Name: James Armistead, Birth Year: 1748, Birth date: December 10, 1748, Birth State: Virginia, Birth City: New Kent, Birth Country: United States. Continental Army He married and raised a family. Historians say that as an organizer of the March on Washington, she was the only woman activist on the speakers platform during Kings I Have a Dream speech. Under Virginia law even as a free man he could not be considered a citizen of Virginia. Posing as a runaway slave, Armistead traveled to the camp of British General Benedict Arnold. Black soldiers who fought with the First Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolution. (1748?-1830). August 24, 2021. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/fighting-freedom-african-americans-during-american-revolution. His enslaver William Armistead was an ardent Patriot, and served as commissary for Virginia's troops in the Revolutionary War. *Some sources list his birth year as 1760 and his death year as 1832. Armistead married, raised a family and spent the rest of his life as a free man on his own Virginia farm. How an Enslaved Man-Turned-Spy Helped Secure Victory at the Battle of Yorktown. History.com. [9] On January 9, 1787, Virginia's governor signed Jamess petition, which both houses of the assembly had passed. [14] In 1997, Virginia erected a highway marker on the grounds of the historic New Kent County courthouse to recognize his service.[15]. Curated by Diane Windham Shaw. In 1958, Height became president of the National Council of Negro Women, a position she held for more than 40 years. Read More: 5 Patriot Spies of the American Revolution. While at first he took on menial tasks, his vast knowledge of the terraina trait that wouldn't seem suspicious for a local runawaywas useful to both Arnold and Cornwallis for British intelligence during the war. The Marquis de Lafayette and his assistant James Armistead. Under Lafayette, the French general who helped the American colonists fight for their freedom, he infiltrated the British army as a spy near the end of the Revolutionary War. At the time, Armistead served as state commissary of military supplies, and his position allowed Lafayettethen known only by his first name . He learned at that moment that hed been working with a double agent. This broadside, with its illustration by Richmond artist John Blennerhasset Martin, includes the text of Lafayettes note. I owe it to Mr. Lafayette to tell his story right. Armistead died in 1830, having successfully petitioned for his freedom in 1787. In early 2019, I had the honor to walk on part of the property he purchased after becoming free in 1787. James Armistead Lafayette was born into slavery in Virginia around 1748. Before long, he was performing important espionage service behind enemy lines, masquerading as an escaped slave while he obtained information about the plans and movements of the British. By 1778, Washington had become more amenable to the idea. Upon receiving his freedom, James added "Lafayette" (or "Fayette") as his surname to honor the French general.[3][7]. I didnt even play Mr. Lafayette in it, but it was the beginning of my journey of wanting to know more. Step into the past with Patrick Henry, the Revolutions son of thunder. For the photographer, see, In 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette returned to the United States, Intelligence in the American Revolutionary War, "James Armistead Lafayette: What We Know And Don't Know", "Chapter LXXXIX, An act to emancipate James, a negro slave, the property of William Armistead, gentleman", "Lafayette's Testimonial to James Armistead Lafayette", "James Armistead Lafayette Hero and Spy", "Manumission Petition for James Lafayette", "The Invisible Black Man on a Prospect Park Statue", "James Lafayette (Marker erected in 1997 by Department of Historic Resources", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Armistead_Lafayette&oldid=1162510340, American spies during the American Revolution, British spies during the American Revolution, People of Virginia in the American Revolution, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles having same image on Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 29 June 2023, at 16:19. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! Born enslaved in about 1748, he was a body servant for his owner, William Armistead, of New Kent County, in the spring of 1781. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. James Armisteads life would make a great movie. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. (1748-1830) Who Was James Armistead? After gaining the consent of his owner,. Lafayette, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial HighwayMount Vernon, Virginia 22121. Then His Sons Were Sold Into Slavery, https://www.history.com/news/battle-of-yorktown-slave-spy-james-armistead, How an Enslaved Man-Turned-Spy Helped Secure Victory at the Battle of Yorktown. Able to travel freely between both British and American camps, Armistead could easily relay information to Lafayette about British plans. The Marquis de Lafayette quickly recognized James Armistead was a valuable asset for the colonial cause, in part because he could read and write. Virginia later compensated Armistead for James' manumission. James Armistead Lafayette was famous for his excellent service as a spy to the American side, which was fighting against the British for freedom in the American Revolution. In his World rebuttal to us, David Barton claims that the case of James Armistead Lafayette proves that we did not take into account slave laws other than the 1782 law allowing owners to emancipate their slaves. [5] Most sources believe that he was born in 1748,[1] though others put his birth around 1760. Done under my hand, Richmond, November 21st, 1784. According to Virginia law, only an act passed by the Assembly could free a slave. Cornwallis consequently appointed Armistead to