Local enslaved men fought in Revolutionary War
For centuries, many towns failed to acknowledge the contributions of Black soldiers in the War of Independence. Only in 2021 were Jamestown slaves first identified by public historian Peter Fay and honored by the town. They had been sold to the rebel government and promised their freedom for serving.
Creative Survival: Africans as Mariners in Colonial Rhode Island
The introduction of African bondage was a transformative experience that lasted over a span of four centuries and shaped the settlement, economic, religious and cultural growth of the Western Hemisphere.
Should They Stay or Should They Go? Rhode Island Black Loyalists after the American Revolution
In late 1779 Newport’s black residents, free or enslaved, faced a predicament: should they stay or should they go? Should they choose freedom but risk an uncertain future under British protection, or should they stay enslaved in wartime Rhode Island?
Rochambeau Statue – Newport Harbor
King’s Park on Newport Harbor is the present location of a statute to General Rochambeau. The statue remains a symbol of the assistance that France rendered to the American colonies during the War for Independence.
The Gaspee
The Battle of Rhode Island – The Gaspee
Protest Events
By 1750 Newport, Rhode Island was the fifth largest city in the British North American colonies, and the third busiest port.
A Fight for Freedom and Dignity: The Recruitment, Service , and Legacy of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment
The attempted formation of a regiment of soldiers composed entirely of enslaved men who had enlisted to earn them their freedom.
Maritime Skirmishes in Narragansett Bay, 1763-1769
Hundreds of ships carrying both raw materials from the colonies and manufactured products from England traveled Narragansett Bay annually.
Newport
Newport was the fifth largest city in the colonies with a population of about 9500 and the third busiest port.
Departure
On March 6, 1781, General Washington visited Count de Rochambeau to consult with him concerning the operation of the troops under his command.
