Smith and Young Families of northern Rhode Island



Rhode Island's Wall of Shame: Permanent Deserters and other "Problems" on the 2005
"Black Regiment" Monument on Rhode Island State Property in Portsmouth,
Rhode Island, or, How Liberals Distort and Twist American History. . .





by Daniel M. Popek (Army Brat, Author, Indepedent Historian, and Descendant of an Enlisted Soldier who served six years in Rhode Island's Continental Line)






Introduction

Hello. My name is Dan. I was born in Rhode Island, but moved around a lot growing up in a U.S. Army family. Mostly I lived in the South and three years in West
Germany during my youth. My Army Brat experience was an education that few Ivy League graduates receive, and as my father was an active duty U.S. Army Officer for
over 20 years, I learned a lot about how military units are organized, supplied, led, and what their missions and functions are. My father also took me out to
various Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields that we lived near to teach me what happened there. The traditions of the U.S. Army were also drilled into
me by living many years on or near U.S. Army bases.

After several years of researching my mother's family genealogy, I found a Continental Army enlisted soldier in our family tree from Rhode Island (my great-great-
great-great-great grandfather). He served as a Sergeant and Private in the Second Rhode Island Regiment from 1777 to the end of 1780, and as a Sergeant in the
Light Infantry Company of the integrated Rhode Island Regiment from 1781 to 1783. After studying the Rhode Island Revolutionary War Literature, I found several
blatant errors in interpretation of the famous "Black Regiment" of Rhode Island (an infantry unit which existed from May 1778 to June 1780) from the 1970s to
present, particularly from Brown University "scholars." These "Brownies" (my nickname for Brown Graduates) were completely clueless about military history,
and clearly were more interested in spreading their liberal political viewpoints rather than getting our Rhode Island history correct. About the year 2007,
I considered writing a series of articles about the "Black Regiment" for "Rhode Island History," the periodical of the Rhode Island Historical Society. After
my first article for "Rhode Island History" was rejected for what I believe were political reasons, I decided to write a book which focused on the true military
history of the "Black Regiment." My book was finally self-published with AuthorHouse in November 2015 after seven years of work on my part, but it has been largely
ignored by the liberal media which dominates Rhode Island (including the "Providence Journal" and "Newport Daily News" newspapers, which received complimentary
copies of my book at my expense in March 2016, but never made any mention of my book to the Rhode Island Public).

I actually love historical monuments, and Rhode Island doesn't have enough of them. The "Complacency State" of Rhode Island is one of the few states on the
eastern seaboard that does not have a statewide highway historical marker program. However, when I visited the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument for the first
time in August 2007 at Portsmouth, Rhode Island, I was stunned to see one name in particular on the first panel of alleged "soldiers of color" with patriotic
service. This man was "Fisherman Allen," who I knew from Sidney S. Rider's 1880 monograph on the "Black Regiment" was a Permanent Deserter. Fisherman Allen
enlisted into the "Black Regiment" in 1778, but deserted to the British in Newport, Rhode Island before he even mustered into the "Black Regiment." Fisherman
Allen never returned to Rhode Island's Continental Line.

Permanent Deserters are viewed as complete losers in the U.S. Army. In fact, desertion during wartime is still a capital offense according to the Uniform
Code of Military Justice, although the modern military isn't quite as conservative as it used to be. I still remember the two heated lectures I received from
my Officer father about why America cannot honor General Benedict Arnold, who was a Permanent Deserter besides being a Traitor. "Fisherman Allen" is the
Benedict Arnold of the "Black Regiment." So why is this Permanent Deserter on a historical monument on Rhode Island State Property?

I decided to look up and investigate every name on the 2005 "Black Regiment" monument and include what I found out about these names as "Appendix 2" in the
back of my November 2015 book. I used a variety of sources, including Benjamin Cowell's excellent 1850 book and the "Revolutionary War Index" of the Rhode
Island State Archives which any citizen can view in Providence. I found that over 10% of the names on this monument are in fact Permanent Deserters. Slightly
over 20% of the names are white soldiers, misidentified by the monument designers as "persons of color." It is clear to me that historical accuracy did not
matter to the monument designers, and political correctness and fake revisionist history is what is important here, an advocacy of the liberal political agenda.

Who are the designers of this monument? In January 2017, I discovered Dr. Shirley L. Green's 2011 Ph.D. Dissertation in History from Bowling Green State
University in Ohio on the "Franck Brothers" (see citation on the bottom of this page) of Rhode Island's "Black Regiment." Shirley Green had contact with
the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society and reports that Dr. Louis Edward Wilson, Professor of African American Studies at Smith College in Northampton,
Massachusetts (Ph.D. from UCLA, https://www.smith.edu/academics/faculty/louis-edward-wilson), compiled the list of soldiers at the top of this 2005 "Black
Regiment" monument. I believe Dr. Green is correct, as I received a copy of Dr. Louis Wilson's presentation on the "Black Regiment" that he gave at a 2011
Sons of the American Revolution Historical Conference in Maryland where he made the same errors in interpretation as are listed below. Dr. Shirley Green,
an alleged descendant of Rhode Island "Black Regiment" Permanent Deserter Benjamin Frank (see below), also thinks it is quite appropriate to put Permanent
Deserters up on a public monument. However, the white soldiers who were the majority members of Rhode Island's Continental Line aren't important enough
to these Liberals to list on the same monument even though they served together in the integrated Rhode Island Regiment from 1781 to 1783. It is funny how
Liberals preach "Inclusion," but they don't practice what they preach...

The known groups who are responsible for the 2005 "Black Regiment" monument include the NAACP Rhode Island branch, the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society
of Providence, certain liberal elements of the Rhode Island Historical Society, and Brown University. The monument was privately funded, but it sits on
Rhode Island State Property in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, so it belongs to all of the public. What I can tell you from my research is that there are
numerous Rhode Island soldiers who died during the Revolutionary War and received no monuments or markers at all, even though each one of these men is
legally ENTITLED to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grave marker. Read my book to find out who several of these soldiers were and where they are
buried. You the reader can help out by sending emails/letters of support for historical markers to Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation.

Take a read of this article published in the "Providence Journal" newspaper on August 30, 2015: http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150830/NEWS/150839912.
I apologize for all of the pop-up ads, but that is how the "Providence Journal" rolls. Note the liberal Democrat David Cicillene and his uncle posing for
pictures like the good politicians, both of whom are oblivious that there are Permanent Deserters and several misidentified white soldiers on the monument
behind them. While Mr. Cicillene is trying to get a gold medal produced with U.S. taxpayers money for a battalion that failed in the Summer of 1780, 66 enlisted
soldiers of the integrated Rhode Island Regiment lie at rest in "Washington Square" in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with no historical marker from the
cheap State of Rhode Island. Your Rhode Island school children are being spoon-fed with fake history and a fraudulent monument to promote these politicians'
distorted political agendas. Yet the real heroes of Rhode Island's Continental Line who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Revolutionary War don't get the
time of day from the "Complacency State."





