Anita Wills  

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  Date / Time: 7/3/2009 11:49 PM UTC

  African American Soldiers in the Revolutionary War
  

     The 4th of July is in some ways bittersweet for our family. It is a cause to celebrate because we are descendants of several Revolutionary War Veterans'.  These Revolutionary War Soldiers are related from our Maternal line. They resided in Colonial Virginia, and were referred to as, Free Persons of Color (fpc). We are mindful of the slaves who were caught in the middle of this event. They may have believed that this was an event which would end in their freedom, but that did not happen. The Soldiers of Color who fought in the War, may have held that belief as well. My family honors our ancestors who fought in this War, and those whose freedom was put on hold. We had ancestors who were free, and others who were slaves. This is article is about our ancestors who were Seamen and Soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Charles and Ambrose Lewis, and Rawley and Robert Pinn. 

     Charles, and Ambrose Lewis were brothers, who served in the Revolutionary War. Their place of birth was probably King George County Virginia, where they were in 1771, when the courts sentenced them to serve twenty year indentures. The law at the time required that Mulatto males serve twenty year indentures, while females served thirty years. The pro ported father of Ambrose and Charles, was John Lewis, and the mother  a Mulatto woman named, Josephine. John Lewis was the Grandson of Zachary Lewis, whose family intermarried with the Washington's, Smiths, and Spotswood's. 

       Ambrose was the younger of the brothers being born about 1758, while Charles was born about 1756. In Ambrose Revolutionary War Pension application for 1818, he is about sixty years old, which set his birth year at 1758. When the war broke out, Ambrose was about eighteen years old, and  Charles about twenty. They were serving their indentures on the Page Galley, as Seamen on the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg Virginia. They served three years as Seamen, before signing on as regular Soldiers. The brothers saw more action as Soldiers when they fought at the Battle of Camden South Carolina. Ambrose was bayoneted clean through, and shot nine times, and taken prisoner by the British. It is interesting to note that his life was saved by the British, as he was critically injured.

       Another Seamen and Soldier with the brothers was Benjamin Lewis, the younger brother of John Lewis. John Lewis was born in 1724, but Benjamin was born about 1744, and was closer in age to Charles and Ambrose. Later, Benjamin would take up residence in Richmond along with Charles. Ambrose and his wife Fanny lived in Fredericksburg, and he worked sporadically as a Dray man. In Richmond, Charles Lewis, and his wife, Susanna owned land, and a Mill at Rockets Landing, as well as a  Plantation. They also owned slaves, and in The City of Alexandria, several manumitted slaves gave Charles Lewis name as their former owner. Not only did Charles live in Richmond he owned property in Northumberland County. Charles did quite well for a Mulatto in Colonial Virginia, possibly because of the Lewis influence, in the region.

      Rawley Pinn was born in Lancaster County Virginia, in Indian Town. His parents were Robert and Margaret Pinn. After completing an indenture as a Cooper, Rawley left Lancaster County and moved further inward, eventually settling in Amherst County. He was a minuteman in Amherst County, before signing on as a Soldier. The Unit marched to Yorktown and along the way joined with Marquis De Lafayette's Troops. They were the soldiers waiting for a signal from George Washington to join the battle known as The Siege of Yorktown. Rawley, along with his unit, converged on the Battle Field, and won the battle.

       Joining Rawley on the Battle Field was his brother Robert, and nephews, Billy, Jim, and John. The fact that they were in the same unit tells me that there was communication, although they were separated by distance. Rawley's nephew Jim was killed during the Siege of Yorktown, according to the Pension Records his brother John left. At the time of the Battle, the family was living in Indian town, in Lancaster County Virginia. At the end of the War Rawley returned to Amherst County, and to his family. He was married to Sarah Evans, and the father of several children, including, James Pinn (my direct ancestor), Edy Pinn, Anne Pinn, and Turner Pinn. Rawley obtained land and was a prominent Farmer in Amherst County. His son Turner was also a prominent Farmer in the area for many years. James Pinn died at a young age of unknown causes, and his land first went to his widow, and then Turner Pinn.

       It is with pride that I share the stories of my ancestors this 4th of July Weekend.

   

  
  

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  • Revolutionary War
  • Siege of Yorktown
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