February is Black History Month, that one time each year when African American history shows up a little more often in our feeds, classrooms, and conversations.
This year is particularly significant as the United States marks 250 years since its founding on July 4, 1776. For those of us who love genealogy, it is a chance to explore whether our own family has connections to America’s founding era.
The question at the heart of genealogy is: Who are my ancestors? For African American genealogy researchers, finding the answer may take greater work.
Records are often scarce, names may have changed, and enslaved people were rarely included in official documents. It is also easy to feel like the Revolutionary War era is not “our” story because even though the nation declared independence in 1776, that declaration did not bring personal freedom to most African Americans.
Nevertheless, this period is one of the most rewarding to explore, especially when military service is part of the story. Thousands of African American men, both free and enslaved, participated in the Revolutionary War.
Some fought for the Continental Army, while others sought freedom by joining the British, who promised liberty in exchange for service. Either way, African Americans were present at the nation’s birth and actively engaged in its struggle.
One of the earliest and most famous figures connected to the Revolution is Crispus Attucks, a man of African and Native descent who was killed during the Boston Massacre. Another notable person is Salem Poor, a Black soldier celebrated for his bravery at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Beyond his historical recognition, Poor also left behind military records and petitions that make him visible to genealogists centuries later. This shows that Black lives were recorded, even in the 1700s, if we know where to look.
