PHILADELPHIA, PA.- Timothy Caesar. Cuff Liberty. Jabez Pottage. Jonas Sunsaman. Nearly 200 rare documents bearing the names of Black and Native American soldiers who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War will soon be accessible to everyone at no cost, thanks to a new partnership between Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution and Ancestry®, the global leader in family history and consumer genomics .
The Patriots of Color Archive was acquired by the Museum in 2022 from a private collection, following the generous contributions of several donors. The collection of original muster rolls, pay vouchers, enlistment papers, discharge forms, and other documents was assembled from auctions, rare manuscript dealers, and other collectors over the past two decades.
As part of their commitment to preserving history that is at-risk of being forgotten, Ancestry is digitizing the collection and making it available online at no cost. Once digitized, everyone will have the opportunity to explore the lives of hundreds of veterans of color, from home, and better understand their often complex relationship to the American Revolution.
“At least 5,000 men of color fought in the Continental Army, but their stories aren’t as known as they should be,” said Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, Museum President and CEO. “This archive allows us to explore the extraordinary lives of these men who helped to secure independence, yet who have not received the recognition they deserve as American Founders. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Ancestry to share these rich human stories with the world.”
Several documents from the Patriots of Color Archive are currently on display in the Museum’s groundbreaking special exhibition Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia, which officially opens to the public on Feb. 11, 2023. The exhibit explores the life and legacy of free Black Philadelphian James Forten and his family’s tireless pursuit of liberty and equality for all, from the Revolutionary era through the Civil War and Reconstruction.
The documents on display in Black Founders include a 1779 pay receipt that documents the names of 49 enlisted men from the 1st Rhode Island Regiment; a 1783 discharge signed by General George Washington for Black soldier Brister Baker, who served for six years in the Continental Army; a 1780 voucher that documents compensation received by Tuis Sharper, a Connecticut soldier of African and Native American ancestry, who served in uniform for at least six years, including nearly a year
