06/19/2026
Black soldiers, both enslaved and free men, served in New England colonial militias throughout the 18th century, and this held true when the Revolution began in 1775. Initially, the newly formed Continental Army dismissed soldiers of African descent, but in time George Washington allowed the enlistment of free men of color. Eventually, facing manpower shortages, he ended the Army ban on enlisting slaves.
When war broke out in 1775 and fighting dragged on, opportunities arose for free and enslaved Black men to consider, if they had a choice, serving in the American military as a potential avenue to greater personal independence. The men could earn money serving as substitutes for others in the community. Financial inducements, such as enlistment bonuses and land grants, could be used to buy an enlistee’s freedom or the freedom of a family member. Others were inspired by the idealism of freedom from oppression.
Researchers have identified approximately 30 veterans of color who served from the Cape, though there were likely many more. Documentation was not well kept or is missing completely. For more information on this topic, see an article by local researcher Jack Duggan on our website: https://www.hsoy.org/aa-soldiers-of-the-revolution
