Recognizing African American And Wampanoags Who Fought For Freedom

 HARWICH – History tells us that Crispus Attucks was the first Black man killed in the Revolutionary War. He died during the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770. His legacy highlights the contribution of African American and Native American individuals in the fight for the country’s independence. 

But little is known about the contribution of Harwich African American, biracial soldiers and Native Americans who fought in the Revolutionary War.

Lynne Zalesak, a local historian and member of the Captain Joshua Gray-Jonathan Hatch Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Cemetery Administrator Robbin Kelley have been doing research and will be recognizing the contributions of Native American and African American residents in October at the dedication of the Walk Of Remembrance in Evergreen Cemetery in East Harwich, a town memorial that will recognize the more than 400 local soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War.

 “Of the over 400 men who served from this town during the Revolutionary War, there is a segment that is very rarely thought of, those being the men of African or Native American descent,” Zalesak said in recognizing those residents’ contributions during the town’s Memorial Day ceremony in May. 

 “As of this time, we know there are at least 12 of these men from Harwich. Like many others, at least two of these 12 were lost while serving, but all deserved to be recognized for their service,” she said.

Among the African American and biracial soldiers from Harwich who fought in the Revolutionary War were Jesse Ceasar, David Chase Jr., Thomas Coff, Sparrow Crosby, Tully Crosby, Absalom Tobey and Jonathan Lincoln. Caesar also fought in the French and Indian War, and his daughter received a pension for his service.

Members of both the Potonumecot and Sauquatuckett tribes also took to the battlefield. They included John Baptist (also spelled Baptiss), listed as Native American; John Davis of the Potenumecut tribe, Thomas Jolley of the Sauquatuckett tribe, David Moses of the Potonumecot tribe and Thomas Ralph, listed as “Indian Yarmouth.”

Ralph died in Old Mill Prison in England on Jan. 21,1782 and Davis was reported deceased in 1777. Jolley also served in the French and Indian War in 1760. 

 “We honor the African American and biracial men of Harwich who served with bravery and dedication in this fight for independence and promise of liberty for all. We honor the Native men from Potonumecot and Sauquatuckett tribes who answered the call to defend liberty and fought alongside the Continental Army for American Independence,” a program put together by the town reads.

It has been estimated that 1,570 African Americans from Massachusetts served in the Continental Army and state militia during the Revolutionary War. The vast majority were fighting men and all were put in harm’s way, according to research provided by Kelley. 

Seventeen men from Harwich gave their lives fighting for American independence from 1775 to 1783, according to Kelley. They were Bangs Atwood, Elkanah Bangs, Edward Covell, John Davis, Josiah Ellis, Joseph Freeman, Giles Hopkins, Isaac Laha, Daniel Phillips, Thomas Ralph, Enoch Ross, Ebenezer Snow, Edward Snow, Samuel Snow, Herman Tobey, Crocker Young and John Young.

 “These brave men answered the call to defend the ideas of freedom and self-government at the birth of our nation,” said Kelley. “Many of these soldiers died at Valley Forge, Penn., during the harsh winter encampment of the Continental Army under the leadership of General George Washington. It is estimated that between 1,700 and 2,000 soldiers perished there from disease, malnutrition and exposure to the bitter cold and wet conditions.

 “Their service helped shape a new nation founded on liberty, courage and perseverance,” she said.