Seymour Burr
Encyclopedia
Seymour Burr was an African American
slave in the Connecticut Colony
in the North American British Colonies and United States
. Owned by the brother of Colonel Aaron Burr
, who was also named Seymour, he was known only as Seymour (sometimes spelled Seymore) until he escaped and used the surname Burr to enlist in the British Army in the early days of the American Revolution
. The British promised the personal freedom of any African American
slave who enlisted or escaped to fight against the Continental Army
, and Burr wanted more than anything to be free. However, he was quickly captured and forcibly returned to his owner.
His owner, fearing that Seymour would escape again, offered him a different bargain: if Seymour would pay his owner the enlistment bounty given to him by the British and serve instead in the Continental Army
, he would be given his freedom
at the end of his military service.
, led by Colonel John Brooks
. He fought at Bunker Hill
and Fort Catskill, and suffered through the long winter at Valley Forge
.
woman of the Ponkapoag
tribe, and settled in what is now Canton, Massachusetts. In marrying her, he inherited the 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) of land owned by her previous husband, Jacob Wilbor. He also collected a government pension
for his military service. The couple had two daughters: Polly (Burr) Croud and Sally (Sarah). Both of his daughters died in Cambridge, Mass. Several descendants of Seymour Burr still live in Boston, Mass.
, possibly of mixed-race parentage, others claim he was born in Guinea
, Africa
, captured at age seven, and was possibly of royal birth. His enlistment documents list his age as both 20 and 28, which places his birth in either 1754 or 1762.
Seymour Burr died on February 17, 1837 and was buried in an unmarked grave in the Canton Corner, Canton, Mass., or at the graveyard at Burr Lane, Canton, Mass.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
slave in the Connecticut Colony
Connecticut Colony
The Connecticut Colony or Colony of Connecticut was an English colony located in British America that became the U.S. state of Connecticut. Originally known as the River Colony, it was organized on March 3, 1636 as a haven for Puritan noblemen. After early struggles with the Dutch, the English...
in the North American British Colonies and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Owned by the brother of Colonel Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
, who was also named Seymour, he was known only as Seymour (sometimes spelled Seymore) until he escaped and used the surname Burr to enlist in the British Army in the early days of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. The British promised the personal freedom of any African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
slave who enlisted or escaped to fight against the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, and Burr wanted more than anything to be free. However, he was quickly captured and forcibly returned to his owner.
His owner, fearing that Seymour would escape again, offered him a different bargain: if Seymour would pay his owner the enlistment bounty given to him by the British and serve instead in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, he would be given his freedom
Freedom (political)
Political freedom is a central philosophy in Western history and political thought, and one of the most important features of democratic societies...
at the end of his military service.
Military service
On 5 April 1781, Seymour enlisted in the Massachusetts Seventh Regiment7th Massachusetts Regiment
The 7th Massachusetts Regiment, constituted on 16 September 1776 and originally known as Alden's Regiment from its first colonel, Ichabod Alden was an infantry regiment of the Continental Army...
, led by Colonel John Brooks
John Brooks
John Brooks was the 11th Governor of Massachusetts from 1816 to 1823; he was the last significant Federalist elected official in office in the United States....
. He fought at Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
and Fort Catskill, and suffered through the long winter at Valley Forge
Valley Forge
Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:...
.
Freedom and Marriage
After his service he was given his freedom, and in 1805 he married a widow, Mary (Will) Wilbore, daughter of Nuff Will and Sarah Moho (Mohho), a Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
woman of the Ponkapoag
Ponkapoag
Ponkapoag is the name of a Native American "praying town" settled in the western Blue Hills area of eastern Massachusetts during the colonization of the Atlantic seaboard of the United States by settlers from Britain in the 17th century...
tribe, and settled in what is now Canton, Massachusetts. In marrying her, he inherited the 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) of land owned by her previous husband, Jacob Wilbor. He also collected a government pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
for his military service. The couple had two daughters: Polly (Burr) Croud and Sally (Sarah). Both of his daughters died in Cambridge, Mass. Several descendants of Seymour Burr still live in Boston, Mass.
Birth
There is conflicting information regarding his birth. Some citations list him as born in ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, possibly of mixed-race parentage, others claim he was born in Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, captured at age seven, and was possibly of royal birth. His enlistment documents list his age as both 20 and 28, which places his birth in either 1754 or 1762.
Seymour Burr died on February 17, 1837 and was buried in an unmarked grave in the Canton Corner, Canton, Mass., or at the graveyard at Burr Lane, Canton, Mass.