serve at the British officers table, an invaluable place to garner intel for the colonial army. Those who were already part of the Army were allowed to remain, but new rules were quickly enacted on July 10, 1775, that barred additional Black men from joining the armed forces. He once reported to Benedict Arnold, the traitorous colonist who betrayed his troops to fight for the British. After several years without success, Armistead received help from an old comrade in arms, the Marquis de Lafayette. His owner, William Armistead, was paid 250. After waving the white flag, the British general visited Lafayettes headquarters, but when Cornwallis entered the tent, he came face-to-face with James Armistead. Armistead was born into slavery in New Kent County, Virginia in 1748 in the household of William Armistead. The American Revolution began on April 19, 1775, and the Continental Army was officially formed less than two months later on June 14, 1775. After successfully infiltrating British intelligence, Armistead floated freely between the British and American camps. Nunnery, Jackie. Alaa Elassar, CNNPhoto: Associated Press, Editorial oversight: Saeed Ahmed and John Blake, Contributors: Simret Aklilu, Leah Asmelash, John Blake, Nicole Chavez, Alaa Elassar, Faith Karimi, Harmeet Kaur, Amir Vera and Sydney Walton, Design and development: Priya Krishnakumar, Alberto Mier and Ivory Sherman. Jean-Baptiste-Antoine DeVerger/Wikimedia Commons. The American and French blockade surprised British forces and crippled their military. When the Marquis de Lafayette enlisted Mr. Lafayette into his service as a spy, he could not offer him freedom. Some were foul-tempered, weighed down by personal demons, and misunderstood by their contemporaries. Each transformed America in a profound way. Lafayette, JamesLAFAYETTE, JAMES. [3][4] As a double agent, he reported the activities of Benedict Arnold after he had defected to the British, and of Lord Charles Cornwallis during the run-up to the siege of Yorktown. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Though Armistead risked his life to help the Continental Army win, he was considered a spy and not a soldier, and this work for American liberty was not considered agreeable. He was thus ineligible for emancipation under the Emancipation Act. And despite that fact I was walking on the land where Mr. Lafayette raised his family, lived his life, laughed, cried, paid his bills, did his laundry, and loved his wife. Perhaps, but not freedom under the law. So that summer Washington wrote to Lafayette requesting information on Cornwallis. When Lafayette again returned to America in 1824, he visited Richmond and recognized his old associate in the crowd. Lord Dunmore hoped for a full-scale slave revolt, something that many southern Founding Fathers like Washington and Thomas Jefferson were terrified of. Ive spent the last three and a half years researching him, finding as much firsthand information as I can, finding sources, working to understand why he chose the decisions he ended up making. The previous exhibit ( https://academicmuseum.lafayette.edu/special/specialexhibits/slaveryexhibit/onlineexhibit/page1.htm) was retired on June 5, 2023. Lafayette dispatched him as a spy, posing as a runaway slave, and he joined British forces in Virginia who valued his knowledge of the local terrain. He served for Marquis de Lafayette who was the head of the French who were helping the Americans. He reported to the Marquis de Lafayette that Cornwallis moved British forces from Portsmouth to Yorktown, valuable intelligence that helped pave the way for the siege of Yorktown that effectively ended the war. Before actively choosing to serve the budding republic that denied him his freedom, Armistead already had a fairly close-up view of the conflict: His owner, William Armisteadmanaged the military supplies for the state of Virginia after the war began in 1775. In addition to his (second) wife and several children (including a son), he bought three slaves to work his land. James, however, was not among those freed. Born in Virginia as a slave to William Armistead in 1760, he volunteered to join the Army in 1781. As a result, Armistead accomplished what few spies could: direct access to the center of the British War Department. After winning his freedom, Armistead bought a large plot of land in New Kent, Virginia. Then His Sons Were Sold Into Slavery. In 1781, James was pressed into service under the Marquis de Lafayette, who was leading Patriot forces against Lord Cornwalliss army in Virginia. During the American Revolution, however, James received permission from his master, William Armistead, to enlist in the Marquis de Lafayettes French Allied units. But after the war, he had to fight for his freedom. James life was an American life and it feeds into what would one day become our lives. Its time for these American heroes to get their due. Let me tell you his story. The paths we walked were most likely the paths he walked. King, LaGarrett J., and Jason Williamson. It had been that way in Virginia since 1723. As a first-person interpreter, I have to make a choice. James Armistead was born into slavery in Virginia around 1748. Using the details of Armistead's reports, Lafayette and General George Washington were able to prevent the British from sending 10,000 reinforcements to Yorktown, Virginia. His Intelligence from the ennemy's [sic] camp were industriously collected and most faithfully delivered. [10][11][12] In 1818, Lafayette applied to Virginia's legislature for a pension based on his Revolutionary War service. Yes. In 1787, the Virginia Assembly granted James his freedom for his courageous contribution, while his owner, William Armistead, was compensated 250. James Armistead Lafayette wasnt the only slave to serve his country. She was a feminist and a major spokesperson for the rights of women long before there was a womens movement., Nicole Chavez, CNNPhoto: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images. In the note, Lafayettewrote This is to certify that the Bearer has done essential services to me while I had the honour to command in this State. What would his life be like as a free man? James Armistead is a great hero. Could my choice be wrong? 