The Devil is in the Details

So let's take a look at the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument in detail through the following photos which I took. I apologize for the monument backside photos as I
lost the updated photos when my car and laptop computer were stolen at work by an illegal alien from El Salvador [true story]. I will shoot new photos of these
panels next time I get up to Rhode Island.






The August 2005 Entrance Marker to "Patriots Park" in Portsmouth, Rhode Island which is
owned by the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.







View to the west from the entrance of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument Park. Note the
"RIR" symbol of the integrated Rhode Island Regiment of 1781 to 1783 in the second
large panel from the left. Why weren't the numerous white soldiers who made up 70%
of the Rhode Island Regiment in 1781 included on this monument as well?







An example of one of the "history" panels on the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Some historical problems from this panel:

1. There was one veteran company in the "Black Regiment" whose soldiers had
combat experience from 1777 (a few colored soldiers in this company had served
since 1775 - see my book for details).
2. The "Black Regiment" DID NOT REPULSE the Hessians three times. I found
American battlefield eyewitness accounts from the Battle of Rhode Island that
clearly show the "Black Regiment" was forced to retreat during the battle (again,
see my book for the real story). The "deeds of desperate valor" story was a myth
invented by Brown University ("Brownie") graduate Samuel Greene Arnold right before
the U.S. Civil War. Liberal special interest groups continue to perpetuate this
propaganda today to Rhode Island schoolchildren even though it is totally FALSE.
3. General Sullivan DID NOT give special recognition to the "Black Regiment." He
stated in his general orders that the "Black Regiment" did not perform poorly as
some soldiers had reported to him (because the "Black Regiment" was in fact forced
to retreat during the battle). General Sullivan merely reported that the "Black Regiment"
was entitled to an equal share of the honors of the day perfomed by American infantry units.
The best performances from American units at the Battle of Rhode Island were done by
General Glover's Massachusetts Continental Brigade, Colonel Henry Jackson's Massachusetts
Continental Regiment, Colonel Samuel B. Webb's Continental Regiment, the Second
Rhode Island Continental Regiment, Colonel Nathaniel Wade's Massachusetts State
Regiment, and General Lovell's Massachusetts Militia Brigade (see my book for details).
Why do these other New England military units not get any mention on this monument?
4. The last paragraph on this panel has more historical inaccuracies. The "Black Regiment"
was left behind at Newport, Rhode Island after October 1779 because the Inspector General
of the American Continental Army, Baron von Steuben, gave them a bad inspection review in
September 1779. The integrated Rhode Island Regiment of 1781 had some colored soldiers,
about 30%, which dropped to 18% by 1783 because of the high death rate for soldiers of color
(sickness, particularly smallpox, was the main killer of Rhode Island's Continental Line
soldiers). A company-sized detachment of the Rhode Island Regiment was assaulted by a
Loyalist battalion in May 1781 at PINES BRIDGE and suffered some KIAs, WIAs, and mostly
prisoner casualties (it was NOT an ambush, but an enemy raid or assault!). Most of the
"During the War" enlisted soldiers of the Rhode Island Regiment were discharged in
June 1783 (including my ancestor and most of the "Black Regiment" veterans). Two companies
of Rhode Island Regiment "Three Years" enlisted soldiers served to December 1783.






This photo shows Panel 1 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
My color code is as thus: White Underlines indicate soldiers who were in fact
white or European-born (Caucasian) soldiers; Red Underlines indicate Permanent Deserters.

I did not include all of the several unknown soldiers on this monument which you can
read about in Appendix 2 of my November 2015 book.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
[note: there are other deserters on this monument than those that I list as
"Permanent Deserters;" see Appendix 2 in my November 2015 book for more details.]
1. Thomas Adams; Permanently Deserted June 4, 1780 from the "Black Regiment."
2. Fisherman Allen; Slave of William Allen, possibly Captain William Allen of
the Second Rhode Island Continental Regiment; Enlisted into the "Black Regiment,"
but deserted to the British before he mustered and never returned.



The original affidavit about Fisherman Allen's desertion to the British;
microfilm from Rhode Island State Archives Revolutionary War Papers,
Providence, Rhode Island. Click on picture for a larger view.


3. James Allen; Indian who Permanently Deserted from Colonel Archibald Crary's
Rhode Island State Regiment in early 1778 [another ancestor of mine served in the
same regiment].
4. John Allen; white Sergeant of the 5th Company of the Rhode Island Regiment,
reduced to Private on October 17, 1781 and Permanently Deserted August 9, 1782.
5. Thomas Amos; Permanently Deserted June 20, 1780 from the "Black Regiment."
6. Edward Anthony; Permanently Deserted November 1, 1780 from the "Black Regiment."
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "Benjamin Allen;" white soldier who served in Colonel Robert Elliott's Rhode
Island State Artillery Regiment and as a Private in Colonel Crary's Rhode Island
State Regiment in 1779; signed his name "Benjamin Allen" to a July 1779 Pay Receipt
Roll.
2. "Thomas Andrew;" white soldier who served as a Private in Colonel Lippitt's
Rhode Island State Regiment in 1776, the First Rhode Island Continental Regiment
of 1777, the white Second Rhode Island Continental Regiment from May 1778 to 1780,
and transferred to the Corps of Invalids on February 15, 1781.






This photo shows Panel 2 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
7. Abraham Bemus (a.k.a. "Abraham Demus" - also listed on this monument);
Permanently Deserted March 20, 1780 from the "Black Regiment."
8. Cupid Black; Permanently Deserted July 23, 1779 from Colonel William
Barton's Rhode Island State Light Infantry Battalion.
9. James Bonny (a.k.a. "James Booney"); Indian recruit who Permanently
Deserted May 8, 1781 from the Rhode Island Regiment.
10. Richard Booth; Indian recruit who Permanently Deserted March 2, 1781
from the Rhode Island Regiment.
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. Asa Babcock (2); there was one legitimate colored Asa Babcock who served
in the July 1780 Six Months Rhode Island Continental Levies AND the Rhode Island
Regiment. There was a white Asa Babcock as well from South Kingstown, R.I., so the
monument designers should explain the second "Asa Babcock." The SAME person should NOT
get two places on the monument just because he served in two different military units.
2. Caesar Babcock; "man of Color" who claimed service in his Pension File R339 in the
Rhode Island Militia, but his federal pension was rejected for lack of proof of service.
3. Francis Baptist; a.k.a. "Francis Baptis," definitely a white soldier, served in the
Second Rhode Island Regiment and the 5th Company (white) of the Rhode Island Regiment;
also signed his name to a clothing receipt roll (directly below); hand signatures are
great probability analysis tools - only about 2% of the colored soldiers in the Rhode
Island Regiment could actually sign their names - how come you Brown University graduates
couldn't figure this analytical technique out?



