Fortune Freeman, Pension No. Ross is often credited with sewing the first American flag, thirteen red and white stripes with thirteen stars in a field of blue in the corner. 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. 0 -2.182 TD Within two months, however, Washington reversed this decision, and despite many attempts to block Blacks from serving their country, hundreds of Blacks enlisted nonetheless. 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. Nevertheless, perhaps he encountered difficulties with work, and his bounty monies did not hold out as long as he had hoped. 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. But when Cornwallis marched his army toward the Chesapeake Bay, Washington saw an opportunity to strike. American attack at the Battle of Monmouth on 28th June 1778 in the American Revolutionary War. Colonel Company Peekskill, Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War, Vol. From free and enslaved Blacks, to Native Americans, native born colonists, to foreign recruits, Washington's integrated army was a diverse and unique fighting force for a longand grueling eight-year war. Their roles in Washingtons army included pioneer duties, such as constructing fortifications and clearing roads to musicians, guides, spies, and rank-and-file infantrymen. The Black private joined thousands of other veterans in a post-war exodus from their home states. With that tattered discharge note, we now can follow Fortune Freeman's paper trail, which begins in 1781 in Hingham, Massachusetts. The army compensated full-time women followers for rendering such valuable services as laundering and nursing. You can browse these by regiment. For those covering the date of the Battle of Waterloo you can also search by an individuals name. From 1816 to 1856, the musters are principally of the Royal Corps of Sappers and Miners, and list only NCOs and other ranks. The two merged in 1856, as the Royal Engineers To better understand and appreciate what happened at Valley Forge, it is helpful to know how the encampment fits into the context of the American Revolution (1775-1783). The 1st Continental Artillery Regiment, raised in Virginia and commanded by Col. Charles Harrison, had marched from New York in April 1780 to the support of Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, whose force was under siege at Charleston, South Carolina. One of the most notable contributions came from the Oneida, who sent aid and a contingent of warriors to Valley Forge. Posted on September 17, 2014 by Sam Russell. 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. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! His bounty payments would not have hit their full value so soon after his first discharge. The Continental Army lost the battle and retreated, leaving Philadelphia in English hands, though most of Washington's troops survived. "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 Fortune Freeman recalled that he participated in the September 11, 1777 Battle of Brandywine, where he claimed to have been "wounded in the thigh by a musket ball. [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. 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. Freeman swore to his inability to work and need for government assistance to survive, declaring: I am infirm, and unable to labour, except in doing light work in which I can only obtain casual employment, and for which I can obtain scarcely more than mere nominal wages. His cause of death or later whereabouts remain unknown. "Forten" Conant first appears on a list of men mustered by Colonel James Barrett, muster master of Middlesex County, on May 16, 1777. 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. WebBattle of Monmouth, also called Battle of Monmouth Court House, (June 28, 1778), indecisive engagement in the American Revolution, fought at Monmouth, New Jersey. 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. Archive.org. 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. Colonel William Prescott's militiaheld their own until ammunition ran low, repulsing the British from Bunker Hill. Provisions, though never abundant in the early months of the encampment, were available. Valley Forge was not the darkest hour of the Revolutionary War; it was a place where an already accomplished group of professionals stood their ground, honed their craft, and thwarted one of the major British offensives of the war. Examining the possible connection between Fortune Conant and Fortune Freeman can help uncover potential motivations Freeman had for enlisting in the war. S 43,572, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. Peter Salem was a freed slave from Massachusetts who is known for mortally wounding British Major John Pitcairn during the fighting at Bunker Hill. 6. S 43,572, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. WebThe muster rolls from the War of 1812 are a miscellaneous group of nine companies (mostly from East Tennessee) that served as volunteers or militia during the war. 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. 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. S 43,572, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. While the soldiers who entered camp on December 19, 1777, were not well-supplied, they were not downtrodden. As the sound of combat grew fainter, the battle for individual rights began. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! 32, Image 104, via FamilySearch.org. WebThis Revolutionary War Militia Arrangement provides a breakdown of the battalions and companies raised in each county and the names of the commanding officers. 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 [25] "The American Revolution Timeline," George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. And then later, records show that a "Fortune Freeman" enlisted in 1781 into the 4th Massachusetts, serving until discharge in 1783. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. NARA M804, page 10, via Fold3.com. 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 50, ed. If Freeman is the same man "on command" with Scammell, he undoubtedly fought at Yorktown. It is also possible that he lost contact with the pension program by moving, whether of his own volition or forced by outside circumstances. endstream endobj 5 0 obj <> endobj 6 0 obj <> endobj 3 0 obj <> endobj 7 0 obj <> endobj 11 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Type/Page>> endobj 12 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]>>/Type/Page>> endobj 13 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]>>/Type/Page>> endobj 14 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]>>/Type/Page>> endobj 15 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]>>/Type/Page>> endobj 36 0 obj <>stream But the stories of these men are important to tell when we look back at our nations founding to see who served in the war that secured the independence of the United States. 2011-05-16T09:36:31-04:00 1783, after a brief stay in Halifax, returned home to England. Fortune Conant's name also does not appear in any land records.[11]. [5] John P. Resch. It appears that Freeman, presumably because of his lengthy combat and campaign experience, is listed as "on command" with a Colonel Alexander Scammel, who led a New Hampshire regiment. The 38th was stationed at Fort Washington and Long Island during the war and was involved in the following conflicts: Muster Books and Pay Lists 12-5171-5172 Shelf List.pdf. The Catawba had taken part in an earlier raid against a British position with Sumter as well. Some of the muster rolls provide the date when duty began, and in the case of officers, the date of their commission, and perhaps some additional comments indicating such types of information as whether they were detached on special duty or the dates of any desertions. 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. https://www.loc.gov/collections/george-washington-papers/articles-and-essays/timeline/the-american-revolution/. Recorded in the Monmouth Roll (the Order of Battle. Throughout the Revolution,the fightfor independencepermeated intoNative American tribes and alliances. 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. [44] United States Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872, Vol. WebListed below is a copy of the muster roll of Captain Maroneys Company of Flying Camp: Roll of Captain Philip Maroneys Company, Flying Camp, Maryland August 5, 1776 -List of the members of Captain Philip Maroneys Company, in the Flying Camp, August 5, 1776, enlisted in the Middletown District and elsewhere, Frederick County, Maryland. [28] Conant also appeared in a bounty note issued by the State of Massachusetts Bay on January 1, 1780. WebA unique historical record compiled from the rolls made by the Hanoverian army of the Duke of Cumberland after the Battle of Culloden in 1746. A muster roll of 34 Creek Indians who arrived Jan. 27th, 1852. Taking up positions along Brandywine Creek, Washington mistakenly believed that his army blocked all fords across the Brandywine. As for Mary, why was she bound out, and when did her service start? The British soon tested the Continental Armys newfound discipline at the Battle of Monmouth, which took place in central New Jersey on June 28, 1778. 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. WebBattle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778 Wyoming Valley Massacre, July 3, 1778 Battle of Rhode Island, Aug. 29, 1778 Tryon's Attack upon New Haven, etc., July 5-10, 1779 Storming of Stony Point, July 15, 1779 Sullivan's Indian Raid, July-Aug., 1779 Battle of Springfield, N. J., June 23, 1780 Affair of Fort George, N. Y., Oct. 11, 1780 Hb``$WR~|@T#2S/`M. A muster roll of 16 Creek Indians who arrived presumably in late 1850 or early 1851. Hingham, though much smaller than Boston, sat on the same vital harbor that brought in goods, and more importantly in the later war years, support from France in the form of troops, arms, and money. uuid:97fc00cf-7f9f-47ec-8fe1-3e396fafbf5d There is no pension file relating to Frederick because he was not married and did not have any minor children or aged parents dependant upon him for support. WebFrom 1878 to 1898, all muster rolls and pay lists are in WO 16. This is attested to by an anonymous observer who recounted his visit to Valley Forge in the New Jersey Gazette on December 25: I have just returned from spending a few days with the army. Furthermore, Fortune Freeman presented a discharge from the 4th Massachusetts, but Danforth's company served in what later became numbered the 6th Massachusetts. He died of typhoid fever at North Mountain, Virginia, June 3, 1863. To accomplish this, the British commander in chief, Sir William Howe, landed nearly 17,000 of His Majestys finest troops at the head of Chesapeake Bay. Muster rolls of the participating companies of American militia and minute-men in the battle of April 19, 1775, mostly from the archives of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, but a few from other sources " 78 p Photocopy Addeddate 2008-01-24 16:23:44 Call number 2735985 Inflation and depreciation meant that these bounty payments were not worth their face value by the time soldiers were paid. EMC Download the official NPS app before your next visit, https://blogs.brandeis.edu/revolutions/2013/12/10/the-many-lives-of-fortune-freeman/, https://revolutionarywar.us/continental-army/massachusetts/, https://www.loc.gov/collections/george-washington-papers/articles-and-essays/timeline/the-american-revolution/, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-03961, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-05812, https://www.socnh.org/alexander-scammell/, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-07314, https://snaccooperative.org/ark:/99166/w6129qv4. By the end of 1818, the program cost nearly $2 million.