in the service of the United States Commanded by William Shepard for the Month of May 1781, Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War, Vol. WebThere is a Fifer Walter Maddox listed in the muster rolls of the 7th Maryland Regiment, Continental line. ). [33] Appointed Adjutant General of the Continental Army by General George Washington in January 1778, Scammell held that position until he requested permission to resign his post and resume command of a regiment in November 1780. Elnathan Haskell's Company in the 4th Massachusetts Regt. During the action at Barren Hill, Oneida soldiershelped delay the advancing British force. The Continental Army lost the battle and retreated, leaving Philadelphia in English hands, though most of Washington's troops survived. [33] Muster Roll of Capt. Landing in Boston in July 1774, the 38th found themselves involved in the first military engagement of the American war: Concord and Lexington, April 1775. The most common killers were influenza, typhus, typhoid, and dysentery. However, when looking through muster rolls, there is no record of a "Fortune Freeman" enlisting in 1776 in Danforths company. [25] "The American Revolution Timeline," George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. 2021 Valley Forge Legacy Muster Roll Project. WebNOTE: The following information was transcribed from the original Muster Roll held at the National Archives and Records Aministration, College Park, MD. Colonel Company Peekskill, Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War, Vol. From this location, twenty miles northwest of Philadelphia, the army was close enough to maintain pressure on the British yet far enough away to prevent a surprise attack. The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. He is currently a Supervisory Park Our FREE Virtual Teacher Institute is the can't miss online educator event of the summer. Von Steubens hands-on training program helped the army become a more proficient marching machine. [30] Records of Military Operations and Service: Officers and Enlisted Men. However, recalling a wound at Brandywine, specifically, complicates understanding the story of Fortune Freeman. uuid:3d7d0c57-d1b8-4aa6-b03e-56b0d8f90c70 [24], At the end of May and beginning of June, the British returned to King's Ferry. [34] "To George Washington from Alexander Scammell, 16 November 1780," Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-03961. [38] Fortune Freeman, Pension No. WebMost unit muster rolls did not specify the race of soldiers. (*(%8H8c- fd9@6_IjH9(3=DR1%? It is also worth noting that the dollars were paid in Continental dollars which were quickly depreciating in value. 1393, issued by the State of Massachusetts Bay, for the sum of 247 pounds and 10 pence, in favor of Fortune Conant: dated January 1, 1780: date for maturity: March 1, 1785. WebFeversham learnt of Monmouth's march eastwards on the afternoon of June 26 and ordered all the Royal forces and militia to muster at Bath. manuscript copy of a declaration of the Deputies of the Shrewsbury Association as submitted to the County Committee for Monmouth, May 15, 1775; muster rolls, court martial records, and other military documents from the Revolution and Early National period; Monmouth County sheriffs records, 1787-1831, retained by Daniel Officers and men alike were badly supplied and unpaid. Cuffee Wells is just one example. "[35] Composed of men from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, the regiment marched South to Yorktown, engaging in skirmishes along the way, and served as part of the 2nd brigade of The Light Infantry Division during the Siege of Yorktown.[36]. 27, Image 523, via FamilySearch.org. Their individual stories are recorded below: BROWNE Thomas Aged 33 and baptised at Chardstock in 1651. As for Mary, why was she bound out, and when did her service start? [Muster rolls, etc., 1743-1787] by Montgomery, Thomas Lynch, 1862- Publication date 1906 Topics Pennsylvania. However, there is no record of Nixon's regiment at the Battle of Monmouth. Civil War and Interregnum soldiers 1642-1660 9.1 General During the larger Saratoga Campaign, when British and their Native American allies were besieging Fort Stanwixin upper New York State, a pro-patriot militia columnunder the command of Nicholas Herkimer marched to the patriot'srelief. [5] John P. Resch. In fact, there is no record of a "Fortune Freeman" in Danforth's company at all. 1 0 obj <> endobj 2 0 obj <>stream 9 0 0 9 5 779 Tm NARA M804, page 4, via Fold3.com. Taking up positions along Brandywine Creek, Washington mistakenly believed that his army blocked all fords across the Brandywine. Each applicant had to disclose his age, occupation, health, and ability to support his household, and an inventory of his real and personal property."