4. Primus Barton; a fictitious person invented by Eric Grundset in his 2001
and 2008 "Forgotten Patriots" books based on a clerical name error on the January
1780 PAY ROLL of Captain John S. Dexter's Company of the "Black Regiment" (see below).
The correct soldier is "Primus Brown" listed on the January 1780 MUSTER ROLL of the
same company (see below). The Orderly Sergeants who wrote the original muster and
pay rolls of the Revolution often times made spelling mistakes on these rolls.
TIME SERIES ANALYSIS is the following of an individual soldier through ALL of the
extant muster and pay rolls in the National Archives Rev War Collection. Grundset's
Daughters of the American Revolution Team failed to do this analysis in their
"Forgotten Patriots" 2008 Volume which was awarded the prestigious Jacobus Genealogy
Award from the Fellows of the American Society of Genealogists. I personally notified
an FASG member well before the Jacobus Award was handed over to Grundset's Team that
there were numerous errors in the "Forgotten Patriots" 2008 Volume, but this Brown
University Graduate chose to look the other way (and is cited several times in the
back of "Forgotten Patriots" - Conflict of Interest??????). I love liberal academic
collusion which this award was a great example of. I published several other criticisms
of Grundset et al.'s 2008 Book that none of the 50 FASG members bothered to investigate.


This view is a "snip" of the original January 1780 PAY ROLL of Captain John S. Dexter's
Company of the "Black Regiment." Notice how the Orderly Sergeant mistakenly copied the
surname of Private Simon Barton of the "Black Regiment" in the entry above "Primus Barton."


This view is a "snip" of the original January 1780 MUSTER ROLL of Captain John S. Dexter's
Company of the "Black Regiment." The Orderly Sergeant got the soldiers correct on this
muster roll. "Prime Brown" is also spelled "Primus Brown" on some of the other monthly
muster rolls of this company. "Primus Barton" appears on no other muster or pay rolls.
Where are the critical and analytical thinking skills? Do any but my Engineer and Scientist
brothers and sisters PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL?
5. The four Benoni/Benony Bates individuals; there was one mulatto named "Benoni Bates" who
served in Colonel Archibald Crary's R.I. State Regiment, the July 1780 R.I. Six Months
Continental Battalion and the Rhode Island Regiment, and another white "Benoni Bates" who
was a veteran of the Second Rhode Island Regiment and the Rhode Island Regiment. There
should only be one colored soldier on this monument instead of four individuals.
6. Thomas Boston; no evidence of race found for this soldier who served in Captain
Ebenezer Flagg's Company of the First Rhode Island Regiment and died at Valley Forge
in April or May 1778 before Rhode Island's Continental Line was segregated.
7. Prince Bristol; a soldier of this name from Connecticut and served in Connecticut
Regiments, but none found who served in Rhode Island Units; this monument is supposed
to be for Rhode Island soldiers, not Connecticut or Massachusetts soldiers.






This photo shows Panel 3 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
11. Sambo Brown; Deserted July 1776 from Captain John Dixon's Company,
Colonel Comfort Sage's Connecticut State Regiment.
12. Tobias Brown (same individual as Number 13)
13. Toby Brown; "Negro Man" Permanently Deserted early 1777 from
Captain Caleb Carr's Company, Colonel Talman's Rhode Island State
Regiment (later became Colonel Archibald Crary's Regiment).
14. John/Jack Burroughs; Permanently Deserted June 17, 1781 from
the Rhode Island Regiment.
15. Darius Cady; A white soldier who Permanently Deserted January 1, 1777
from the First Rhode Island Continental Regiment.
Unknown Soldiers on this Panel (i.e. no known R.I. military units):
Cudjo Brown;
Esek Brown;
James Brown;
John Brown;
Caesar (2) and (3);
Caesar Cason;
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "Daniel Britain;" alternate spelling of the next white soldier.
2. "David Britain;" white soldier who served in 1775 as a member of
Captain Nathaniel Blackmar's Company, Colonel Daniel Hitchcock's Rhode
Island Continental Regiment also in the 1782 Nine Months Levies of the
Rhode Island Regiment for the Town of Smithfield (all of the 1782 Nine
Months Levies were white soldiers).
3. "Joseph Brown ( 1 );" two white soldiers represented here: first
Joseph served as a Private 1777 to 1780 in the Second Rhode Island
Continental Regiment and later as a Private in the 2nd Company of the
Rhode Island Regiment from 1781 to 1783; the second "Joseph T. Brown"
was a Sergeant in the First Rhode Island Continental Regiment of 1777,
the "Black Regiment" of 1778 to 1780, and the Light Infantry Company of
the Rhode Island Regiment from 1781 to 1783.
4. "Joshua Brown;" white soldier who filed Federal Pension S21661;
served as a Sergeant and Ensign (commissioned officer) in the Rhode
Island Militia from North Kingstown, R.I.
5. "Ebony Bullock;" likely misspelling of "Elcony Bullock", a white
Private and Corporal of Captain Loring Peck's Company, Colonel
Christopher Lippitt's Rhode Island State Regiment of 1776; see the
Federal Pension File R20336 for "Elkanah Bullock."
6. "James Capwell;" white soldier who served as a Private in the
1777 First Rhode Island Continental Regiment and in the segregated
(white) Second Rhode Island Continental Regiment from May 1778 to
May 1780 when he was discharged; James filed Federal Pension S39329.
7. "William Chadsey;" white soldier from North Kingstown, R.I. who
served in Colonel Elliott's Rhode Island State Artillery Regiment in
1778, the July 1780 Rhode Island Six Months Continental Battalion,
and as a recruit in the Rhode Island Regiment until his death on
May 4, 1781.






This photo shows Panel 4 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
16. Cuff Cheeseborough; Permanently Deserted May 1779 from the
"Black Regiment."
17. James Clarke (1); Permanently Deserted July 2, 1780 from the
"Black Regiment."
18. John Collins; A white soldier ("red hair, blue eyes"), who
Permanently Deserted March 1, 1777 from the First Rhode Island
Continental Regiment.
19. Bristol Congdon; Permanently Deserted Fall 1776 from
Colonel Christopher Lippitt's Rhode Island State Regiment.
20. John Cook; "Negro," Permanently Deserted April 7, 1777 from
Captain William Tew's Company, Second Rhode Island Regiment.
21. Josiah Cornet; "Indian," Permanently Deserted Spring 1777
from Captain Thomas Allen's Company, Colonel Talman's Rhode Island
State Regiment.
22. William Cory; White soldier who Permanently Deserted May 1, 1782
from the Rhode Island Regiment 1782 Nine Months Levies, who were entirely
white/European, for Town of North Kingstown.
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "Dewey Champlin;" this alleged soldier is a reverse spelling of the
correct white soldier, "Champlain Dewey" who served in the July 1780 R.I.
Six Months Continental Battalion for the Town of South Kingstown.
2. "Prince Clare;" also known as "Barnet Clear," a European soldier
from Colmar, Germany who served in the 5th Company of the Rhode Island
Regiment; misidentified white soldier.
3. Ethan Clark; unknown military unit.
4. James Clark; unknown military unit.
5. Solomon Coffee; misspelling of white soldier "Solomon Roffee" who
served in the Second Rhode Island Regiment, the July 1780 Rhode Island
Continental Levies Battalion, and the integrated Rhode Island Regiment;
Eric Grundset (et al.), 2008, name Solomon Roffee on page 229 as a
"man of color," but Cherry Fletcher Bamburg, FASG, with Letty Champion,
proved in June 2015 in their article, "Capt. Simon Newton and his Family
Part One: Ancestors," Rhode Island Roots, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 73-74, that
Solomon was a white descendant of the immigrant Thomas1 Newton [Solomon's
father, also named "Solomon Roffee," was a Rhode Island officer in the
French and Indian War!!!!]. How come I have to connect the evidence for
members of the "elite" Fellows of the American Society of Genealogists??????
6. Peter Coggashall; man captured by HMS Carysfort frigate, bound for
South Carolina in 1777, unknown race; no evidence Peter was a soldier.
7. Abraham Cook; no clear evidence of race.
8. Daniel Cook; a deserter from Col. Archibald Crary's Regiment, but
likely a white soldier.
9. Simeon Cook; Naval Service or Colonel William Richmond's Rhode Island
State Regiment; no clear evidence of race.
10. William Coon; white soldier in Colonel John Topham's Rhode Island
State Regiment and in the 1782 Rhode Island Regiment Nine Months Levies.
11. Adam Cooper; Permanent Deserter ("Molatto") from Colonel John Topham's
Rhode Island State Regiment in 1779, but later served in July 1780 Rhode
Island Six Months Continental Battalion for Town of Richmond.
12. Paris Cory; White soldier in the 2nd Company of the Rhode Island
Regiment from 1781 to 1783.
13. Christopher Crandall; the soldier who served as a Musician in
the 1777 First Rhode Island Regiment and as a Sergeant in the
"Black Regiment" was clearly white.
14. James Crandall; White soldiers of this name served in Colonel
John Topham's Rhode Island State Regiment, the July 1780 Rhode Island
Six Months Continental Battalion, and the 1782 Rhode Island Regiment
Nine Months Levies.
15. John Crandall; White soldier who was discharged in 1780 after
three years enlistment in Second Rhode Island Continental Regiment.






