If one has not yet heard the stories of these African American contributors to the war for American Independence it is a shame. Prince Estabrook fought and was wounded at the Battle of Lexington. Peter Salem fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill and was credited with the shooting of the British Major John Pitcairn. We also know of at least three other Black Minutemen who fought on April 19th 1775, Caesar Ferrit and his son's John and Thomas all put their life on the line on that First Patriots day in Massachusetts. Yet the young man we hardly ever hear of; the one who alerted so many minutemen to come to the defense of American Liberty; was one who could only anticipate the joy of freedom within his own heart.

African Heritage

Abel Benson's grandparents, Nero and Dido Benson arrived from Africa before 1720. Abel's father, William Benson was born as a slave in 1732. In the early 1760's William married a white Sudbury woman named Sarah Perry, although their interracial marriage was not recognized by the Colonial Government. By 1763, the couple had their first child, Katy. Sometime between 1763 and 1766, William obtained his freedom, likely through testamentary manumission. The union between the two was then formalized in some manner even though interracial marriage was still illegal. Then, in about August of 1766 their son Abel was born.

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