Peter Salem
By
John C Abercrombie
Peter Salem was born a slave and worked on his owner’s farm for most of his life. However, Peter Salem is now being recognized as a major contributor to the cause of the American Independence from Britain, more specifically the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Since slaves were considered property and not afforded the rights and privileges as a citizen they could be sold like a piece of furniture or a cow. As the owner of a slave, the slaveowner could treat that property in any way that they wanted. Any.
Peter Salem was sold to Major Lawson Buckminster, a Patriot soldier who freed him so he could enlist in his regiment of the Massachusetts Minutemen.
It is at the battle of Bunker Hill that Salem really distinguished himself.
On June 17, 1775, Salem fought at Bunker Hill where he is remembered for shooting and killing British Major John Pitcairn with a shot through the head as he was rallying the British troops.
The Minutemen were outnumbered and in danger of being overrun. The commending office of the British troops, Major Pitcairn was heard giving the order “Charge!” and commenting “The day is ours!”
Instead of being devastated by the British, Salem’s action saved the minutemen by causing major chaos within the British troops when they saw their leader fall dead on the battlefield in front of their eyes.
Salem received a commendation from the Massachusetts General Court for his bravery at Bunker Hill.
Soon afterward, soldiers of the New England Army raised money to reward Salem for his bravery and the hero was presented to Gen. George Washington as the man who killed Pitcairn.
There is a well-known painting “The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker’s Hill” This painting by John Trumbull hangs in the rotunda of the U. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
This painting shows Peter with a musket standing behind Patriot Thomas Grosvenor after Salem fired the fatal shot at Pitcairn.
Trumbull and others at the battle identified Peter Salem as the person in the painting and his heroic actions that day.
Salem is credited with killing British Major Pitcairn. At the end of this paragraph you will be able to click on a link to Peter Salem.
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page (below the map) and you will see the full picture painted by John Trumbull.
It depicts Peter Salem in the battle with a notation of Pitcairn. The US postage stamp dedicated to Salem can also be seen. Peter Salem received 14 commendations for his actions that day.
At the bottom of the page, you will also see the name Abercrombie. Abercrombie was shot and killed by Salem Poor and we will discuss this shortly.
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Below the books and value items, you will find videos of interest.
Book that may be of interest
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Colored Patriots of the American Revolution
ABH – Colored Patriots of the American Revolutionary War
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Kitchen Gadgets
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American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm
ABH – Revolution to Desert Storm
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Ring Chime, A Wi-Fi-Enabled Speaker for Your Ring Video Doorbell
by Ring
ABH – Wireless Doorbell Camera
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Houghton Mifflin Social Studies: Below Level Independent Book Unit 4 Level 5 Peter Salem Hero Of The Revolution
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KN95 Face Mask
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Talks About the Black Heroes of the American Revolution
Why aren’t our children exposed to the crucial contributions made by African-Americans toward the independence and formation of the United States? Names like Crispus Attucks, Phillis Wheatley, Peter Salem and James Armistead Lafayette should be mentioned alongside the founders of America.
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Patriots of Color: Peter Salem
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A visit to Peter Salem’s gravesite in Framingham, MA
A visit to African-American Revolutionary War soldier Peter Salem’s grave site memorial in the Old Burying Ground on Main St. in Framingham, MA.
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Peter Salem- Revolutionary War Solider (1750- 1816)
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Peter Salem short documentary
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In the story of Peter Salem we see a war hero that the country should be proud of. Yet, we persist resisting recognizing people of accomplishment because of the color of their skin. This attitude was necessary to justify the inhuman treatment that allowed slavery to flourish in this country.