This photo shows Panel 5 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
23. Thomas Cuff; Permanently Deserted May 5, 1777 from Captain George
Webb's Company, Colonel William Shepard's Massachusetts Continental
Regiment.
24. William Cuff; "Indian" who Deserted September 11, 1777 from
Rhode Island Captain Henry Dayton.
25. James Dailey; "Indian" who Permanently Deserted April 10, 1780
from the "Black Regiment."
26. James Daniel; Permanently Deserted July 5, 1777 from Second
Rhode Island Continental Regiment.
27. "Abraham Demos;" alternate spelling of No. 7 "Abraham Bemus"
who Deserted Permanently March 20, 1780 from the "Black Regiment."
28. Peleg Dexter; "Indian" recruit who Permanently Deserted
March 31, 1781 from the Rhode Island Regiment.
29. Milford Dick; Permanently Deserted June 20, 1780 from the
"Black Regiment."
30. Ezekiel Dimond; Permanently Deserted May 1, 1781 from the
Rhode Island Regiment.
31. James Duncan; European (Scotsman) Deserted from July 1780
Rhode Island Six Months Continental Battalion; Recaptured;
Executed by firing squad for desertion September 12, 1780 on
Aquidneck Island.
32. Michael Ephraim; "Indian" Permanently Deserted March 2, 1781
from the Rhode Island Regiment.
33. Benjamin Fitch; "Indian" Permanently Deserted March 31, 1781
from the Rhode Island Regiment.
34. Jack Fones; Permanently Deserted July 7, 1780 from the
"Black Regiment."
35. Benjamin Frank; Permanently Deserted March 1, 1780 from
the "Black Regiment" and joined a British Loyalist unit according
to descendant Dr. Shirley L. Green (see citation below); Benjamin
moved to Nova Scotia, Canada after the American Revolution was over.
36. John Frazier; Likely white soldier from New Jersey who
Permanently Deserted February 9, 1781 from the Rhode Island Regiment;
a second white John Frazier served in the Rhode Island Regiment.
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "Slade Cuff;" this alleged soldier is a reverse spelling of the
correct colored soldier, "Cuff Slade," Number 591, who served in the
"Black Regiment" and the Rhode Island Regiment.
2. Amos Cuffee; 1778 captured crewman of Sloop "Betsey" from Virginia;
unknown race.
3. Field Dailey; a veteran white soldier who served in the Second
Rhode Island Continental Regiment until 1779 (medical discharge).
4. Peleg Dailey; unknown person; unknown military unit.
5. Gideon Davenport; unknown military unit.
6. John Davis; several legitimate white soldiers with this name,
one of whom served in the "Black Regiment" and the Rhode Island
Regiment and signed his name on a military return.
7. Benajah Davis; white Sergeant who served in the "Black Regiment."
8. Henry Davis; another white Sergeant who served in the "Black Regiment."
9. David Dexter; either Captain David Dexter, or the white soldier who
served in the July 1780 Rhode Island Six Months Continental Battalion for
the Town of Cumberland.
10. Thomas Dexter; white soldier of the Second Rhode Island Regiment
and Rhode Island Regiment.
11. Prince Doane; white sailor from Massachusetts.
12. Christopher Dunbar; white soldier who served in the "Black Regiment"
and the Rhode Island Regiment.
13. John Dunbar; white Sergeant of the "Black Regiment."
14. Cato Farnum; alternate spelling of correct soldier "Cato Varnum" who
served in the "Black Regiment" and the Rhode Island Regiment.
15. John Fones; white soldier who served in the Second Rhode Island Regiment
and the Rhode Island Regiment.
16. Cato Freeman; Massachusetts soldier (14 entries of this name in book volumes
"Massachusetts Sailors and Soldiers of the Revolutionary War").






This photo shows Panel 6 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
37. James Gordon; white recruit Permanently Deserted January 21, 1781
from the Rhode Island Regiment.
38. Frank Gould; veteran of the "Black Regiment" who Permanently Deserted
April 22, 1782 from the Rhode Island Regiment.
39. James Greene; colored soldier of the "Black Regiment" who
Permanently Deserted June 20, 1780 from the "Black Regiment."
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "Charles Freeman;" white soldier of Colonel John Topham's
Rhode Island State Regiment from 1778 to 1780; enlisted March 2, 1780
as a Drummer into Captain William Allen's Company, Second Rhode Island
Regiment; served as a Drummer in Second Company, Rhode Island Regiment
from 1781 to 1783.
2. "Salisbury Freeman;" white soldier of the Second Rhode Island
Regiment and the 3rd Company of the Rhode Island Regiment in which
he served as a Corporal up to May 29 1783; buried in the Union
Cemetery in North Smithfield, Rhode Island.
3. "Paris Gardner;" white Captain of a Militia Company from
South Kingstown, Rhode Island.
4. "John Gavett;" white soldier of Colonel Henry Sherburne's
Additional Continental Regiment and the Second Rhode Island
Continental Regiment; honorably discharged in 1780.
5. "John Gould;" white Sergeant of Captain Ebenezer Flagg's 1777
Company, First Rhode Island Regiment who was mortally wounded at
the Battle of Red Bank, New Jersey and died October 23, 1777 [I have
never found a single man of color who served as a Sergeant in ANY
Rhode Island Revolutionary War military unit after over ten years
of personal research; of course, there are no monuments from the
great State of Rhode Island at the Red Bank, New Jersey battlefield].
6. "Samuel Grant;" white veteran soldier of the Second Rhode Island
Regiment and the 4th Company of the integrated Rhode Island Regiment
from 1777 to 1783; Samuel served as a Corporal from March 1779 to
October 1779.
7. "Christopher Greene;" "the token white man:" Colonel Christopher
Greene commanded the First Rhode Island Regiment from 1777 to 1780 and
the integrated Rhode Island Regiment until his death on May 14, 1781
[the State of New York put up the monument over his grave in the
Yorktown, New York Presbyterian Church].






