Freed slave's story uncovered by owner's descendant
While Leona W. Martin's forebears were fighting for the British during the Revolutionary War, the freed slave that genealogist David Lambert counts as an adopted ancestor was performing heroically for the patriots at Bunker Hill.
For that, Salem Poor was honored in 1975 with his image on a 10-cent postage stamp. Details of Poor's life after the Revolution -- his troubled marriage, his death as a pauper -- were unknown, however, until Lambert pieced them together over the past decade.
Lambert, 37, online genealogist at the New England Historic Genealogical Society on Newbury Street, claims no blood relation to Poor, who shares his grandmother's maiden name. He is, however, descended from the Massachusetts family that owned Poor in Andover. Ever since an uncle gave him a first-day cover of Poor's stamp, he's been interested in his story.
"He was one of the first American heroes," says Lambert. "I'm glad to have found the final chapter."
Poor purchased his freedom in 1769 for 27 pounds -- almost $5,600 in today's dollars. He is believed to have killed British Lieutenant Colonel James Abercrombie in Charlestown and fought, too, at Saratoga and Valley Forge. Fourteen officers present at Bunker Hill sought recognition for Poor, saying, "Wee Would Only begg leave to say in the Person of this said Negro Centers a brave and gallant soldier."
In 1780, Poor married his second wife , the widow Mary Twing, described, like Poor, as a "free negro." The couple moved to Providence, where, according to city records Lambert found, they were ordered to leave, presumably because they could not support themselves. In 1785, Poor placed an ad in the Boston Gazette to disavow his wife's debts and "forewarn all Persons from trusting MARY, the Wife of the Subscriber."...
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For that, Salem Poor was honored in 1975 with his image on a 10-cent postage stamp. Details of Poor's life after the Revolution -- his troubled marriage, his death as a pauper -- were unknown, however, until Lambert pieced them together over the past decade.
Lambert, 37, online genealogist at the New England Historic Genealogical Society on Newbury Street, claims no blood relation to Poor, who shares his grandmother's maiden name. He is, however, descended from the Massachusetts family that owned Poor in Andover. Ever since an uncle gave him a first-day cover of Poor's stamp, he's been interested in his story.
"He was one of the first American heroes," says Lambert. "I'm glad to have found the final chapter."
Poor purchased his freedom in 1769 for 27 pounds -- almost $5,600 in today's dollars. He is believed to have killed British Lieutenant Colonel James Abercrombie in Charlestown and fought, too, at Saratoga and Valley Forge. Fourteen officers present at Bunker Hill sought recognition for Poor, saying, "Wee Would Only begg leave to say in the Person of this said Negro Centers a brave and gallant soldier."
In 1780, Poor married his second wife , the widow Mary Twing, described, like Poor, as a "free negro." The couple moved to Providence, where, according to city records Lambert found, they were ordered to leave, presumably because they could not support themselves. In 1785, Poor placed an ad in the Boston Gazette to disavow his wife's debts and "forewarn all Persons from trusting MARY, the Wife of the Subscriber."...