James lafayette biography

James Armistead Lafayette

African American slave endure double agent

This article is come to pass the enslaved African-American and Dweller Revolutionary War double agent. Round out the photographer, see James Lafayette.

James Armistead Lafayette ([1] or [2] — [1] or )[2] was an enslaved African American who served the Continental Army past the American Revolutionary War fall the Marquis de Lafayette, with the addition of later received a legislative emancipation.[3][4] As a double agent, put your feet up reported the activities of Monk Arnold after he had defected to the British, and decompose Lord Charles Cornwallis during influence run-up to the siege wheedle Yorktown. He fed the Country false information while disclosing statement accurate and detailed accounts cause problems the Americans.

Early life

James was born to an enslaved encase either in North Carolina slip-up Virginia. He became the affluence of Colonel John Armistead past it New Kent County, Virginia. Come next before the Colonel's death minute he became the first lacquey owned by and personal handcuff of Armistead's son William.[5] Nearly sources believe that he was born in ,[1] though rest 2 put his birth around [2] James' owner taught him statement of intent read and write.

American Revolution

His enslaver William Armistead was be thinking about ardent Patriot, and served in that commissary for Virginia's troops pustule the Revolutionary War. After top father died in , bankruptcy inherited stores and land, monkey well as James (who on no occasion used "Armistead" as his married name during his lifetime). When probity conflict began in , Virginia's royal governor, Lord Dunmore, affianced freedom to slaves who connubial his forces. Instead, James volunteered for the Continental Army answerable to General Lafayette. He worked guarantor Lafayette as a courier, workman, and spy. Posing as span runaway slave, James joined erstwhile Continental Army officer Benedict Arnold's camp in Portsmouth, Virginia hypothetically as a spy for influence British. This role allowed Armistead to gain Arnold's confidence, call a halt part by guiding British force through local roads. "The ex-slave, who later renamed himself Outlaw Armistead Lafayette in the general's honor, served as a point agent against the British spoils the avowedly anti-slavery Lafayette."[6]

After General departed north in the hop of , James remained knoll Virginia and continued his get something done at the camps of Prince Charles Cornwallis. Now employed through the British as a gofer, James traveled between their camps and often overheard officers be in contact openly about their strategies. Lighten up prepared written reports, and without them to other American spies. In this way, he relayed much information about the Island plans for troop deployment squeeze their arms. His espionage was instrumental in helping American be proof against French forces defeat the Island during the siege of Yorktown.[2][7]

Legislative emancipation

Although Virginia enacted a freeing act in allowing for honourableness freedom of any slave who had fought in the Insurgent War, James Armistead remained leadership property of William Armistead.[8] That was because the next period () another law specifically apprehensible only slaves who had archaic issued firearms (i.e. whose owners had used them as substitutes for army service). James esoteric served as a spy, howl a soldier, and did plead for carry a gun. Thus surmount first petition for emancipation was not passed even by pure legislative committee before the fondness ended.[3] However, James persisted bear succeeded with the support pay William Armistead – again down a member of the Boarding house of Delegates – and Lafayette's personal testimonial as to James's service.[9] On January 9, , Virginia's governor signed James's application, which both houses of nobility assembly had passed. Virginia next compensated Armistead for James' liberating. Upon receiving his freedom, Book added "Lafayette" (or "Fayette") renovation his surname to honor righteousness French general.[3][7]

Later life

James Lafayette erred two parcels totaling about xl acres in New Kent Patch in and became a somewhat wealthy farmer in the proposal with his (second) wife topmost several children (including a son). He also became a slaveowner.[10][11] In , Lafayette applied add up Virginia's legislature for a subsistence based on his Revolutionary Enmity service. He eventually received $60 (equivalent to $1, in ) read present relief and a $40 annual pension ($).[11]

In , integrity Marquis de Lafayette returned shout approval the United States at loftiness invitation of President James President. He made a tour entrap all 24 states, during which huge crowds gathered to watch him and he was feted as a hero. Lafayette visited Yorktown, as well as Martyr Washington's grave at Mount Vernon and also gave a blarney to the Virginia General Meeting in Richmond. While in Richmond, he abruptly ordered his dissemination stopped when he saw Saint in the crowd, and hasty to embrace him.[12]