[39]. uuid:97fc00cf-7f9f-47ec-8fe1-3e396fafbf5d [35] "From George Washington to Alexander Scammell, 17 May 1781," Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-05812. On June 28, at the Battle of Monmouth, N.J., Washingtons men demonstrated their improved battle prowess when they forced the British from the field. The name Fortune Conant appears only in muster rolls. Though monetary value depreciated as the war progressed, were bounty payments used to purchase his freedom? Perhaps the most important outcome of the encampment was the armys maturation into a more professional force. Aaron Longstreet's roll, 2 October 1776 310 Muster roll of Major Van Cortland's Company, 6 September 1779 317 Payroll of Capt. In the spring of 1818, an old man named Fortune Freeman appeared before the Mayor's Court of New York City. These stories, whether of the same man or not, are examples of how little information exists about soldiers, particularly those of color, who played a critical role in the founding of the United States. Throughout the Revolution,the fightfor independencepermeated intoNative American tribes and alliances. On December 31, 1783, Freeman received his honorable discharge from the 4th Massachusetts Regiment, having been enlisted for three years. Though we do not know why Freeman enlisted to fight, something persuaded him to join in the fight for independence and something kept him in the war for over six years. If Freeman is the same man "on command" with Scammell, he undoubtedly fought at Yorktown. Lets also Army Muster Rolls, 1641-1707. APPENDIX 1 5 for the period Nov. 1779 through Feb. 1780 with the notation, Discharged Jan[uary] 19, 1780. 30 In addition to the bonds not maturing, the Continental currency continued to devalue over the course of the war. One of the casualties that day was Herkimer who was mortally wounded but kept command by being propped against a tree. Entered Valley Forge with 325 men assigned and 194 fit for duty. [12] Henry Allen Hazen, History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical register (Boston: A Williams & Co, 1887), 25. Recruited throughout the spring of 1778, the regiment's companies comprised Black and white soldiers, along with Native Americans. Arriving to the court with merely the clothes on his back, Freeman provided few details about his personal life in his statement. NARA M804, page 13, via Fold3.com. [10], The Conant family name in Massachusetts turns up throughout the history of the state. The Valley Forge Park Alliance maintains the Muster Roll Project and helps to inspire appreciation of and support for Valley Forge National Historical Park. Washington rapidly set troops in motion to bring on a general engagement with the enemy. [28] An Account of Clothing Delivered Lt. WebWashington rapidly set troops in motion to bring on a general engagement with the enemy. The six Oneida soldiersthat died that day in the action of Barren Hill are buried in a single plot in Saint Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, named in honor of the French general in command of American forces that day, the Marquis de Lafayette. [2] Freeman did not have a unique experience as a veteran in poverty. However, no records indicate that a Fortune with the surname "Freeman" ever served under Danforth. Elnathan Haskell's Company in the 4th Massachusetts Regt. By summer, Washington could claim that the war effort was going well. With the return of the Continental army to the outskirts of New York City following the Battle of Monmouth Court House in June, muster rolls of the army were taken in White Plains, New York, in August 1778. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. A Return of officers of the Third Regiment of Light Dragoons with the dates of their When he needed financial assistance, he turned to the new country he served for help. The troops who came to camp included men from all thirteen of the original states. One of the most notable contributions came from the Oneida, who sent aid and a contingent of warriors to Valley Forge. 