American Revolutionary War
Excerpted from:
Free African Americans in the Revolution: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware
(followed by French and Indian Wars and colonial militias)
by Paul Heinegg on freeafricanamericans.com
Free African Americans in the Revolution: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware
(followed by French and Indian Wars and colonial militias)
by Paul Heinegg on freeafricanamericans.com
Some slaves fought to gain their freedom as substitutes for their masters, but they were relatively few in number. Those who were not serving under their own free will are not included in this list. It was simply not their fight. For example, when slave Harry deserted from the galley Norfolk Revenge, Captain Calvert advertised in the Virginia Gazette on 21 November 1777 for the return of his property, not a member of the crew. Likewise, when two Negro men Pass and Cambridge deserted from the galley Manly, they were described on 14 November 1777 as the property of Mr. Willis Cowper of Suffolk, not as seamen [Virginia Gazette (Purdie), p. 3, col. 2]. Ned Streater served in place of his master, but did not receive his freedom until he won a suit in Nansemond County court in 1824 [NARA, S.7645, M804, roll 2313, frame 470 of 1266;
https://www.fold3.com/image/18465965].
https://www.fold3.com/image/18465965].
Thomas Morgan was a soldier from Suffolk, Virginia, in the French and Indian War who deserted from the Virginia Regiment on 2 September 1757 and was described as: age 26, 5'7", mulatto [Virginia Gazette, p. 4, col. 2].