[7]. During the action at Barren Hill, Oneida soldiershelped delay the advancing British force. WebThe New Jersey Historical Society stated that in 1760 the regiment was part of the final campaign against the French in Canada. A unique historical record compiled from the rolls made by the Hanoverian army of the Duke of Cumberland after the Battle of Culloden in 1746. /TT0 1 Tf The Battle of Monmouth was fought on June 28, 1778, during the American Revolution (1775-1783). Major General Charles Lee commanded 12,000 men of the Continental Army under the leadership of General George Washington. For the British, General Sir Henry Clinton commanded 11,000 men under the leadership of Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis. He then said he reenlisted in Boston in 1780 into the same company and regiment. The American Revolution is marked with a varying cast of diverse soldiers who fought for their independence. He stated that he continued to serve in the same regiment until his honorable discharge in 1783. The Continental Army was primed and ready to move on to the next level just as a charismatic former Prussian army officer, Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus von Steuben, arrived in camp in February 1778. The largest conglomeration of tribes, the Iroquois Confederacy, split along regional lines. A muster roll of 4 Creek Indians who arrived Sep. 23rd, 1851. If Freeman served earlier in the war as Fortune Conant, he would have already been familiar with the New York terrain, and in the intervening months between his possible first discharge and his reenlistment, not much had changed. [6] Congress estimated wrong. [15] Town records 1685-1779 Billerica, Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986, Middlesex County, Image 598, via FamilySearch.org. 0.298 scn Left Valley Forge with 306 assigned, 194 fit for duty. For Washington to split his army and keep half in New York and half on the march, he had to assemble units quickly that could march with speed. When he needed financial assistance, he turned to the new country he served for help. This With no other information provided, Mary's terms of service are unknown, and it is unclear what happened to her later in life. The only definitive information about Freemans post-war life is that he resided in New York City by 1818. 1851. The tribes closest to the American settlements along the eastern seaboard sided with the Patriots. Index card abstracts of accounts, muster and pay rolls, descriptive lists and accounts, etc. In a History of Billerica, Massachusetts, a William Conant is listed as taxed in the town from 1776 to 1779, and his daughter Betsey, is stated as being baptized there in August 1795. 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. /Artifact <>BDC Later muster rolls state that Fortune Conant officially enlisted in the Continental Army a few weeks later on June 4, 1777. BT Following the stalemate, Washington established camp at White Plains, just north of New York City.[21]. From there, Freeman did not mention any specific event until 1780, but muster rolls document Conant's presence in 1779. S 43,572, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. Ceys, Danforth - Dean, Samuel, Muster rolls (index file cards) of the Revolutionary War, 1767-1833 [Massachusetts], Image 1193, via FamilySearch.org. Freeman may have moved to Hingham to try and start a new life as maritime towns had generally more job opportunities than farming towns. Might this be the same Fortune Freeman who later reenlisted, and eventually filed for a pension? S 43,572, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. 1, Image 114, via FamilySearch.org. Royal Army - under the command of the Earl of : Stackpole Books. An integrated military force representing the colonies was not exclusive to Washingtons main army. 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. Every purchase supports the mission. John Ward Dean, A.M. (Boston: New England Historic and Genealogical Society, 1896), 474. [39]"About 4,000 (22 percent) of the beneficiaries under the 1818 act chose not to submit to a means test. %PDF-1.6 % Was he enticed by the hope for a new nation? WebMost unit muster rolls did not specify the race of soldiers. 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]. [1] Fortune Freeman, Pension No. Previous engagements: Defense of Canada, Lake Champlain, Northern New Jersey, Defense of Philadelphia, Philadelphia-Monmouth. WebThe three major events were the Battle of the Brandywine on September 11, 1777; the Valley Forge Encampment from December 19, 1777 through June 19, 1778; and the Many Blacks who fought and were enslaved fought for their freedom and independence as a person of color. What about his parents or any siblings? Stop the Largest Rezoning in Orange County History, The American Revolution in Indian Country: Crisis and Diversity in Native American Communities (Studies in North American Indian History), Native Americans in the American Revolution: How the War Divided, Devastated, and Transformed the Early American Indian World, The Effects of Weather on 18th Century Warfare, Allies and Enemies: British and American Attitudes towards Native Americans during the Revolution, African Americans in the Armed Forces Timeline, 5 Surprising Places to Find Native American Influence in History. "Politics and Public Culture: The Revolutionary War Pension Act of 1818." Charles Stewart Rolls was born in 1877 as the third son of John Rolls, 1st Baron Llangattock. ). ET Phill Greenwalt is co-founder of Emerging Revolutionary War and is also a full-time contributor to Emerging Civil War. The women present at Valley Forge included hundreds of enlisted mens wives who followed the army year round, and some officers wives on extended visits. At some point, probably in 1778, Carr was promoted to lieutenant. 