The narrative of abolition in New England often overshadows the region’s concurrent and extensive history of slavery, which deeply influenced the lives of Black Americans during the Revolutionary War. Through historic sites and stories, one can uncover the experiences of enslaved Black men who sought freedom in two arenas: against British forces and their own oppression.

As the Battle of Bunker Hill approached, approximately 1,500 minutemen gathered in Massachusetts, bivouacked at Harvard University. The university’s buildings were crowded, with overflow moving into barracks. Once tree-lined, the surrounding area was cleared for fuel, offering colonial troops an unobstructed view of the British across Boston Harbor. Research reveals that around 10 percent of these troops were Black.

The history of abolition often hides New England’s equally notable history of slavery. In Massachusetts, the opulent mansions of Brattle Street in Cambridge thrived on the profits from plantations in Antigua. Churches in Andover had designated balconies where enslaved individuals were compelled to worship. In Newport, R.I., enslaved children were traded for rum, and human lives were exchanged alongside copper kettles.

Black Americans who fought during the Revolutionary War emerged from this world. Despite living in picturesque New England surroundings, these captives experienced lives of genteel terror. Families were torn apart; spouses were separated, children sold, or given away. Their movements were confined to the narrow stairs leading from kitchens to attics, unbearably hot in summer and freezing in winter.

In 2025, the Museum of African American History in Boston launched an exhibit titled “Black Voices of the Revolution.” This exhibition focuses on the lives of Black men and women during the war and highlights the difficult decisions they faced when war with Britain erupted. Many Black Americans had to choose between fighting for their enslavers or trusting in a risky promise. Lord Dunmore, a loyalist governor slow to free those he enslaved, offered freedom to indentured servants and enslaved people who joined “His Majesty’s troops.”