Bill
SJR 170
The bill formally celebrates Timbuctoo’s 200th anniversary, recognizing its role in African-American history and the Underground Railroad.
Brief at-a-glance
- Bill type: Joint resolution (SJR)
- Title: Celebrates and commemorates Timbuctoo’s 200th anniversary
- Status: Introduced in the New Jersey Senate; referred to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee
- Introduced: November 20, 2025
- Sponsor: Senator Troy Singleton (primary)
- Companion: AJR 234
Purpose and intent
- SJR 170 declares that the State of New Jersey celebrates and commemorates the 200th anniversary of Timbuctoo, recognizing its historical significance in African-American resiliency, abolitionism, and community self-determination.
- The resolution emphasizes Timbuctoo’s role as a stop on the Underground Railroad and its collective efforts to defend freedom for African-Americans in the 19th century.
Key provisions
- Formal declaration: The State of New Jersey celebrates and commemorates the 200th anniversary of Timbuctoo.
- Recognition and transmission: The resolution requires that copies be transmitted to the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail Advisory Committee, the Timbuctoo Advisory Committee, and the Timbuctoo Historical Society.
- Effective date: The resolution takes effect immediately upon enactment.
- Factual background included in the statement of purpose (timeline highlights and notable historical events).
What is being commemorated
- Timbuctoo’s founding and early settlement by formerly enslaved and free African-Americans, with the first four settlers (David Parker, Wardell Parker, Ezekiel Parker, and Hezekiah Hall) arriving in 1826 after escaping enslavement in Maryland.
- The community’s first documentary mentions around 1830, and its appearance in early census records.
- The name’s reference to the historic African metropolis Tombouctou (Timbuktu).
- The establishment of the Zion Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal African Church in 1854 and the church’s ties to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion denomination.
- Timbuctoo’s connections to prominent abolitionists and the Underground Railroad, and its strategic location along the Delaware River.
- The 1860 Battle of Pine Swamp, where residents defended their community against slave catcher George Alberti.
- Recognition by New Jersey as one of the first 32 sites in the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail program (selected March 2024), highlighting its historical significance.
Who/what is affected
- Acknowledgment by the State of New Jersey with ceremonial recognition.
- Stakeholders named in the bill: New Jersey Black Heritage Trail Advisory Committee, Timbuctoo Advisory Committee, and the Timbuctoo Historical Society (as recipients of the resolution’s copies).
Procedural and timeline notes
- The bill is in the Senate, Environment and Energy Committee after introduction.
- Timeline reference: September 2026 marks Timbuctoo’s 200th anniversary (1826–2026).
- As a joint resolution, it is ceremonial and does not create new law or funding.
Impact considerations
- Educational and cultural impact: Elevates awareness of Timbuctoo’s history and African-American resilience; may support commemorative events, tourism, and heritage programming.
- Programmatic linkages: Aligns with the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail program and recognition by state historical and cultural organizations.
- No fiscal appropriation is included in the text; the measure is primarily symbolic.
Related measures
- Companion bill: AJR 234 (assembly equivalent)
- Sponsor: Senator Troy Singleton (primary)
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