This photo shows Panel 7 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
40. Nathaniel Hall; a white Fifer who deserted from the "Black Regiment"
on March 18, 1779, rejoined the 4th Company, Rhode Island Regiment on
April 1, 1782 and Permanently Deserted April 22, 1782.
41. Gideon Harry; veteran of the "Black Regiment" who Permanently
Deserted May 16, 1781 from the 6th Company (colored) of the Rhode
Island Regiment.
42. Benjamin Hazard; Deserter from the Continental Navy in January
1776 and probably the same man who Permanently Deserted November 14, 1778
from Captain Christopher Dyer's Company (colored), Colonel John Topham's
Rhode Island State Regiment.
43. Moses Hazard; Permanently Deserted November 1777 from Captain
Malachi Hammett's Company, Colonel Joseph Stanton's Rhode Island Militia
Regiment.
44. Peter Hazard 2nd; one of the two Peter Hazards of the "Black Regiment"
Permanently Deserted in 1780 (they both deserted in 1780 and only one
returned); I am speculating that Peter Hazard 2nd was the permanent
deserter on July 4, 1780.
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "John Greere;" a.k.a. "John Grier," a white soldier who enlisted
March 9, 1780 as a Private into Captain Thomas Cole's Company of the
"Black Regiment;" other white soldiers also enlisted into the "Black
Regiment" in 1780; John signed his name "John Grear" on a December 26, 1780
Loan List (NARA Microfilm M246, Roll 88); he was Killed in Action as
a member of the white 1st Company of the Rhode Island Regiment on
May 14, 1781.

"Snip View" of the December 26, 1780 Loan List for the First Rhode Island
Regiment. John Grear signed his name to this list third from the bottom.
Note how the legitimate men of color on this list could only make an "X"
mark next to their names because they were illiterate. Most Noncommissioned
Officers in Rhode Island's Continental Line could actually read and write.
Notice how our liberal "Scholars" from Brown University weren't smart enough
to use this information as evidence because they have never even looked at the
Muster Roll collection from the U.S. National Archives. While "experts" like
these clowns from Brown University have been publishing propaganda since
the 1860s and get plenty of media publicity, the real story of the "Black
Regiment" gets twisted and distorted into historical fiction... A researcher
who actually takes the time and effort to analyze the December 26, 1780 Loan
List will also find the original hand signatures of white soldiers John Davis,
Benjamin Jenkins, Louis Morlier, Nathan Warner, and John Anthony.
So much for Ivy League Scholarship!
2. "John W Grier;" same soldier as the previous man; I guess "W" stands
for "white," but I doubt "We the People" will ever get an official explanation
for each individual on this circus show of a monument.
3. "Royal Grinnell;" white soldier who served in Colonel John Topham's
Rhode Island State Regiment and the July 1780 Rhode Six Months Continental
Battalion: "...light hair, grey eyes, light complexion" for the Town of
Little Compton; you "scholars" might want to pick up Benjamin Franklin
Wilbour's classic "Little Compton Families" Book and read Number 17
"Royal Grinnell" in Volume 1, page 314; where are the Fellows of the
American Society of Genealogists when you need them?????????????????
4. "John Hall;" two white soldiers with this name: one served in
Colonel John Topham's Rhode Island State Regiment, the other in Colonel
Robert Elliott's Rhode Island State Artillery Regiment; see Federal
Pension Files R4471 and S2588 for details...
5. "Joseph Hall;" two white soldiers with this name: one served 1777
to December 29, 1781 (when he died on active duty) in the First and
Second Rhode Island Continental Regiments, and the white 4th Company of
the integrated Rhode Island Regiment; the second Joseph Hall served in
the 1782 Nine Months Levies of the Rhode Island Regiment for the Town of
Foster, Rhode Island (the 1782 Nine Months Levies were all white soldiers).
6. "Lebbeus Hall;" a white soldier who served in the 1782 Nine Months
Levies of the Rhode Island Regiment for the Town of Westerly, Rhode Island
(the 1782 Nine Months Levies were all white soldiers).
7. "David Hammond;" an unknown person; "Daniel Hammond" was a white
recruit in the 4th Company of the Rhode Island Regiment who died on
December 11, 1781.
8. "Edward Harry;" Misspelling of "Edward Harvey," a white soldier
who served in the Second Rhode Island Regiment from 1777 to 1780 and
the 1st Company (white) of the integrated Rhode Island Regiment until
June 1783 when discharged; Edward was a Prisoner of War from March 23,
1780 until January 6, 1781.
9. "Ephraim Hazard;" a likely white soldier who served in Captain
John Cole's Company of Colonel Dyer's Rhode Island Milita Regiment.






This photo shows Panel 8 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
45. William Hicks; an Indian recruit to the 6th Company (colored)
of the Rhode Island Regiment who Permanently Deserted May 16, 1781.
46. Isaac Hull; an Indian recruit for the 1781 Rhode Island Regiment
for Town of Coventry, R.I. who never joined the regiment (Permanent
Deserter - R.I. State Archives).
47. Edward Jacklin; Negro recruit born in Connecticut who Permanently
Deserted January 22, 1781 from the Rhode Island Regiment.
48. Silas Jacobs; likely colored soldier who enlisted as a Private
March 29, 1780 in the "Black Regiment" and Permanently Deserted
June 7, 1780.
49. William James; likely colored soldier who enlisted as a Private
March 8, 1780 in the "Black Regiment" and Permanently Deserted
March 18, 1781 from the 8th Company (colored) of the Rhode Island
Regiment.
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "James Helme;" unknown soldier; likely the white soldier who
filed Pension R4852 and served in Colonel Dyer's Rhode Island
Militia Regiment.
2. "Tibbits Hopkins;" white soldier who served in Colonel
Crary's Rhode Island State Regiment (1778-1779), Colonel
Topham's Rhode Island State Regiment in early 1780, enlisted
in the Second Rhode Island Continental Regiment on March 2, 1780,
and served in the 2nd Company (white) of the Rhode Island
Regiment until his death on January 21, 1782.
3. "Benoni Hunt;" white soldier who served in Colonel
Lippitt's Rhode Island State Regiment in 1776, the First
Rhode Island Regiment in 1777, the Second Rhode Island
Regiment (segregated) from 1778 to July 7, 1780 when he
was transferred to the Corps of Invalids.
4. "Francis Jamba," a.k.a. "Francis Jambeau," "Francis
La Jambeau," and "Francis Robinson" was a white soldier,
likely of French descent, who enlisted March 7, 1780 into
the "Black Regiment" as a Corporal and later served in the
2nd Company of the Rhode Island Regiment until July 1, 1781
when he was transferred to the Corps of Invalids (see also
"Francis Robertson" in Bartlett's "Records of the State of
Rhode Island" Vol. 10, 162, 297).






