In 2004, the National Park Service published Patriots of Color 'A Peculiar Beauty and Merit,' African Americans and Native Americans at Battle Road & Bunker Hill by George Quintal, Jr., Revolutionary War consultant. It includes a preface by noted historian Alfred F. Young, Senior Research Fellow, Newberry Library, Chicago, and is a definitive Boston National Historical Park and Minute Man National Historical Park research project that Mr. Quintal, Jr. conducted. The publication identifies and provides short narratives of 21 African Americans and Native Americans who fought during the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 and 103 African Americans and Native Americans who fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775.
In his introduction, Quintal notes that:
This report is definitely not the final word on the matter. More names will be found and more will be found about the Patriots already discovered. As feedback trickles in, corrections and additions will be made. Much work still needs to be done in the areas of church, deed, court, and probate research. But a foundation, hopefully strong and solid, has been laid. For men who possessed such dignity of purpose, a roll of honor has now been established. The memory of these men deserves no less.
The following entries list every Patriot of Color that forms this “Wall of Honor” from Quintal's original foundational work. As more research has come to light, new stories and additions by park staff, volunteers, and scholars continue to build upon that foundation through updated and additional profiles of Patriots of Color who served during the Revolution. The author may be contacted at george.quintal@yahoo.com
Locations:Boston National Historical Park, Saratoga National Historical Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park
Jude Hall enlisted in Exeter, New Hampshire into Capt. Jacob Hinds' company, in Col. James Reed’s regiment, and was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Locations:Boston National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park, Saratoga National Historical Park
Cuff Whittemore was present at Battle Road in Capt. Benjamin Locke's militia. He later enlisted in Arlington, Massachusetts in Capt. Benjamin Locke’s company, in Col. Thomas Gardner’s regiment, and was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill in the redoubt.
Locations:Boston National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park
Cato Smith was an enslaved African who was brought to Massachusetts Bay from Ghana in 1761 at the age of 10. In 1775 he was enslaved to the family of Captain William Smith of Lincoln. On April 24, 1775 he enlisted in the Massachusetts Army as a soldier and served until the end of the year. He enlisted again in late summer 1776 and died in service on January 23, 1777
Locations:Boston National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park
Caesar Ferrit, a Caribbean immigrant who fought at Lexington, Massachusetts alongside Patriot militia on April 19, 1775. Caesar settled in Natick, Ma and was said to have "the blood of four nations," African, Indigenous, French, and Dutch.
Aaron Oliver enlisted in New Ipswich, New Hampshire in the company of Capt. Ezra Town, in Col. James Reed’s New Hampshire regiment, and was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill at the east end of the rail fence.
Locations:Boston National Historical Park, Saratoga National Historical Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park
Abel Ephraim enlisted in Hopkinton, Massachusetts into the company of Capt. James Mellen, in Col. Jonathan Ward’s regiment, and was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Alexander Quapish enlisted in Dedham, Massachusetts in the company of Capt. Daniel Whiting, in Col. Jonathan Brewer’s regiment, and was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill at the diagonal.
Amos Tanner enlisted in Montville, Connecticut in the company of Capt. John Durkee, in Col. Israel Putnam’s regiment, and was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill at the rail fence. It is likely that he died in service.
Anthony Shaswell enlisted in Charlestown, Massachusetts in the company of Capt. Jonathan Davis, in Col. Asa Whitcomb’s regiment, and was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill at the rail fence.