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. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. 50, Image 664, via FamilySearch.org. Did he have any other family? N')].uJr Elnathan Haskell's Company in the 4th Massachusetts Regt. [31] Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War, Vol. Elnathan Haskell's Company in the 4th Massachusetts Regt. In addition to the bonds not maturing, the Continental currency continued to devalue over the course of the war. [Muster rolls, etc., 1743-1787] by Montgomery, Thomas Lynch, 1862- Publication date 1906 Topics Pennsylvania. In 1777, British strategy included a plan to capture Philadelphia, the patriot capital. There were 35 warriors as part of the force, led by Generals New River, a Catwaba leader, and Billy Ayers along withMajor Jacob Ayers. Journal of the Early Republic 8, no. Some enslaved men found freedom in fighting. [18] Fortune Freeman, Pension No. Yet, they were present at every engagement and shivered through every winter. WebBattle of Monmouth (1778) Unit History The Regiment was authorized on April 27, 1775 in the Connecticut State Troops as the 4th Connecticut Regiment. WebMuster Roll Search the online database of people who served at Valley Forge. Just four days later, on May 19, 1778, Oneida Native Americans, joined with Daniel Morgans Virginia riflemen to spearhead the first movement of Washingtons army from Valley Forge. Militia, United States -- History Revolution, Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. The story of one of the most famous revolutionary women, Betsy Ross, is likely just that - a story. The sound that would have reached your ears on approaching the camp was not that of a forlorn howling wind, but rather that of hammers, axes, saws, and shovels at work. Additionally, no recorded Massachusetts regiments participated at Brandywine during the battle. Archive.org. 2021 Valley Forge Legacy Muster Roll Project. 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 On May 6, 1778, the army joyously celebrated Frances alliance with and formal recognition of the United States as a sovereign power. Washington's Officers at Valley Forge. [26] Muster roll of Lieut. 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. Aaron Longstreet's roll, 2 October 1776 310 Muster roll of Major Van Cortland's Company, 6 September 1779 317 Payroll of Capt. However, when looking through muster rolls, there is no record of a "Fortune Freeman" enlisting in 1776 in Danforths company. Following this amendment, Freeman reapplied. E Troop, 7th Cavalry Regiment, Muster Roll. Mary Stockwell, Ph.D. Notes: 1. There is no record, however, of any Fortune Freeman or Conant that served in Nixon's regiment after June 4, 1780. BT 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. However, no records indicate that a Fortune with the surname "Freeman" ever served under Danforth. WebDuring 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, In his pension application, Fortune Freeman asserted his presence at several well-known and significant battles during the Revolutionary War. x- [ 0}y)7ta>jT7@t`q2&6ZL?_yxg)zLU*uSkSeO4?c. R -25 S>Vd`rn~Y&+`;A4 A9 =-tl`;~p Gp| [`L` "AYA+Cb(R, *T2B- WebMuster Rolls & other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution 1775-1783 ( (HTML)) (Reprint ed.). By February 1822, nearly 12,000 veterans were back onabout 20,000 veterans took the pauper's oath and submitted to the means test; and all but 2,000 got the benefit." 2 (1988): 13958. Disease, not cold or starvation, was the true scourge of the camp. Leavened by WebCountless hours were spent scouring muster rolls, hospital records, and other primary source documents in an effort to identify the soldiers. For the British, they were prepared about once every 182 days. Commanded the Grenadier Company of the Rangers from August 6, 1776 to October 24, 1778. December 1775 to February 1776 - The battalion was mustered and organized at Burlington and Trenton to consist of eight companies from Gloucester, Battle of Monmouth. 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. If Freeman had bounty bonds from prior service as Fortune Conant, they would not mature until 1785. And sometimes, the paper trail ends without any conclusive findings. Arriving to the court with merely the clothes on his back, Freeman provided few details about his personal life in his statement. Throughout his pension testimony, Freeman only names one company captain that he served under Captain Danforth. [38] The 4th Massachusetts disbanded in West Point, New York in November of 1783. Remarkably, one of the soldiers (a New Jersey Transportation problems made large-scale winter operations infeasible. By providing evidence of his need, Freeman continued to receive his pension. in the service of the United States Commanded by William Shepard for the Month of 18 756 576 -39.75 re Contributed by Anjelica Oswald, Digital Public History Intern. [20] After a series of October battles, Burgoyne found himself surrounded by Gates' men and surrendered on October 17. 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. To oppose them, General George Washington marched his 12,000-man army from New Jersey. It is also worth noting that the dollars were paid in Continental dollars which were quickly depreciating in value. NARA M804. While encamped at Valley Forge, General Washington asked for a delegation of Oneida and Tuscarora warriors sent to his army. "[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.
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