This photo shows Panel 9 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
50. Cato Jesup; presumably a colored soldier who served
in Colonel Topham's Rhode Island State Regiment in 1778;
enlisted July 8, 1779 in Colonel William Barton's Light
Infantry Battalion; Permanently Deserted March 1, 1780.
51. Thomas Lefavour; soldier of the "Black Regiment" who
Permanently Deserted July 2, 1780.
52. Alexander Love; white Musician and Corporal of the
"Black Regiment" who Permanently Deserted January 19, 1780.
53. Peter Lovett; soldier of the "Black Regiment" who
Permanently Deserted July 4, 1780.
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "Samuel Johnston;" "Samuel Johnson" was a white
soldier who served in Colonel Lippitt's Rhode Island
State Regiment in 1776 and the 7th Company of the 1781
Rhode Island Regiment; promoted to Corporal May 31, 1782;
Served to December 25, 1783.
2. "Prince Keene;" white soldier who served as a Corporal
during 1778 in Captain Abimeleck Riggs' Company, Colonel
John Mathewson's Providence County Militia Regiment.
3. "John White McDonald;" "John McDonald" was a white
soldier alright, served as a recruit in the 5th Company,
Rhode Island Regiment, and was Killed in Action May 14, 1781.
4. "Lewis Molier;" white soldier from Compiegne, France
enlisted in "Black Regiment" March 7, 1780; served in 5th
Company, Rhode Island Regiment, and discharged June 1783;
"light hair, light complexion;" signed his name to a few
Returns in the NARA Microfilm collection; how is this
soldier seriously even considered a "man of color?"

Snip View of Louis Morlier's hand signature on a First
Rhode Island Regiment Loan Receipt Roll; Louis always
signed his name in complete lower case.
5. "Phillip Morris;" two white soldiers with this name;
one served in Colonel Hitchcock's Continental Regiment from
1775 to 1776, Colonel Robert Elliott's Rhode Island State
Artillery Regiment, and Colonel Crary's Rhode Island State
Regiment; the other Phillip served in the July 1780 Rhode
Island Six Months Continental Battalion for Town of Cranston
(born in Germany, light hair, light eyes, light complexion)
and later in the 7th Company, Rhode Island Regiment, captured
by the British on May 14, 1781, and died in captivity on
August 1, 1781.






This photo shows Panel 10 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
54. James Nocake; presumably a colored soldier who served
in Colonel William Barton's Light Infantry Battalion in
1779; enlisted March 7, 1780 as a Private in the "Black
Regiment" and Permanently Deserted July 3, 1780.
55. Charles Pachatonch; Indian recruit for the Rhode Island
Regiment who Permanently Deserted January 14, 1781.
56. Cuff Peckam; a.k.a. "Cuff Peckham," Permanently
Deserted August 30, 1778 from the "Black Regiment."
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "Isaac Negus;" white soldier who filed Pension S21395
for service in the Rhode Island Militia.
2. "Benjamin Niggars;" misspelling of "Benjamin Negars"
or "Benjamin Negus," a white soldier who served in
Colonel Robert Elliott's Rhode Island State Artillery
Regiment in 1778.
3. "George Niles;" white soldier who served in the
Second Rhode Island Continental Regiment from 1777 to
his death on April 30, 1778 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
4. "Robert Niles;" white soldier who served in Colonel
Charles Dyer's Rhode Island Militia Regiment.
5. "Sambo Oaksman;" unknown person; probably refers to
"Samuel Oakman," a white soldier who served in Rhode
Island's Continental Line from 1776 to 1783 and was from
the Salem area of Essex County, Massachusetts.
6. "John Olney;" white soldier from Glocester, R.I.
who served in Captain David Burlinggame's Company of
Rhode Island Militia.
7. "Joseph Perigo;" a.k.a. "Joseph Hewes Perigo" and
"Joseph St. Perigo," white Fifer in Colonel Lippitt's
Rhode Island State Regiment in 1776, in Colonel Crary's
Rhode Island State Regiment in 1779, and the 2nd Company
of the integrated Rhode Island Regiment from 1781 to
December 1783 ("dark hair, light complexion").
8. "Prince Perry;" Enlisted September 29, 1777 as a
Corporal in Captain James Webb's Company (Rhode Island),
Colonel Henry Sherburne's Additional Continental Regiment;
May 1780 transferred to Colonel Henry Jackson's
Additional Continental Regiment; white male from Truro,
Massachusetts, see Federal Pension File W15193.






This photo shows Panel 11 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
57. Jehu Pomp; "Negro" veteran of the "Black Regiment"
and the July 1780 Rhode Island Six Months Continental
Battalion for Town of Charlestown; also enlisted three years
in 1781 in the 8th Company (colored) of the Rhode Island
Regiment, but Permanently Deserted November 19, 1783; had
he waited one more month, he would have gotten an honorable
discharge on December 25, 1783...
58. John Pomp; an alternate name spelling for "Jehu Pomp;"
see my critical analysis in Appendix 2 of my book.
59. Joshua Pomp; an alternate name spelling for "Jehu
Pomp;" see my critical analysis in Appendix 2 of my book.
60. Richard/Dick Potter; colored soldier of the "Black
Regiment" who Permanently Deserted on July 3, 1780.
61. Charles Prince; soldier who Permanently Deserted
September 22, 1776 from Captain Simeon Martin's
Company, Colonel Lippitt's Rhode Island State Regiment;
unknown race.
62. Richard Quarry; "Richard Querry," a Scotsman,
Permanently Deserted August 20, 1777 from Captain
Stephen Olney's Company, Second Rhode Island Regiment;
see Appendix 2 in my book for more information.
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "Asher Polock;" European soldier (born London,
England, resided at Newport, R.I.), who served 1777 to
1783 in the Second Rhode Island Continental Regiment and
the 2nd Company of the Rhode Island Regiment; he left a
distinct hand signature "APolock" on various R.I.R. Returns;
possibly Jewish, as most Pollock Families in Newport, Rhode
Island at the time were Jewish, but I have not been able to
tie him into the Myer Pollock or Issacher Pollock Families
yet.....
2. "Theodore Popple;" brother of white Sergeant George
Popple of the First Rhode Island Regiment who was wounded
in action at the Battle of Red Bank, New Jersey; Theodore
(a.k.a. "Theadety," "Theodaty") was a recruit in the 4th
Company (white) of the Rhode Island Regiment and died on
January 19, 1782.
3. "Asa Potter;" white soldier from Glocester, R.I. who
was Killed in Action by friendly fire during the Battle of
Red Bank, New Jersey on October 22, 1777 as a member of
Captain Stephen Olney's Company, Second Rhode Island Regiment.
4. "George Potter;" two white soldiers with this name:
one served in Colonel Lippitt's Rhode Island State Regiment
in 1776, in the First Rhode Island Regiment in 1777, the
Second Rhode Island Regiment from 1778 to 1779, promoted
to Corporal and transferred to "Black Regiment" on July 1,
1779, discharged in 1780; the second George served as a
Sergeant in a white company of Colonel Topham's Rhode Island
State Regiment in 1778.
5. "Paris Rathbun;" "Parris Rathbone" served in the white
Captain Benjamin White's Company of Colonel John Topham's
Rhode Island State Regiment in 1778.