2023 Mount Vernon Ladies Association. afroamerikai rabszolga, az amerikai fggetlensgi hbor idejn km, ketts gynk . He became the property of Colonel John Armistead of New Kent County, Virginia. Would you want freedom if it meant you would never see your family again? Many dont fit the conventional definition of a hero. James added Lafayette to his name to honor the French general for whom he spied.James established a farm next to his former master in New Kent, and he came to own a number of slaves. James. James had served as a spy, not a soldier, and did not carry a gun. The siege, combined with constant bombardment, weakened Cornwalliss forces, forcing the British commanders surrender on October 19. Such a revolt never materialized. Some sources indicate that he was born around 1748, while others list 1760 as the correct approximation for his birth. *exact birth and death dates are unknown. James successfully infiltrated Lt. Gen. Charles, Lord Cornwalliss Virginia headquarters posing as a runaway slave who was willing to spy on American troops. Once the war was over he was to return to William Armisteads ownership. African American Service during the Revolution. American Battlefield Trust. While acting as a British agent, he was assigned to work with the infamous American turncoat Brig. Accessed November 30, 2021. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/james-armistead-lafayette. "[6], After Arnold departed north in the spring of 1781, James remained in Virginia and continued his work at the camps of Lord Charles Cornwallis. She was accepted to New Yorks Barnard College in 1929 but learned there wasnt a spot for her because the school had already filled its quota of two Black students per year. He served under the Marquis de Lafayette. In the autumn of 1781, the American colonial army fought in theBattle of Yorktown, the final and arguably most consequential battle for American independence from British rule. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. But by the time of her death in 2010, Height had taken her place among the movements towering figures. Library of Virginia It is the pinnacle of irony that the United States was born from a war for independence that depended, in part, on people who were enslaved. Now that it is my job to portray Mr. Lafayette, I endeavor to share why you should want to know more about this extraordinary mans life as well. During the Revolution, James Armistead's life changed drasticallyfrom an enslaved person . It wasn't all we had at the time, but it was close. He was educated by his master and knew how to both read and write (there were no laws prohibiting education of slaves in the Virginia colony at that time). He perfectly acquitted himself with some important commissions I gave him and appears to me entitled to every reward his situation can admit of. He was not eligible for emancipation under the Act of 1783 for slave-soldiers, because he was considered a slave-spy, and had to petition the Virginia legislature for his emancipation. Gen. Benedict Arnold and 1,600 of his Loyalist troops had successfully besieged and captured Richmond, the capital city of Virginia, in January 1781. June 29, 2023 06:00 AM. He instructed James to spy under the guise of a runaway. "Lafayette, James Armistead - Facsimile of the Marquis de Lafayette's original certificate commending James Armistead Lafayette for his revolutionary war service with portrait after John B. Martin." Tartalomjegyzk 1 lete 2 Jegyzetek 3 Forrsok 4 Kapcsold szcikk lete [ szerkeszts] Lafayette employed Armistead as a spy, with the hopes of gathering intelligence in regards to enemy movements. Birthplace: ? He worked for Lafayette as a courier, laborer, and spy. In 1780, five years into the war, the Armisteads moved from Williamsburg to Richmond. Secondly, in November 1775, the British governor of Virginia, Lord John Murray, fourth Earl of Dunmore, issued a proclamation that declared martial law and emancipated any slave who fought for the British. Well before the Colonel's death in 1779 he became the first slave owned by and personal manservant of Armistead's son William. Born in Virginia as a slave to William Armistead in 1760, he volunteered to join the Army in 1781. Freed Blacks were not afforded equal protections under the law as whites did. They are the civil rights leaders and abolitionists whose faces we see plastered on calendars and postage stamps. Mount Vernon is owned and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, a private, non-profit organization. whose owners had used them as substitutes for army service). His legacy can be seen today at intersections across the country and the world. There he saw James Armistead Lafayette in the crowd. James Armistead Lafayette (born 1748 [1] or 1760 [2] - died 1830 [1] or 1832) [2] was an American slave who served the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War under the Marquis de Lafayette, and later received a legislative emancipation. As a double agent, he was tasked with gathering important details about British plans while also planting false information about the Continental Army. And yet his story has been almost entirely left out of . And who could he trust other than his family? The Marquis de Lafayette's original certificate commending James Armistead for his revolutionary war service, 1784. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), 5 Patriot Spies of the American Revolution, How A Black Spy Infiltrated the Confederate White House, He Fought for His Freedom in the Revolution.
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