Charles Stewart Rolls was born in 1877 as the third son of John Rolls, 1st Baron Llangattock. [Muster rolls, etc., 1743-1787] by Montgomery, Thomas Lynch, 1862- Publication date 1906 Topics Pennsylvania. Following the stalemate, Washington established camp at White Plains, just north of New York City.[21]. [43] "New York (State). Ten thousand more veterans applied the following year. Was he born into slavery? (file:///M|/highpoint/webdocs/state/darm/darm2011/guides/guides%20for%20p\ df/sdea1004.html)Tj The only definitive information about Freemans post-war life is that he resided in New York City by 1818. [2] A preliminary study of pension records from 1981 found that of 13,500 Revolutionary War veterans, more than half (54 percent) had moved from their home state after the war. WebUnder Dearborn the 3rd regiment was at the Battle of Monmouth, where some of its most soldierly men participated. Previous engagements: Defense of Canada, Lake Champlain, Northern New Jersey, Defense of Philadelphia, Philadelphia-Monmouth. 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. "Forten" Conant first appears on a list of men mustered by Colonel James Barrett, muster master of Middlesex County, on May 16, 1777. Hundreds of Indians enlisted in the Continental Army and many others, engaged as scouts in specialized units. [Names in bold are believed . 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. Recorded in the Monmouth Roll (the Another Native American tribe, the Catawba, assisted South Carolina militia commander, Colonel Thomas Sumter during the Second Battle of Hanging Rock on August 6, 1780. By November, Freeman transferred from his command post back to Haskell's company. By mid-December he had decided to encamp at Valley Forge. 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. Perhaps the most important outcome of the encampment was the armys maturation into a more professional force. 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. 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 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. BT 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. What follows are two stories presented as part of a possible whole: one of a man named Fortune Conant, who served for three years from 1777-1780, and disappeared after his discharge, and another about a man named Fortune Freeman, who claimed to have served the entirety of the war, struggled to live a life in the new nation in New York City, and ultimately died in poverty. American Revolution: Battle of Monmouth. For the British, General Sir Henry Clinton commanded 11,000 men under the leadership of Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis. The weather was extremely hot during the battle, and almost as many soldiers died from heatstroke as from battle. [10] Field and staff rolls 1775-1780, Muster/Payrolls and Various Papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War, Vol. In addition to the bonds not maturing, the Continental currency continued to devalue over the course of the war. His family home being the Rolls Mansion built just outside of Monmouth at He is currently a Supervisory Park Our FREE Virtual Teacher Institute is the can't miss online educator event of the summer. ET [15] Town records 1685-1779 Billerica, Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986, Middlesex County, Image 598, via FamilySearch.org. Perhaps in his old age, he believed he fought alongside those men, or maybe he embellished his service in the hopes of his pension application being accepted. WebThe Battle of Brandywine was the largest single day engagement of the American Revolution where nearly 30,000 soldiers (not including civilians, teamsters, servants, and Throughout his pension testimony, Freeman only names one company captain that he served under Captain Danforth. But if Freeman was not at Brandywine, was he still injured in the war? Many recent European arrivals sought fortune and honor by enlisting in the regiments of the states they now called home. Order of Battle. On June 17, 1775, as British redcoats marched up the heights of Bunker Hill outside of Boston, Massachusetts,they were met with a hail of musketry from the defenders of the earthen redoubt. 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. Hb``$WR~|@T#2S/`M. Six men are recorded as married and seven as single. WebOn September 11, 1777, General George Washington was determined to prevent the British from capturing the American seat of government, Philadelphia. NJDARM: Collection Guide - It is possible that Fortune Conant, a young man who enlisted either enslaved or perhaps recently freed, later changed his name. Also serving in various theaters of operations were Native American troops. Muster Roll dated August 24, 1780. John Armstrong. Included on those returns were the names of at least 755 Blacks serving in the ranks. 