This photo shows Panel 12 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
63. James Robillard; white musician in the First Rhode
Island Regiment and Second Rhode Island Regiment from 1777
to 1778; transferred to "Black Regiment" July 1778;
Permanently Deserted January 27, 1779.
64. Isaac Rodman; colored soldier of the "Black Regiment"
who Permanently Deserted July 4, 1780.
65. Benjamin Roger; "Mustee" recruit for the 1781 Rhode
Island Regiment who Permanently Deserted January 14, 1781.
66. George Rogers; colored soldier of the "Black Regiment"
who Permanently Deserted July 3, 1780.
67. Isaac Rogers; Indian recruit for the 1781 Rhode
Island Regiment who Permanently Deserted January 16, 1781.
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "Willam Raymon;" no known colored soldiers with this
name; a white soldier "William Raymond" served in the
Second Connecticut Continental Regiment.
2. "Abijah Read;" no known colored soldiers with this
name; a white soldier of this name served as a Private
and Sergeant in the Seventh Massachusetts Continental
Regiment.






This photo shows Panel 13 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
68. Peter Sampson; Permanently Deserted September 29,
1777 from the First Rhode Island Continental Regiment;
race unknown.
69. Abraham Simons; Indian Deserter from the 1777
Rhode Island Militia Regiment of Colonel Joseph Stanton.
70. Thomas Smith; colored soldier of the "Black Regiment"
who Permanently Deserted May 25, 1780.
71. John Solomon; colored soldier of the "Black Regiment"
who Permanently Deserted September 6, 1778.
72. Josiah Soule; colored soldier of the "Black Regiment"
who Permanently Deserted March 12, 1780.
73. Pero Sprague; recruit for the 1781 Rhode Island
Regiment who Permanently Deserted September 5, 1781.
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "Seth Sampson;" likely white soldier who served in
Captain John Carr's Company of Colonel Lippitt's Rhode
Island State Regiment of 1776.
2. "Samson Sims;" no colored soldiers found with this
name; the 1777 Deserter from the Rhode Island Galley
"Spitfire" was a white man.
3. "George Sisson;" white Sergeant who served in the
1777 First Rhode Island Continental Regiment and the
"Black Regiment" until his honorable discharge in 1780.
4. "Ebenezer Slocum;" white Drummer and Corporal who
served in the 1777 First Rhode Island Continental
Regiment, the "Black Regiment," and the 1st Company of
the Rhode Island Regiment until his death on December 29,
1781.
5. "Ebenezer Smith;" no colored soldiers found with
this name; the soldier who served in Colonel Topham's
Rhode Island State Regiment was likely white.
6. "Thomas Stafford;" white Drummer who served in the
1777 First Rhode Island Continental Regiment, the "Black
Regiment" (he was a Corporal from May 1779 to February
1780), and the Light Infantry Company of the Rhode
Island Regiment until he was discharged in 1783.






This photo shows Panel 14 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
74. John Still; white recruit from Virginia for the 1781
Rhode Island Regiment; Permanently Deserted October 1, 1781.
75. George Thomkins; colored soldier of the "Black Regiment"
who Permanently Deserted September 3, 1779.
76. Louden Thompson; colored soldier of the "Black Regiment"
who Permanently Deserted September 6, 1779.
77. Levi Thurston; "Negro" recruit for the 1781 Rhode Island
Regiment who Permanently Deserted February 26, 1781.
78. Stephen Twist; white recruit ("brown hair, blue eyes") for
the 1781 Rhode Island Regiment who Permanently Deserted
January 14, 1781.
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "William Stafford;" white soldier who served from 1777 to
1783 in the Second Rhode Island Continental Regiment and the
7th Company of the Rhode Island Regiment.
2. "Ephaim Starkweather;" white soldier "Ephraim Starkweather"
served in Colonel Crary's Rhode Island State Regiment and filed
Federal Pension W22308.
3. "Barzillai Streeter;" white soldier who served in Colonel
Archibald Crary's Rhode Island State Regiment and the July 1780
Rhode Island Six Months Continental Battalion for the Town of
Smithfield ("born Cumberland, R.I., brown hair, blue eyes, light
complexion")
4. "John Sunday;" Private in Colonel William Richmond's Rhode
Island State Regiment of 1776; likely white soldier.
5. "Benjamin Sweet;" white recruit who served in the 4th
Company of the Rhode Island Regiment and died on February 8, 1782.
6. "Freeborn Sweet;" white soldier who served in Colonel
Topham's Rhode Island State Regiment.
7. "Ebenezer Talbot;" white Sergeant in the "Black Regiment,"
discharged April 20, 1780; also the brother of Lieutenant Colonel/
U.S. Navy Captain Silas Talbot.
8. "Benoni Taylor;" white soldier who served 1776 in Colonel
Lippitt's Rhode Island State Regiment, 1777 in the First Rhode
Island Continental Regiment, 1778 to 1780 in the segregated
Second Rhode Island Continental Regiment, 1781 to 1782 in the
white 3rd Company of the Rhode Island Regiment; September 1, 1782
transferred to Corps of Invalids.
9. "Joseph Titus;" some Massachusetts soldiers of this name, and
one Connecticut soldier of this name, but none of them men of color.
10. "Simeon Titus;" likely white soldier who served in the Rhode
Island Militia from 1775 to 1777.
11. "Joshua Tripp;" white soldier who served 1777 in First
Rhode Island Continental Regiment, 1778 to 1780 in segregated
Second Rhode Island Continental Regiment, 1781 to 1783 in the
white 5th Company of the Rhode Island Regiment.
12. "Daniel Twogood;" white Corporal who served 1781 in Captain
Allin's Company, Colonel Christopher Smith's Rhode Island Militia
Regiment.
13. "Jonathan Twogood;" white soldier who served in July 1780
Rhode Island Six Months Continental Battalion for Town of Scituate.
14. "Joseph Twogood;" unknown military unit, but likely a white
man; see 1790 Federal Census...
15. "Samuel Twogood;" two white soldiers with this name: the first
served in 1779 in Colonel Crary's Rhode Island State Regiment and
signed his name "Samuel Tewgood" to a September 1779 Pay Receipt
Roll; the second "Samuel Toogood" served in 1779 in Colonel Topham's
Rhode Island State Regiment.