0.298 scn 6. The integrated army in the Revolutionwasthe last integrated American army until the Korean Warnearly175 years later in 1950. There is no record of an African American serving higher than the rank of corporal in the main army. Though we do not know Freeman's exact journey, he claimed to have fought next in the June 1778 Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey. Web250 Capt. During the battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778, it was part of the Main Armys Right Wing, commanded by Major General Nathanael Greene, and in the 1st Maryland Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General William Smallwood. https://www.loc.gov/collections/george-washington-papers/articles-and-essays/timeline/the-american-revolution/. Washington wrote to fellow Continental general Philip Schuyler that The Oneidas and Tuscaroras have a particular claim to attention and kindness, for their perseverance and fidelity. These warriors arrived atValley Forge on May 15, 1778. /TT0 1 Tf December 1775 to February 1776 - The battalion was mustered and organized at Burlington and Trenton to consist of eight companies from Gloucester, of soldiers who served in Massachusetts companies and regiments during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783. Old, destitute, and with little else to rely upon, Freeman sought financial assistance from the country he served for nearly six long years. Part one of this story follows Conant's paper trail and examines how it aligns with Fortune Freeman's own testimony. WebBattle of Monmouth (1778) Unit History The Regiment was authorized on April 27, 1775 in the Connecticut State Troops as the 4th Connecticut Regiment. Aside from his own declarations, few records of his life exist before or after the war. [39]"About 4,000 (22 percent) of the beneficiaries under the 1818 act chose not to submit to a means test. More than 200 miles from his enlistment site in Boston, he may have chosen to start afresh in a new location. 50, Image 668, via FamilySearch.org. By providing evidence of his need, Freeman continued to receive his pension. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, African Americans During the Revolutionary War, Help Save 820 Acres at Five Virginia Battlefields, Save 343 Acres at FIVE Battlefields in FOUR Western Theater States, Save 42 Historic Acres at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Phase Three of Gaines Mill-Cold Harbor Saved Forever Campaign, An Unparalleled Preservation Opportunity at Gettysburg Battlefield. [8] While a Ph.D. candidate in History at Brandeis University in 2013, John Hannigan, current head of reference services at the Massachusetts State Archives, wrote a blog post about Fortune Freeman's pension record. By summer, Washington could claim that the war effort was going well. It was natural to expect that they wished for more comfortable accommodations, after the hardships of a most severe campaign; but I could discover nothing like a sigh of discontent at their situation On the contrary, my ears were agreeably struck every evening, in riding through the camp, with a variety of military and patriotic songs and every countenance I saw, wore the appearance of cheerfulness or satisfaction.. John Ward Dean, A.M. (Boston: New England Historic and Genealogical Society, 1896), 474. The Edenton Whig, a local newspaper, described Overton as, a soldier ofthe Revolution, and, served under Washington and was at the battle of Yorktown, Overton was praised by the community and say that, "He has lived among us longer than the ordinary period allotted to human life, and always sustained a character for honesty, industry, and integrity. Phill graduated from George Mason University with a M.A. If Freeman declared or received his freedom during the war, he most likely did not have a home of his own to return to. The army compensated full-time women followers for rendering such valuable services as laundering and nursing. Only one of these precious few records remained in his possession when he approached the court: a discharge paper from the 4th Massachusetts, issued to him at the close of the Revolutionary War in 1783. Webas a baggage guard at the Battle of Monmouth, N.J. (June 28, 1778). V)gB0iW8#8w8_QQj@&A)/g>'K t;\ $FZUn(4T%)0C&Zi8bxEB;PAom?W= Standing shoulder to shoulder, anethnically diverse soldiery formed. The records were acquired from the Massachusetts State Archives in Boston. WebColonel Daniel Morgan was the commander of the 11th and 15th Virginia in 1778 when he wrote this letter to General George Washington during the Revolutionary [10] Field and staff rolls 1775-1780, Muster/Payrolls and Various Papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War, Vol. /TT1 1 Tf WebIn addition to these, that work contains rolls or lists of men engaged in defending the frontier in 1774. WebPension Rolls and Correspondence (1790-1846) RG 1800.066 Revolutionary War Records (3 boxes) Box 1 Revolutionary War Records, Accounts, 1776-1807 (23 folders) A lack of records is not unusual for revolutionary soldiers, particularly soldiers of