Clothing and payroll return document 1st Massachusetts regiment [Decimalized .01- .04]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09134 Author/Creator: Place Written: s.l. Type: Header Record Date: 1781-1783 Pagination: 59 p. Order a Copy
Manuscript clothing and payroll return documents listing many African American freemen who fought in this desegregated regiment during the Siege of Boston and at Trenton, Princeton, Saratoga, and Monmouth, and guarded the Hudson Highlands. These highly detailed accounts provide information on nine companies of the First Masachusetts, listing the rank, time of service, and pay rate for each man, deficiencies and surpluses, and a complete inventory of clothing supplied. Notes are made on men who have died, deserted (37 during 1783), or transferred regiments. The average page contains roughly 65 to 75 names, not distinguished by race. African American soldiers include: Newport Sambow, Cesar Freeman, Primus Coburn, Cato Debblee, Cato Foster, Gad Negro, Cato Gregor, Negro Boston, Cato Frost, Cesar Fairservice, York Kilburn, Peter Oliver, and numerous others.
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