In the Service of America: Berkshire’s Black Soldiers and Veterans of the Revolution

This virtual talk by historian Cynthia Farr Brown will look at some of the stories of the Black men from the Berkshires who served in the Continental Army and as minutemen and militia during the American Revolution, as well as what happened to veterans living in the Berkshires after the war was over. You may have heard of Agrippa Hull, but perhaps not about his comrade in arms Frank Duncan; Bacchus Boardman, who came from the eastern part of Massachusetts, served in New York, and made his way to Pittsfield where he lived out his life; and Paul Freeman, promised his freedom after the war by his enslaver, who petitioned the town of Sandisfield to fulfill this promise after his former master died in service. 

Brown volunteers with the Berkshire County Historical Society at Arrowhead. She also serves on the executive committee of Berkshire Educational Resources K12 (BERK12). She has a doctorate in United States history and her scholarly publications have included co-editing the institutional history, “Lesley University: Celebrating Excellence 1909-2009” as well as other book chapters and articles. She is currently Senior Associate Commissioner for Regulatory and Veterans Affairs at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.

FREE – please email melville@berkshirehistory.org for zoom link