This photo shows Panel 15 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
79. Samuel Wampy; a.k.a. "Samuel Wampa" Permanently Deserted
August 1777 from Captain David Dexter's Company, Second Rhode
Island Continental Regiment.
80. Caesar Warden; Permanently Deserted October 17, 1778 from
Captain Christopher Dyer's Company (colored), Colonel John
Topham's Rhode Island State Regiment.
81. Benjamin Wicket; Indian, Deserted 1777 from Colonel
Joseph Stanton's Rhode Island Militia Regiment.
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "Simeon Twogood;" white soldier from Warren, R.I. who
served in the Rhode Island Militia.
2. "Thomas Twogood;" likely white soldier from Scituate, R.I.
who served in the Rhode Island Militia in 1778.
3. "Timothy Twogood;" likely white soldier in the "Warren
Guards" of the Rhode Island Militia in 1778.
4. "Joab Watson;" likely white soldier in the Rhode Island
Militia at Tower Hill, South Kingstown, R.I. in 1778.
5. "Dutee Weaver;" white soldier from East Greenwich, R.I.
who served in Colonel William Richmond's Rhode Island State
Regiment in 1776, the Rhode Island Militia in 1777, and the
famed Independent Company of Kentish Guards from 1778 to 1780;
the notion of a "man of color" serving in the Kentish Guards
is amusing (you had to have good connections to get into the
Kentish Guards, which was an elite company of the Rhode Island
Militia; I have found zero evidence to date that ANY of the
Kentish Guards were men of color).
6. "Nathan West;" white Fifer of the 1777 to 1780 Second
Rhode Island Continental Regiment and the Light Infantry
Company of the Rhode Island Regiment from 1781 to 1783.
7. "Joseph Wheeler;" native of Calne, Wiltshire, England
with a "black complexion," but was very likely Caucasian;
a distant cousin of mine, Rufus Jenckes, who died in
December 1780 on one of the British prison hulks off Long
Island, New York, had a "black complexion," so white people
can have dark or even black complexions; Joseph Wheeler
served in the 1777 First Rhode Island Continental Regiment,
was transferred to the white (segregated) Second Rhode
Island Continental Regiment in May 1778, and served in
the white 5th Company of the Rhode Island Regiment until
his discharge in June 1783; all "Joseph Wheeler" individuals
listed in the northern United States in the 1790 Federal
Census (a total of 20) were white males, so my conclusion
is that Joseph Wheeler of Rhode Island's Continental Line
was a Caucasian.






This photo shows Panel 16 on top of the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument.
Permanent Deserters on this Panel:
82. Obadiah Wicket; Indian recruit, Permanently Deserted
February 11, 1781 from the Rhode Island Regiment.
83. James Wilcox; colored Waggoner of the "Black Regiment"
who Permanently Deserted on May 1, 1780.
84. Jesse Willis; colored soldier of the "Black Regiment"
who Permanently Deserted July 3, 1780.
85. Levi Winter; "Negro" recruit for the Rhode Island
Regiment, Permanently Deserted April 4, 1781.
86. Robert Wire; "Indian" recruit for the Rhode Island
Regiment, Permanently Deserted March 13, 1781.
Problem Soldiers on this Panel:
1. "William Wilkinson;" three different white soldiers
with this name: first served as a Sergeant in Colonel
Crary's Rhode Island State Regiment from 1778 to 1779
and signed name to September 1779 Pay Receipt; second
William served as a Sergeant in Colonel Christopher
Dyer's Rhode Island Militia Regiment from 1777 to 1780
and filed Federal Pension W22659; third William served
in July 1780 Rhode Island Six Months Continental Battalion
for Town of Cumberland and the 7th Company of the Rhode
Island Regiment until captured by the enemy on May 14, 1781;
he is thought to have died in captivity and his white wife
filed Federal Pension W26802.
2. "William Wilson;" three white soldiers of this name
served as follows: first William served as a Private and
Sergeant in the Rhode Island Militia from South Kingstown;
second William served in Colonel Elliott's Rhode Island
State Artillery Regiment in 1778; the third William served
in the July 1780 Rhode Island Six Months Continental
Battalion for the Town of Providence.











Some summary thoughts on Rhode Island's 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument

1. To my knowledge, the 2005 "Black Regiment" Monument erected by
liberal African American special interest groups is the FIRST MONUMENT
in the history of America that honors Permanent Deserters.
2. To my knowledge, there was no public preview or review of the
monument open to Rhode Island Citizens before this monument was unveiled
on Rhode Island State Property.
3. There was no official review of the monument and its inscriptions
by Rhode Island State officials including the Rhode Island State Archives
before this monument was unveiled. These liberal African American
special interest groups were given CARTE BLANCHE to do what they wanted
on Rhode Island State Property. Typical Rhode Island Politics: NO
TRANSPARENCY and NO ACCOUNTABILITY!!!! No wonder my native State
consistently ranks almost dead-last in several national statewide
rankings.
4. Why do "soldiers of color" deserve special recognition over their
white brothers in arms??? My ancestor who served Rhode Island and
America six years honorably in the Second Rhode Island Continental
Regiment and the Rhode Island Regiment is mentioned on no monument.
I don't even know exactly where he is buried at because he was quite
poor, and his immediate family couldn't afford a carved gravestone.
5. I would have taken a more integrated approach myself.............
maybe list all of the colored and white soldiers from Rhode Island who died
during the Revolutionary War [except those men executed for desertion].
6. Rhode Island should get off its pathetic backside and start putting
its own monuments up at historic sites like Red Bank, New Jersey, Yorktown,
Virginia, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wilmington,
Delaware, Elkton, Maryland (just to name a few sites) that honor all of Rhode
Island's Continental Line war dead who lost their lives for EVERY AMERICAN....
There are also several Rhode Islanders who died during the Civil War that
do not have appropriate monuments......................................
7. Take Initiative, Rhode Island Residents, and put pressure on your
"Do Nothing" Federal Congressional Delegation to authorize and appropriate
funding for Rhode Island monuments at various national historic sites!!!!!
If you find the inclusion of Permanent Deserters on a public monument on
Rhode Island State Property in Portsmouth, Rhode Island offensive as I do,
contact Dr. Louis Wilson of Smith College (see his Smith College website for
his email), the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society
(https://riblackheritagesociety.wildapricot.org/), the NAACP Rhode Island
Providence Branch (http://www.naacpprov.org/) and let them know what you think.
Thanks for your time.







"TRUTH ALONE IS HISTORY..." Sidney Smith Rider, of Rhode Island, 1880












Sources


"Revolutionary War Index," Rhode Island State Archives, Providence, Rhode Island


Benjamin Cowell, "Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island: or, Sketches of the Efforts of the Government
and People in the War of the Revolution," (Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Wright, Printer, 1850).
[one of the best books every written on Rhode Island in the Rev War; should be required reading
in Rhode Island high schools]


Shirley L. Green, "Freeborn Men of Color: The Franck Brothers in Revolutionary North America, 1755-1820,"
Ph.D. Dissertation, May 2011, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio [currently available
online - Google it]


Daniel M. Popek, They "...fought bravely, but were unfortunate...," The True Story of Rhode Island's
"Black Regiment" and the Failure of Segregation in Rhode Island's Continental Line, 1777 - 1783, AuthorHouse, 2015.
[my own book which covers the colored and white soldiers of Rhode Island's Continental Line in a balanced and
accurate account]















If you have any questions on Rhode Island's Continental Line or comments,
then please send me an email.