ABHL-03
John Jenkins Designs
Not yet released - expected in May.
Peter Salem (October 1st, 1750 – August 16th 1816) was an African American from Massachusetts who served as a soldier in the American Revolutionary War.
Born into slavery in Framingham, he was freed by his master, Major Lawson Buckminster, to serve in the local militia. He then enlisted in the Continental Army, serving for nearly five years during the war. Afterwards he married and worked as a cane weaver. A monument was erected to him in the late 19th Century at his grave in Framingham.
Salem took part in the war’s first battles at Concord on April 19th 1775. He was on the roll of Captain Simon Edgell’s militia company from Framingham.
On April 24th he enlisted in Captain Drury’s company of Colonel John Nixon’s 6th Massachusetts Regiment. Salem fought with this company in the Battle of Bunker Hill. According to Samuel Swett, who chronicled the battle, Salem had mortally wounded Marine’s officer John Pitcairn, although this has been disputed.
He was later to have fought at the battles of Saratoga and Stony Point.