African Americans in the Revolutionary War

James Armistead

Wentworth Cheswell

James Armistead was born as a slave in 1748. His owner granted him permission to enlist as a spy in the Constitutional Army. He posed as a runaway slave and gathered valuable information for the Constitutional Army. Because of his reports, George Washington was able to prevent British reinforcements at the Battle of Yorktown.

Unlike Armistead, Wentworth Cheswell was born a free man. He was the first black man to own land in New Hampshire. He first entered the public eye in 1768 as a stalwart in his local church. Cheswell served in many different political roles, including town constable and Justice of the Peace. An important moment in Cheswell's life was when he rode all night in order to warn his community of a planned British attack. Cheswell is known for being the first black to hold public office.