Peter Salem was a freed slave from Massachusetts who is known for mortally wounding British Major John Pitcairn during the fighting at Bunker Hill. But if Freeman was not at Brandywine, was he still injured in the war? [6] Congress estimated wrong. Muster Roll of Captain Charles S. Ilsleys Troop E of the Seventh Regiment of Cavalry, Army of the United States, (Colonel James W. Forsyth,) from the 31st day of October, 1890 to the 31st day of December, 1890. 27, Image 523, via FamilySearch.org. [22] Fortune Conant, Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War. But his assertions complicate understanding if Fortune Freeman and Fortune Conant were same person. His name appears on a roll dated Sept. 8, 1778, for Col. Thomas Clarks com- His name also appears on a muster roll of Tatums company . More than 200 miles from his enlistment site in Boston, he may have chosen to start afresh in a new location. 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 In 1777, British strategy included a plan to capture Philadelphia, the patriot capital. S 43,572, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. Was he enticed by the hope for a new nation? p. 736 pgs. [26] Muster roll of Lieut. The Continental Army lost the battle and retreated, leaving Philadelphia in English hands, though most of Washington's troops survived. What would a desperately poor man claim to guarantee financial relief? But when Fortune Freeman applied for a pension, he included one tattered sheet of paper that confirmed a discharge in 1783 from the 4th Massachusetts Regiment, which does have a record of a Fortune Freeman, who enlisted in 1781 and served until the end of the war. Ceys, Danforth - Dean, Samuel, Muster rolls (index file cards) of the Revolutionary War, 1767-1833 [Massachusetts], Image 1193, via FamilySearch.org. [21] "The American Revolution Timeline," George Washington Papers, Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/collections/george-washington-papers/articles-and-essays/timeline/the-american-revolution/. Many Blacks who fought and were enslaved fought for their freedom and independence as a person of color. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. Royal Army - under the command of the Earl of If Freeman is the same man "on command" with Scammell, he undoubtedly fought at Yorktown. There were Blacks servingin the reconstituted 1st and 2nd Virginia units that fought with General Nathanael Greene at the Battle of Guilford Court House. "[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. 0 -2.182 TD Following this amendment, Freeman reapplied. [12] Though no definitive connection could be found between this William and Fortune, it does put the Conant family in the region at the time when Fortune joined the war. He became one of 20,000 Revolutionary War veterans[3] who filed for a pension by the end of 1818 following the passage of a pension bill that same year. Entered Valley Forge with 325 men assigned and 194 fit for duty. While the soldiers who entered camp on December 19, 1777, were not well-supplied, they were not downtrodden. NARA M853, page 64, via Fold3.com. WebThe New Jersey Historical Society stated that in 1760 the regiment was part of the final campaign against the French in Canada. 1851. See the Charles Rolls statue Founder of Rolls-Royce . Again, though no "Fortune Freeman" is listed with Nixon's men, Fortune Conant is documented on record at White Plains on September 9, 1778, with Danforth's company in Nixon's regiment, a few months after the Battle of Monmouth. 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. When the French army of General Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau headed toward Yorktown in the summer of 1781, one of the commanding officers aides, Baron von Closen left the following observation: A quarter of them [the Continental Army] are Negroes, merry, confident, and sturdy. These African Americansreceived the same pay as their fellow white soldiers but did not see the type of military promotions as their counterparts. And that I have no other means of obtaining a subsistence, except the pension allowed by Congress, and do actually need the assistance of my country to prevent my being dependent on charity.[40]. 