The Black Patriots Project is working to uncover the history of African American soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War. Dymond Bush, a librarian and member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, discovered that she was a direct descendant of two Black Patriots who fought in the war.
Researching Family History
Bush spent years researching her family tree, gathering birth and death certificates, marriage proof, and other documents to prove her connection to the Black Patriots. She found that one of her ancestors, Michael Anthony, was a free Black man who fought in Rhode Island’s 1st Regiment, a group made up primarily of African American and Native American soldiers.
Taryn Kennedy, a Research Specialist for African American Genealogy with the DAR, notes that researching the history of Black Patriots can be challenging, especially for those who were enslaved. Many enslaved people did not have birth or death certificates, and were often buried in unmarked graves. Kennedy emphasizes the importance of sharing and documenting this history, saying, “It’s a privilege for us to be able to find this information, learn about our people, and figure out how we got to be where we are today.”
Uncovering Forgotten History
Solomon Titus Taylor, another descendant of a Black Patriot, spent years researching his family’s history. He discovered that his ancestor, Ishmael Titus, was an enslaved person who was sold to a man in North Carolina and later enlisted in the Continental Army to fight in his place. Titus served in many battles, including the Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina, but was denied a war pension in 1832 due to lack of a signature on his war papers.
Today, many states and genealogical societies, including the DAR and Sons of the American Revolution, have dedicated teams of researchers working to uncover more about the history of Black Patriots. The DAR even has a section on their website with tips on how to research Patriots of Color.
Kennedy recommends talking to older family members about names and stories as a good place to start when researching your family tree. Taylor emphasizes the importance of recognizing the contributions of Black Patriots, saying, “We need to make sure the generations behind us understand that this has been our journey. And those who came before us should be recognized for what they’ve done.”
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
