clark who accused him of rape. He would not have the opportunity to stand trial and was never convicted of the alleged crime.

Mulliner was arrested by the authorities and placed in a cell underneath the courthouse on Grand Street, which is known today as the Newburgh Heritage Center.

Regardless of the unclear facts presented, it did not stop the growing rage and anger from the Irish community in Newburgh. As Mulliner waited in his cell for what would become of him, an angry mob had gathered outside the courthouse demanding that he be given to them to invoke their own form of justice.

Courthouse officers and other officials pleaded with the mob to not go through with their actions. The angry mob ignored their pleas and broke into the courthouse and broke down the cell where Mulliner was being held and without proper due process, Mulliner was reported to have been dragged outside of the courthouse and beaten severely by a mob. Mulliner was unjustly lynched in a tree that stood in front of the courthouse for all to witness. The violent and unjust act against Mulliner forced many African Americans to flee New York in fear. Several weeks later from July 13 through 16, the Manhattan draft riots also took place and white rioters became violent against African Americans. In honor of Mulliner, on June 21, 2022, a brand new historical marker was placed on the lawn of the Newburgh Heritage Center in remembrance of the injustice done to him.

On Monday morning, Rev. J. Edward Lewis, Pastor of Calvary Presbyterian welcomed all those to the ceremony and thanked them for their time spent in remembrance of Mulliner. Guest speakers and worship leaders during the service included John Redman, Pastor of Union Presbyterian Church; Robert Trawick, General Presbyter of Albany Presbytery; Kyle Conway, Vice President of the Newbugh/Highland Falls Chapter of the NAACP; Reverend Mary Lou Baumgartner, Pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church; Reverend Donna Elia, Pastor of St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church; Mayor Torrance Harvey; and Dr. Muhammad A. Al-Rahman, Spiritual and Pastoral Services Director of the Council of Muballighuns International: Faith and Cultural Wellness Center. Joseph Bush, artist in residence at Calvary, performed and led the crowd with various pieces at the organ and piano for the service.

As the celebration concluded, those in attendance gathered on the city courthouse lawn for a final ceremony. The service program and soil from the grounds of the site were set to make their way to Montgomery, Alabama as an addition to the memories of all Black people who have faced injustice.