color, but Freeman's claims are illustrative of the experiences many soldiers of color experienced during the American Revolution. Fortune Freeman, Pension No. When he returned to Massachusetts, he may have been able to finally claim freedom for himself. There were Blacks servingin the reconstituted 1st and 2nd Virginia units that fought with General Nathanael Greene at the Battle of Guilford Court House. Complete: 100 % Content Source The National Archives Publication Number M246 Record Group 93 Published on Fold3 04 Apr 2007 Last Updated 23 Jul 2007 Description NARA M246. A muster roll of 16 Creek Indians who arrived presumably in late 1850 or early 1851. Their attack pushed the Americans out of the crossing. Despite the questions surrounding Freeman's life, it is certain that he dedicated years of his life in the fight for a new nation. Records only give us a part of someones life, and sometimes they are misremembered, forgotten, or incomplete. S 43,572, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. During the 1781 campaign against British General Lord Charles Cornwallis, there are five Black veteran pension records showing service under the Marquis de Lafayette in the Virginia Battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gaskin. NARA M804. The encampment brought together men, women, and children of nearly all ages, from all walks of life, from different ethnic backgrounds, and from various religions. [15] Freeman may have recalled Danforth easily as a familiar name to him in his younger days. So far, we have been unable to locate any land records indicating where Freeman settled after the war. While Wayne wanted to press the attack, Washington demurred, believing that his men were beat out and with heat and fatigue.. John Hannigan, "The Many Lives of Fortune Freeman," Rethinking the Age of Revolution, Blogs @ Brandeis, 10 December 2013, https://blogs.brandeis.edu/revolutions/2013/12/10/the-many-lives-of-fortune-freeman/. NARA M804, page 4, via Fold3.com. "[16] Perhaps these recruitment efforts helped Fortune Freeman remember Danforth's name so many decades later. While the contributions and sacrifices of these individuals are not as well known,their significance to the new government's creation iscritical. When word arrived that General John Burgoyne and his men began to march into New York from Canada, Nixon's regiment received orders to support General Horatio Gates and the Northern Department, serving the area of New York north of New York City. Many Blacks who fought and were enslaved fought for their freedom and independence as a person of color. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. The warriors of these two tribes were among the last of Lafayettes forces to retreat across the Schuylkill River that day. With the American colonists' Declaration of Independence, General Howe affected the landing of his troops on Long Island which included the 38th and attacked Washington's army successfully before Brooklyn Heights. 1852. WebLoyalist Muster Rolls During the American Revolution, muster rolls were prepared by the commanding officer of each company of a regiment for the express purpose of paying the officers and soldiers. [31] Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War, Vol. "[41] He also said that he had no family aside from an 18-year-old daughter named Mary and revealed her status as "bound out to service. /CS0 cs 1 scn Freemans story is just one of the thousands of patriots of color that we can attempt to unravel by searching existing pension records, though thousands more did not get recorded. Every purchase supports the mission. With that tattered discharge note, we now can follow Fortune Freeman's paper trail, which begins in 1781 in Hingham, Massachusetts. (2007). John Cadwalader. Archive.org. 1776, August, Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn, successful, 1776, November, Battle of Fort Washington, commanded by Lord Percy, successful, 1776, September, Battle of Harlem Heights, capture of Fort Lee, flank companies of 38th participate, 1777 New Jersey Campaign, as part of the Brunswick, New Jersey garrison, 1777, September, Battle of Brandywine located west of Philadelphia, successful, 1777, October, after the capture of Philadelphia by the British, the Battle of Germantown, located north of Philadelphia, successful, 1778, June, Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey, under the new commander, General Clinton, who had been given orders to retreat from Philadelphia to New York, flank companies of 38th participate, 1778, July, defence of Newport, Rhode Island, 1778, August, under General Pigot, the Battle