Salem Poor was a Patriot of the American Revolutionary War, credited primarily for his participation at the Battle at Charlestown, now popularly known as The Battle of Bunker Hill.

Poor was born into slavery in Andover, Massachusetts where he worked on a farm owned by John and Rebecca Poor. In 1769, at the age of 22, he purchased his freedom for 27 pounds, the equivalent of one year’s salary at that time. Poor married Nancy Parker, a free Black woman with both Native American and African American ancestry, in 1771. Salem and Nancy had a son, Jonas, who was baptized in September of 1776.

Poor enlisted in the Army with Captain James Frye’s regiment of Massachusetts Minutemen. On June 16, 1775 the regiment along with two others, totaling about 850 men, was ordered to march from Cambridge, Massachusetts to Charlestown, Massachusetts, and establish at the top of a hill outside Charlestown. The British were aware of the colonial presence and after three separate attacks took over the fort, but with significant casualties. Poor was one of about 3 dozen Black soldiers who fought in the battle. Some scholars have theorized that Poor was responsible for the death of either British Lt. Colonel James Abercrombie or Major John Pitcairn.

Six months after the battle, in December of 1775, 14 Minutemen officers, including a Colonel, signed a petition, citing Poor’s heroism.

The subscribers begg leave, to Report to your Honorable House (which wee do in justice to the caracter of so Brave a Man), that, under Our Own observation, Wee declare that a Negro Man, called Salem Poor, of Col. Fryes regiment, Capt. Ames company, in the late Battle at Charlestown, behaved like an Experienced officer, as well as an Excellent Soldier, to set forth Particulars of his conduct would be tedious, Wee Would Only begg leave to say in the Person of this said Negro Centers a brave and gallant soldier. The Reward due to so great and Distinguisht a Caracter, Wee Submit to the Congress. Cambridge, Dec. 5, 1775

Of the 2,400-4,000 colonists who participated in the battle, there is no other man singled out in this manner. Poor’s service record shows he re-enlisted several times, and was involved in battles at Saratoga (New York), Monmouth (New Jersey), and Valley Forge (Pennsylvania) before being discharged in March of 1780.

Salem Poor died in 1802 at the age of 55. On March 25, 1975, “Salem Poor- Gallant Soldier” was honored with his image on a ten-cent postage stamp, as part of the Postal Service Revolutionary War Bicentennial Series of stamps entitled “Contributors to the Cause.”

Source:

Nielsen, E. (2007, January 21). Salem Poor (1747-1802). BlackPast.org. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/poor-salem-1747-1780/

Video Biography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wL3q-hE0gM

NPS Boston, Brochure, BH-Salem Poor NPS Brochure

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