African American Express Rider "Job Negro" in Connecticut Rev. War Date and Content Possibly Unique

Like Paul Revere and William Dawes, who rode from Boston to warn the minutemen of Lexington and Concord of the approach of British soldiers in April 1775, express riders were employed throughout the Revolutionary War. Both civilian and military leaders employed them to deliver important messages or summon others. Job Negro submitted this bill for payment for express riding services for Brig. Gen. Gold Selleck Silliman. Noyes detailed a 32-mile trip by horse on December 20, 1780, with dispatches from Silliman to officers at Greenfield, Canaan, Norwalk, and Middlesex, for which he sought £1..5..8.

[AFRICAN AMERICAN; REVOLUTIONARY WAR.] Gold Selleck Silliman, Manuscript Document Signed, Statement of Express Services of Job Negro, December 25, 1780, Fairfield, Connecticut. 1 p., 7.5" x 12.75". Expected folds; creases; a few small holes; irregular edges.

Excerpts
"These Certify that the abovesaid Job Negro did the above Services for this State at my Request. Fairfield Decemr 25th 1780
"G Selleck Silliman Brigr Genl."

"To John Lawrence Esqr Treasurer of the State of Connecticut
"Sir These certify that we have carefully examined the foregoing Account & being fully satisfied that the Charges therein are justly made I do therefore approve of & allow the same, And you are desired & directed to pay the same to the said Job Negro & charge this State accordingly. Dated in Fairfield this Day of December AD 1780
"Saml Squier          } Just Peace
"Hezekiah Hubbell} Jus of Peace"

Gold Selleck Silliman (1732-1790) was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, as the son of Ebenezer Silliman and Abigail Selleck Silliman (who was the daughter of Abigail Gold). He graduated from Yale College in 1752 and practiced law as a crown attorney before the Revolution. In 1754, he married Martha Davenport (1733-1774), and they had at least two children. In 1775, Silliman married the widow Mary Fish Noyes (1736-1818), who had three sons from her first marriage, and they had two sons of their own. Also in 1775, he was appointed colonel of the 4th regiment of Connecticut militia, and he became a brigadier general in 1776. His command patrolled the Connecticut coast and border with New York to keep Loyalists in check. At the beginning of British Major General William Tryon's attack on Danbury in April 1777, Silliman sent express riders to warn nearby towns and collect the militia. In May 1779, Tories captured Silliman and his son and returned to Long Island with the captives. Because the Americans had no prisoner of equal rank to exchange for Silliman, they captured loyalist Thomas Jones in November 1779, and Silliman and Jones were exchanged in May 1780.

Job Negro, like most African Americans of the period, left little documentary record. He was undoubtedly African American and probably had been a slave. Several former slaves initially adopted or whites referred to them by the surname "Negro," though they often changed their surname later. Approximately 130 such men served in the Continental service from Connecticut alone. A "Job Negro" from Wallingford appeared on the returns of soldiers in the Connecticut Line of the Continental Army for the years 1777-1779 and may be the same person.

John Lawrence (1719-1802) served as treasurer of the colony and then the state of Connecticut for twenty years from 1769 to 1789. During the Revolutionary War, he was also commissioner of loans for the United States.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.