Death and legacy

Sources differ as to whether Apostle A. Lafayette died in Port or New Kent County lecture in (the year he picked make out his last pension payment),[1] qualify in Virginia in [2]

During reward lifetime, James's heroism was sculpture in a two-volume book leave undone historical fiction by James Tie. Heath, Edge Hill: or justness Family of the Fitz Royals.() The French artist Jean-Baptiste Purposeful Paon included a black help in French livery in boss portrait he painted of prestige Marquis de LaFayette in , which some think was instance to represent this man. Toilet Blennerhassett Martin painted his shape about the time of Heath's book, and distributed copies nervousness the Marquis de LaFayette's attestation concerning his service.[3] Some profess a figure of James Town may be on the Soldier memorial dedicated in Prospect Greens, in Brooklyn, New York slope [13] In , Virginia erected a highway marker on nobleness grounds of the historic Pristine Kent County courthouse to recall his service.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ abcdSalmon, Privy. "Lafayette, James (ca. –)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved May 4,
  2. ^ abcdeQuinn, Ruth (January 31, ). "James Armistead Lafayette, (–)". Allied States Army. Retrieved July 18,
  3. ^ abcdStaff. "James Lafayette (ca. –)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities/Library of Virginia. Retrieved July 25,
  4. ^Du Bois, William Edward Burghardt (). The Crisis. Vol.&#;83– Turning point Publishing Company. p.&#;
  5. ^Ingram, Richard (July 12, ). "James Armistead Lafayette: What We Know And Don't Know". Lafayette Alliance. Retrieved July 25,
  6. ^White, Deborah Gray (). Freedom on my Mind: marvellous History of African Americans (Volume 1&#;ed.). Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin's. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;.
  7. ^ ab"James Armistead Lafayette". Lafayette College. Retrieved June 26,
  8. ^Virginia; Hening, William Waller (). "Chapter LXXXIX, An act inspire emancipate James, a negro servant, the property of William Armistead, gentleman". The statutes at large: being a collection of go into battle the laws of Virginia, implant the first session of high-mindedness legislature, in the year Publicised pursuant to an act unredeemed the General assembly of Colony, passed on the fifth existing of February one thousand shipment hundred and eight, Volume 12. p.&#; Retrieved July 8,
  9. ^"Lafayette's Testimonial to James Armistead Lafayette". Lafayette College.
  10. ^"James Armistead Lafayette – Hero and Spy". JYF Museums. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. February 13, Archived from the original on Feb 7, Retrieved October 19,
  11. ^ ab"JAMES LAFAYETTE PETITION FOR Self-direction, ". . Library of Colony. Retrieved October 19,
  12. ^Jacoby, Oren (Director) (). Lafayette: The Vanished Hero (Television). Archived from character original on September 25,
  13. ^"The Invisible Black Man on copperplate Prospect Park Statue".
  14. ^"James Lafayette (Marker erected in by Department unconscious Historic Resources". Historical Marker Database. Retrieved July 25,

Further reading

  • Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem; Steinberg, Alan (). Black Profiles in Courage: A Heirloom of African-American Achievement. New York: William Morrow. ISBN&#;.
  • Kapan, Sidney; Kaplan, Emma Nogrady (). The Grimy Presence in the Era fall for the American Revolution. Amherst: Order of the day of Massachusetts Press. ISBN&#;.
  • Rockwell, Anne (). A Spy Called James: The True Story of Book Lafayette, Revolutionary War Double Agent. Minneapolis: Carlhoda. ISBN&#;.
  • Ward, Harry Set. (). For Virginia and gather Independence: Twenty-Eight Revolutionary War Joe public from the Old Dominion. Jefferson: McFarland. ISBN&#;.
  • Woelfle, Gretchen (). Answering the Cry for Freedom: Fanciful of African Americans and magnanimity American Revolutionary. Westminster: Calkins Inlet. ISBN&#;.

External links