of Rhode Island, also known as, the Battle of Quaker Hill, in which the Americans tried unsuccessfully to recapture the Island from the British, now known as Aquidneck Island, 1778, After September, regiment returned to New York, 1779 Clinton moved the main British effort to the South, 1780, June, Battle of Springfield, New Jersey, the last major engagement in the north, British under von Knyphausen attack George Washington's army, unsuccessful, 1781, September, participated in the raid on New London, Connecticut, commanded by Benedict Arnold who had switched sides, this expedition was to be its last of the war. "[42] Was Freeman previously married, and if so, did his wife die? Theodore J. Crackel, "Longitudinal migration in America, 1780-1840: A study of Revolutionary War Pension Records," Historical Methods 14 (Summer 1981): 133-137. %PDF-1.6 % WebFour muster masters were appointed to carry out the intent of the Provincial Congress. Webbefore the battle of Sedgemoor. [38] The 4th Massachusetts disbanded in West Point, New York in November of 1783. As wintry weather approached, armies often withdrew to fixed camps. [40] Fortune Freeman, Pension No. He provided a sparse list of apparel described in the record as "all old and nearly worn out. Previous engagements: Defense of Canada, Lake Champlain, Northern New Jersey, Defense of Philadelphia, Philadelphia-Monmouth. There is also the record from the British of a prisoner of war, George with the word Negro written beside his name. [26], Following the muster roll trail leads Conant to Bedford, New York. Muster rolls and officer commissions are recorded in: 1. The British surrender at Saratoga brought the French into the war as American allies in February 1778. NARA M804, page 10, via Fold3.com. Dedicated surgeons, capable nurses, a smallpox inoculation program, and camp sanitation regulations limited the death tolls. "[23] This possibly means that Conant served on a mission outside of camp raids and skirmishes frequently took place as both the Continental and British forces tested each other's defenses. Aged and infirm, he could no longer work and support himself. Originally from Massachusetts, Freeman moved to New York City at some point after the war. [20] After a series of October battles, Burgoyne found himself surrounded by Gates' men and surrendered on October 17. NARA M881, page 5, via Fold3.com. NARA M881, page 4, via Fold3.com. Hundreds of Indians enlisted in the Continental Army and many others, engaged as scouts in specialized units. His aim was to use them as scouts to gather intelligence, harass British patrols, and to confiscate supplies that could be of use to the main army. By November, Freeman transferred from his command post back to Haskell's company. The 3rd then wintered near Danbury, Connecticut. Promises of freedom motivated thousands of enslaved African Americans to join Continental and British forces. ( )Tj There is no record, however, of any Fortune Freeman or Conant that served in Nixon's regiment after June 4, 1780. Under the command of General George Washington and many other generals, the integrated army that served in the Revolution was a unique fighting force that catalyzed the formation of the Republic. In Fortune Freeman's testimony about his Revolutionary war service, he remembered enlisting under a Captain Elijah Danforth in 1776. It is also possible that he lost contact with the pension program by moving, whether of his own volition or forced by outside circumstances. Baltimore, Maryland: Lord Baltimore Press, Maryland Historical Society. Ten thousand more veterans applied the following year. Paintings courtesy of Don Troiani,www.historicalimagebank.com. Was Danforth's promotion to captain and participation in the war a motivating factor in Conant's enlistment? Archive.org. This process does not force the page flat, as in the usual The final event Freeman explicitly mentioned in his pension application is the capture of Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis and his army, after the Siege of Yorktown, which lasted three weeks. NARA M804, pages 4 and 9, via Fold3.com. By 6:00 P.M., however, the British felt they had enough. in American History and also has a B.A. Ask someone to think of Valley Forgeand they will nearly always envision an anonymous group of soldiers struggling against winters fury and clothed in nothing but rags. [31] He served in Elnathan Haskell's company, William Shepard's regiment. When troubles threatened with the Colonies, the 38th was one of the first corps despatched from Ireland to America. Did he have any other family?

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