1851. p. 736 pgs. Elnathan Haskell's Company in the 4th Massachusetts Regt. The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Phill Greenwalt is co-founder of Emerging Revolutionary War and is also a full-time contributor to Emerging Civil War. Children's Muster drill during the 236th anniversary Battle of Monmouth re-enactment. Later muster rolls state that Fortune Conant officially enlisted in the Continental Army a few weeks later on June 4, 1777. Dunmore made several more attempts to gain a stronghold on the colony but in The warriors of these two tribes were among the last of Lafayettes forces to retreat across the Schuylkill River that day. endstream endobj 18 0 obj <> endobj 19 0 obj (~MLj5s) endobj 25 0 obj <> endobj 27 0 obj <> endobj 39 0 obj <> endobj 38 0 obj <> endobj 20 0 obj [/ICCBased 40 0 R] endobj 40 0 obj <>stream 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. Fortune Conant, a member of Thomas Nixon's Regiment, would have been at Saratoga, not Brandywine. uuid:3d7d0c57-d1b8-4aa6-b03e-56b0d8f90c70 In fact, there is no record of a "Fortune Freeman" in Danforth's company at all. 50, Image 668, via FamilySearch.org. ([5/16/2011 9:36:32 AM])Tj /Artifact <>BDC WebBattle of Monmouth (1778) Unit History The Regiment was authorized on April 27, 1775 in the Connecticut State Troops as the 4th Connecticut Regiment. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! Rather than wait for deliverance, the army located supplies, built log cabins to stay in, constructed makeshift clothing and gear, and cooked subsistence meals of their own concoction. Is it possible these two different identities tell the same story? Joseph Marsh's Company, 1794 387 Capt. Included in their ranksof2,400were approximately 120 Black militiamen, including Peter Salem. Their attack pushed the Americans out of the crossing. of soldiers who served in Massachusetts companies and regiments during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783. December 1775 to February 1776 - The battalion was mustered and organized at Burlington and Trenton to consist of eight companies from Gloucester, 2011-05-16T09:36:32-04:00 6. Join us online July 24-26! Provisions, though never abundant in the early months of the encampment, were available. Without finding Fortune's name in any Conant family records, we are left with questions about his early life. Journals of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts 1776-1777, Vol. In Fortune Freeman's testimony about his Revolutionary war service, he remembered enlisting under a Captain Elijah Danforth in 1776. NARA M804, page 4, via Fold3.com. WebThe Marylanders also fought at the Battle of Monmouth (June 1778). On May 6, 1778, the army joyously celebrated Frances alliance with and formal recognition of the United States as a sovereign power. 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 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. [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. The troops also constructed miles of trenches, five earthen forts (redoubts), and a state-of-the-art bridge over the Schuylkill River. Thomas Gibson, a free man of color from Guilford County, enlisted for two years service in 1781 and defended his home county that March. In his pension application, Freeman claimed to have first enlisted in Boston in 1776 in Captain Elijah Danforth's company, Colonel Thomas Nixon's regiment, later designated the 6th Massachusetts Regiment in 1779. Even in Washingtons home ofVirginia, Blacksoldiers fought in Virginia units. 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. By summer, Washington could claim that the war effort was going well. 0 -86 TD Mary Stockwell, Ph.D. Notes: 1. 18 756 576 -39.75 re in the service of the United States Commanded by William Shepard for the Month of 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. Perhaps he was, and he simply misremembered the battle. WebBattle of Monmouth, also called Battle of Monmouth Court House, (June 28, 1778), indecisive engagement in the American Revolution, fought at Monmouth, New Jersey. [27] Fortune Conant, Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War. uuid:97fc00cf-7f9f-47ec-8fe1-3e396fafbf5d 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. in American History and also has a B.A. NARA M881, page 5, via Fold3.com. When he needed financial assistance, he turned to the new country he served for help. 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. Though monetary value depreciated as the war progressed, were bounty payments used to purchase his freedom? Was Danforth's promotion to captain and participation in the war a motivating factor in Conant's enlistment? HyTSwoc [5laQIBHADED2mtFOE.c}088GNg9w '0 Jb Herkimer's militia, whichconsisted of 60-100 Native Americans from the Oneidatribe, were ambushed by the Seneca and Mohawk tribes in alliance with the Britishat the Battle of Oriskany. 9 0 0 9 5 779 Tm [30] Records of Military Operations and Service: Officers and Enlisted Men. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. NARA M804, page 10, via Fold3.com. Remarkably, one of the soldiers (a New Jersey There were Blacks servingin the reconstituted 1st and 2nd Virginia units that fought with General Nathanael Greene at the Battle of Guilford Court House. There were 35 warriors as part of the force, led by Generals New River, a Catwaba leader, and Billy Ayers along withMajor Jacob Ayers. WebCountless hours were spent scouring muster rolls, hospital records, and other primary source documents in an effort to identify the soldiers. Entered Valley Forge with 325 men assigned and 194 fit for duty. Colonel Company Peekskill, Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War, Vol. His bounty payments would not have hit their full value so soon after his first discharge. 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. In 1779, while the war slowed to a stalemate, conditions for the Maryland soldiers deteriorated. 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. In the spring of 1818, an old man named Fortune Freeman appeared before the Mayor's Court of New York City. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. Originally from Massachusetts, Freeman moved to New York City at some point after the war. [37] "From George Washington to William Heath, 29 October 1781," Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-07314. Archive.org. [3] Jack D. Warren Jr., America's First Veterans (Washington, DC: American Revolution Institute of the Society of Cincinnati, Inc., 2020), 97. He then said he reenlisted in Boston in 1780 into the same company and regiment. Elnathan Haskell's Company in the 4th Massachusetts Regt. Peter Salem was a freed slave from Massachusetts who is known for mortally wounding British Major John Pitcairn during the fighting at Bunker Hill. It is also worth noting that the dollars were paid in Continental dollars which were quickly depreciating in value. The successful conclusion of the Revolution marked only the beginning of the struggle for some individuals for personal liberty. WebNOTE: The following information was transcribed from the original Muster Roll held at the National Archives and Records Aministration, College Park, MD. [14] Records of Military Operations and Service: Officers and Enlisted Men. [2] Freeman did not have a unique experience as a veteran in poverty. [38] Fortune Freeman, Pension No. [25] "The American Revolution Timeline," George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. The troops who came to camp included men from all thirteen of the original states. )U!$5X3/9 ($5j%V*'&*r" (,!!0b;C2( I8/ The 38th served under various colonels' names until designated the 38th Regiment of Foot in 1751. While Wayne wanted to press the attack, Washington demurred, believing that his men were beat out and with heat and fatigue.. BT It is likely that Freeman decided to stay in New York after his discharge. [20] After a series of October battles, Burgoyne found himself surrounded by Gates' men and surrendered on October 17. Hannigan wrote that digging into muster rolls led him to "to believe that Fortune Freeman was originally a slave from Essex County, Massachusetts named Fortune Conant." 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. From March to May of the same year, he appeared on muster rolls dated at King's Ferry, a major crossing point on the Hudson. 32, Image 99, via FamilySearch.org. [23] Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783. 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. This series of battles and Nixon's presence in New York starting in July further support the idea that Freeman served at Saratoga and not Brandywine and witnessed a pivotal turning point in the American Revolution. 48, Image 88, via FamilySearch.org. Certainly, hardship did occur at Valley Forge, but the encampment experience could be characterized as suffering as usual, for privation was the continental soldiers constant companion. WebThis Revolutionary War Militia Arrangement provides a breakdown of the battalions and companies raised in each county and the names of the commanding officers. Mifflins Division|2nd Pennsylvania Brigade| 5th Pennsylvania Regiment. But when Cornwallis marched his army toward the Chesapeake Bay, Washington saw an opportunity to strike. Journal of the Early Republic 8, no. [8] Might a man named Fortune Conant, possibly enslaved, who may have been freed during service, changed his name, stating for all of posterity his status of being a "free man" prior to reenlisting in 1781? Where did he come from? 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 In February 1781, the unit merged with the 2nd Rhode Island. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. The law promised pensions to veterans "in reduced circumstances"[4] who had served at least nine months in the Continental Army. Regiments at Valley Forge. What would a desperately poor man claim to guarantee financial relief? Acrobat Web Capture 9.0 At the time of his application, Freeman showed his dire need for financial help. The Continental Army lost the battle and retreated, leaving Philadelphia in English hands, though most of Washington's troops survived. Old, destitute, and with little else to rely upon, Freeman sought financial assistance from the country he served for nearly six long years. NARA M881, page 4, via Fold3.com. WebOn December 9, 1775, three companies from the First joined the 2nd Virginia Regiment in defeating Dunmore's troops at the Battle of Great Bridge near Norfolk. There is no record of an African American serving higher than the rank of corporal in the main army. 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. WebMuster Roll Search the online database of people who served at Valley Forge. Webbefore the battle of Sedgemoor. 69, Image 144, via FamilySearch.org. Every Scottish regiment present at the battle has been recorded and the following are detailed: Stewarts of Appin, Atholl Brigade, Bannerman of Elsick's, Cameron of Locheil's, Chisholm of Bounty receipts: Suffolk, Essex, and Middlesex counties 1781-1782, Muster/Payrolls and Various Papers (1763-1808) of the Revolutionary War, Vol. An integrated military force representing the colonies was not exclusive to Washingtons main army. 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. Archive.org. 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. On one copy of a muster roll from April, Conant is listed as "on command on the lines. It is also possible that he lost contact with the pension program by moving, whether of his own volition or forced by outside circumstances. Webas a baggage guard at the Battle of Monmouth, N.J. (June 28, 1778). Web250 Capt. A muster roll of 61 Creek Indians and 3 slaves who arrived July 1848 under the charge of Ward Coachman. By summer, Washington could claim that the war effort was going well. 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. EMC Throughout the Revolution,the fightfor independencepermeated intoNative American tribes and alliances. When he returned to Massachusetts, he may have been able to finally claim freedom for himself. The Baron inspired a relish for the trade of soldiering that gave the troops a new sense of purpose and helped sustain them through many trials as they stuck to the task of securing independence. A muster roll of 16 Creek Indians who arrived presumably in late 1850 or early 1851. Might this be the same Fortune Freeman who later reenlisted, and eventually filed for a pension? Royal Army - under the command of the Earl of N')].uJr Ceys, Danforth - Dean, Samuel, Muster rolls (index file cards) of the Revolutionary War, 1767-1833 [Massachusetts], Image 1193, via FamilySearch.org. WebMuster Rolls & other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution 1775-1783 ( (HTML)) (Reprint ed.). The American Revolution is marked with a varying cast of diverse soldiers who fought for their independence. Taking up positions along Brandywine Creek, Washington mistakenly believed that his army blocked all fords across the Brandywine. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. To oppose them, General George Washington marched his 12,000-man army from New Jersey. In his pension, Freeman stated his discharge in 1780, which lines up with Conant's discharge. The expected arrival of the French greatly altered British war plans and triggered their evacuation of Philadelphia in June. However, a Fortune with the surname "Conant" did. wG xR^[ochg`>b$*~ :Eb~,m,-,Y*6X[F=3Y~d tizf6~`{v.Ng#{}}jc1X6fm;'_9 r:8q:O:8uJqnv=MmR 4 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. [39]"About 4,000 (22 percent) of the beneficiaries under the 1818 act chose not to submit to a means test. An advanced force of some 4,000 American troops was allocated to attack the marching British Army and cut it in half. Posted on September 17, 2014 by Sam Russell. By 1820, Congress amended the 1818 Pension Act. 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. 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. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. [19] Nixon's men comprised part of the main body of Gates' men during the September 19 Battle of Freeman's Farm and continued the campaign through the next month. Archive.org. Retrieved 29 May 2006. 2011-05-16T09:36:32-04:00 Phill graduated from George Mason University with a M.A. Contributed by Anjelica Oswald, Digital Public History Intern. However, no records indicate that a Fortune with the surname "Freeman" ever served under Danforth. When troubles threatened with the Colonies, the 38th was one of the first corps despatched from Ireland to America. However, when looking through muster rolls, there is no record of a "Fortune Freeman" enlisting in 1776 in Danforths company. By June, Freeman arrived in West Point, New York and appeared on muster rolls for Haskell's company.
battle of monmouth muster rolls