Table of Contents
What happened Salem poor?
He was jailed briefly in 1799 for “breach of peace” and married a fourth time to an unknown woman in 1801. Salem Poor died in 1802 at the age of 55 and was interred at Copps Hill Burial Ground near Boston, Massachusetts.
How was Salem Poor treated?
Many New England families treated their slaves as live-in servants and near family members, which may have been the case in the Poor family. Salem Poor purchased his freedom on July 10, 1769, from John Poor Jr. for 27 pounds, a year’s salary for an average working man at the time.
Who was Salem Poor and what did he do?
Salem Poor was one of three dozen African Americans who fought on Bunker Hill. As many as 5000 soldiers, both free and enslaved African Americans fought for the Patriots.
Where was Salem Poor from?
Andover, MA
Salem Poor/Place of birth
What did Peter Salem do?
Peter Salem was a Patriot of the American Revolutionary War, who spent two months fighting alongside his former owners at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. Salem is credited with killing British Major John Pitcairn during the Battle of Bunker Hill.
When and where was Salem Poor born?
1747, Andover, MA
Salem Poor/Born
How did Peter Salem contribute to the American Revolution?
Why is Peter Salem important to the American Revolution?
Peter Salem, a slave who was freed to fight in his master’s militia, is credited for stepping forward at a critical point in the Battle of Bunker Hill outside Boston in 1775; he fired the shot that killed British Royal Marine Major John Pitcairn.
How did Peter Salem earn his freedom?
Peter Salem (October 1, 1750–August 16, 1816) was an African-American from Massachusetts who served as a U.S. soldier in the American Revolutionary War. Born into slavery in Framingham, he was freed by a later master, Major Lawson Buckminster, to serve in the local militia.
When was Salem Poor born?
Why was Peter Salem given his freedom?
John Pitcairn at Bunker Hill. Shortly after the battle, General George Washington declared that enslaved people could no longer be recruited for the militia. In response to the decree, Salem’s owners granted him freedom so he could continue to fight.
What did Peter Salem do for a living?
Following the Revolution, Salem moved to Salem, Massachusetts, and married Katy Benson in September 1783. The couple built a cabin near Leicester, Massachusetts, and Salem worked as a cane weaver in the area. However, they struggled financially, and Salem supplemented his income with gardening and furniture repair.