0.298 scn Monmouth Rebellion On May 6, 1778, the army joyously celebrated Frances alliance with and formal recognition of the United States as a sovereign power. Elnathan Haskell's Company in the 4th Massachusetts Regt. "It required all claimants to submit documentation of their poverty to a court of record. WebNOTE: The following information was transcribed from the original Muster Roll held at the National Archives and Records Aministration, College Park, MD. battle https://www.loc.gov/collections/george-washington-papers/articles-and-essays/timeline/the-american-revolution/. In his pension, Freeman stated his discharge in 1780, which lines up with Conant's discharge. With no other information provided, Mary's terms of service are unknown, and it is unclear what happened to her later in life. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. There is no record of an African American serving higher than the rank of corporal in the main army. WebThe abstracts were so carefully prepared that it is rarely necessary to consult the original muster rolls and other records from which they were made. WebWashington rapidly set troops in motion to bring on a general engagement with the enemy. N')].uJr "Politics and Public Culture: The Revolutionary War Pension Act of 1818." Posted on September 17, 2014 by Sam Russell. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! [25] Following this attack, Nixon's regiment retreated to the "Highlands" in New Jersey on June 12, and Conant is still listed on pay rolls and clothing receipts through September. Most of these records are duplications of the War of 1812 muster rolls found in Mf. There were 35 warriors as part of the force, led by Generals New River, a Catwaba leader, and Billy Ayers along withMajor Jacob Ayers. NARA M246, page 150, via Fold3.com. battle_of_monmouth | hisXmark Whether Freeman misremembered his experiences or stated an additional battle to gain his pension, it is significant that he chose to state his presence at both battles. Many recent European arrivals sought fortune and honor by enlisting in the regiments of the states they now called home. [37] "From George Washington to William Heath, 29 October 1781," Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-07314. However, when looking through muster rolls, there is no record of a "Fortune Freeman" enlisting in 1776 in Danforths company. battle of monmouth muster rolls - iccleveland.org I found them employed in building little huts for their winter quarters. Col. Calvin Smith's Company in the 5th Battalion of Massachusetts Bay Forces in the Service of the United States comm by Col Tho Nixon for May 1779, Muster and payrolls 1777-1780, Muster/Payrolls and Various Papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War, Vol. 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. Although they lost two key battles, as well as Philadelphia, to the British, Washingtons soldiers emerged from these experiences with a renewed confidence in their fighting abilities. National Archives 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. The Continental Army was integrated and included many patriots of African descent. WebMuster Roll of Capt. Lafayette later recalled, in regards to Washingtons service at Monmouth that, "I thought then as now I had never beheld so superb a man." [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. Disease, not cold or starvation, was the true scourge of the camp. 15th Virginia Regiment Hundreds of Indians enlisted in the Continental Army and many others, engaged as scouts in specialized units. People often picture the Continental Army of 1777 as a ragtag bunch of inexperienced fighters, but Washingtons men fought with skill and were often on the offensive while campaigning against superior numbers of professional soldiers. Battle of Monmouth He then said he reenlisted in Boston in 1780 into the same company and regiment. Army returns reveal that two-thirds of the nearly 2,000 men who perished died during the warmer months of March, April, and May, when supplies were more abundant. [26], Following the muster roll trail leads Conant to Bedford, New York. Monmouth Battle Military Officers Recorded in the Office of the Secretary of State, Phill graduated from George Mason University with a M.A. Elnathan Haskell's Company in the 4th Massachusetts Regt. (*(%8H8c- fd9@6_IjH9(3=DR1%? 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. Von Steubens hands-on training program helped the army become a more proficient marching machine. Previous engagements: Defense of Canada, Lake Champlain, Northern New Jersey, Defense of Philadelphia, Philadelphia-Monmouth. December 1775 to February 1776 - The battalion was mustered and organized at Burlington and Trenton to consist of eight companies from Gloucester, Washington's Officers at Valley Forge. NARA M804, page 4, via Fold3.com. "F$H:R!zFQd?r9\A&GrQhE]a4zBgE#H *B=0HIpp0MxJ$D1D, VKYdE"EI2EBGt4MzNr!YK ?%_&#(0J:EAiQ(()WT6U@P+!