African American Heroes
Introduction
Most heroes in the American Revolution that we remember are white. However, we must forget the brave and courageous African Americans who helped bring our country to independence.
Some of the African American heroes are Peter Salem, Crispus Attucks, Prince Whipple, Saul Matthews and James Armistead.
Some of the African American heroes are Peter Salem, Crispus Attucks, Prince Whipple, Saul Matthews and James Armistead.
PETER SALEM
Peter Salem was born in 1750 as a slave in Framingham, Massachusetts. His slave owner, Jeremiah Belknap sold Peter to a man named Lawson Buckminister. Peter's new owner allowed him to enlist in the Massachusetts Minutemen. Peter fought at Concord, Saratoga and Stony Point. It is said that he was the man that shot British Major Pitcairn.
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CRISPUS ATTUCKS
This brave man was also born a slave in 1723 in Framingham, Mass. At age 16, he was sent to Deacon William Brown. While on a business trip to Boston to get a job as a whaler, at age 27, fire bells rang in Boston. Crispus went out to see what was happening and was shot. On March 5, 1770, Crispus Attucks was the first man to die for American freedom because of the Boston Massacre.
"Honor to Crispus Attucks, who was leader that day; The first to defy, and the first to die. . ."
John Boyle O'Reilly, poet, 1888 |
PRINCE WHIPPLEAlthough the name may not sound familiar, you probably have seen this man in the famous picture of Washington crossing the Delaware River. Prince Whipple was born into a very wealthy family in Africa, and traveled to America to try and get an education. However, a very untrustworthy sea captain enslaved Prince. This was not the end of his story, though because he crossed the Delaware River with George Washington and also fended off burglars while carrying a great amount of money from Salem to Portsmouth. It was a happy ending for this heroic man, because he was given his freedom after the war.
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SAUL MATTHEWS
Saul Matthews was a soldier and slave under Colonel Josiah Parker. In the year of 1781, a British soldier and his troops were stationed in Portsmouth, Virgina, so Saul was asked by Colonel Parker to go on spying missions on the British camps. This was a very risky task, but Saul always was successful in getting very crucial information for the Americans. Suprisingly, after the war, he didn't get his freedom. In fact, he was still a slave for ten years after the war! However, this man did end up getting his freedom in 1792.
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JAMES ARMISTEAD
James Armistead has a very interesting story and it is a great story to tell. He was a slave to William Armistead and then volunteered to spy for General Lafayette. The story doesn't end here, because James became a servant to Lord Cornwallis, who was on the British side. Ironically, Lord Cornwallis asked James to espionage on the Americans! He worked as a double agent, but still remained loyal to the American Patriots. He gave only unimportant information to the British and provided vital news about British troop strength and position to Lafayette. In 1786, he earned his freedom and referred to himself as James Lafayette.
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http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/salem-peter-ca-1750-1816
http://www.history.org/history/teaching/enewsletter/volume5/images/reference_sheet.pdf
http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/cattucks.htm
http://www.history.org/history/teaching/enewsletter/volume5/images/reference_sheet.pdf
http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/cattucks.htm