~mDe!hh/']B/?a0nhF!X8kc&5S6lIa2cKMA!E#dV(kel }}Cq9 According to military records, Conant stayed with his company in Nixon's regiment throughout 1779, moving to various positions to keep British forces contained within New York City. [11] Fortune is, however, included in a genealogical history of the Conant family, but the only information included says that he lived in Billerica and served three years in the Continental Army. Motivation for enlistment varied, but many who joined in the fight sought to secure their own blessings of liberty while they fought to gain their countrys independence from Britain. He appeared on muster rolls for York Hutts, an encampment in New Jersey, from November 1781 to January 1782. On one copy of a muster roll from April, Conant is listed as "on command on the lines. ([5/16/2011 9:36:32 AM])Tj These included the companies of: Captain Daniel Smiths Company Robert Doacks Company of Militia Men in Michael Woods Muster District Men in Thomas Burks Muster District Garrisons at Elk Garden Fort Garrisons at the Glade Hollow Fort By November, Freeman transferred from his command post back to Haskell's company. Part one of this story follows Conant's paper trail and examines how it aligns with Fortune Freeman's own testimony. NARA M804, page 13, via Fold3.com. The Muster Rolls are neatly typed pages tightly bound in oversized books which require the use of a special overhead copying process. Archive.org. John Cochran. 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/. APPENDIX 1 5 for the period Nov. 1779 through Feb. 1780 with the notation, Discharged Jan[uary] 19, 1780. 30 Cuffee Wells is just one example. Not only were they serving in units from the northern colonies, but 58 African Americans had mustered into the North Carolina Line. Samuel Carhart's men, Monmouth County, 1780 and 1781 388 9-months men, Monmouth County 1778; Col. Forman's return, Fourth Regiment [no date]; and 9 in American History and also has a B.A. WebOn September 11, 1777, General George Washington was determined to prevent the British from capturing the American seat of government, Philadelphia. Paintings courtesy of Don Troiani,www.historicalimagebank.com. Virginia Regiments in the Continental Army It is also possible that he lost contact with the pension program by moving, whether of his own volition or forced by outside circumstances. Muster Rolls In addition to the bonds not maturing, the Continental currency continued to devalue over the course of the war. When he returned to Massachusetts, he may have been able to finally claim freedom for himself. [14] If Fortune Freeman's memory is correct and he originally joined as Fortune Conant he came to Boston after accepting a bounty and passing muster in Middlesex County and enlisted for the term of three years. WebWith 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 [5] John P. Resch. It is highly unlikely that Freeman saw action both at the battles of Brandywine and Saratoga: The battles took place hundreds of miles apart and only a few weeks separated them. Commanded the Grenadier Company of the Rangers from August 6, 1776 to October 24, 1778. 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. 2 . [43] "New York (State). It is curious that of all the details to remember from six years of military service, his possible first captain is the only name that remained etched into Fortune Freeman's memory. Monmouth has many notable connections but one of its most famous is the connection to the Rolls Family. As for Mary, why was she bound out, and when did her service start? Webthe muster rolls in E 101; protections for war service and appointment of attorneys in the Treaty Rolls in C 76; the Gascon Rolls in C 61 (for intended military service in Gascony) the Scotch Rolls in C 71, (for intended military service in Scotland) 9. [29] Discharged on June 4, 1780, completing his three-year enlistment, Fortune Conant does not appear in any further military records.[30]. WebPension Rolls and Correspondence (1790-1846) RG 1800.066 Revolutionary War Records (3 boxes) Box 1 Revolutionary War Records, Accounts, 1776-1807 (23 folders) New Jersey Regiments in the Continental Army Pay Roll of Lt. Col. Daniel Whitings Company in the 6th Battalion of Mass Bay Forces Commanded by Col Tho Nixon for Nov 1779, Muster and payrolls 1777-1780, Muster/Payrolls and Various Papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War, Vol. [24] Judith L. Van Buskirk, Standing In Their Own Light: African American Patriots in the American Revolution (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2017), 118. NARA M881, page 5, via Fold3.com.