Revolutionary War Patriot An African American slave owned by William Armistead in Virginia during the American Revolution. With the consent of his master, he volunteered in 1781 to join the army under General Lafayette. He was stationed as a spy. Spying on the traitor Brigadier General Benedict Arnold and later Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown.
In 1786, with the support his owner and carrying a 1784 testimonial of his service from the Marquis de Lafayette, James petitioned the Virginia Assembly for his freedom. On 9 Jan 1787, the Virginia Assembly granted James' petition. He chose to add "Armistead" and "Lafayette," to honor the general, to his name. The Marquis de Lafayette recognized and embraced him during his 1824 tour of America.
He is attributed as the man standing beside General Lafayette in the painting "Lafayette at Yorktown," by Jean-Baptiste Le Paon (c1783). He also appears holding the horse's bridle in the statue of the Marquis de Lafayette at 9th Street and Park West, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York.
His petition to be Granted his Freedom:
To the honorable the Speaker & gentlemen of the genl Assembly,
The petition of James (a slave belonging to Will: Armistead of New Kent county) humbly sheweth: That your petitioner perswaded of the just right which all mankind have to Freedom, notwithstanding his own state of bondage, with an honest desire to serve this Country in its defence thereof, did, during the ravages of Lord Cornwallis thro' this state, by the permission of his master, enter into the service of the Marquiss Lafayette: That during the time of his serving the Marquiss he often at the peril of his life found means to frequent the British Camp, by which means he kept open a channel of the most useful communications to the army of the state: That at different times your petitioner conveyed inclosures, from the Marquiss into the enemies lines, of the most secret & important kind; the possession of which if discovered on him would have most certainly endangered the life of your petitioner: That he undertook & performed all commands with chearfulness & fidelity, in opposition to the persuasion & example of many thousands of his unfortunate condition. For proof of the above your petitioner begs leave to refer to the certificate of the Marquiss Lafayette hereto annexed, & after taking his case as here stated into consideration he humbly intreats that he may be granted that Freedom, which he flatters himself he has in some degree contributed to establish; & which he hopes always to prove himself worthy of: nor does he desire even this inestimable favor, unless his present master from whom he has experienced everything, which can make tolerable the state of slavery, shall be made adequate compensation for the loss of a valuable workman; which your petitioner humbly requests may be done & your petitioner shall ever pray &c.
--- Transcription from Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Citation: Legislative Petition for James, Slave Belonging to William Armistead, 30 November 1786, Box 179, Folder 10.
Revolutionary War Patriot An African American slave owned by William Armistead in Virginia during the American Revolution. With the consent of his master, he volunteered in 1781 to join the army under General Lafayette. He was stationed as a spy. Spying on the traitor Brigadier General Benedict Arnold and later Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown.
In 1786, with the support his owner and carrying a 1784 testimonial of his service from the Marquis de Lafayette, James petitioned the Virginia Assembly for his freedom. On 9 Jan 1787, the Virginia Assembly granted James' petition. He chose to add "Armistead" and "Lafayette," to honor the general, to his name. The Marquis de Lafayette recognized and embraced him during his 1824 tour of America.
He is attributed as the man standing beside General Lafayette in the painting "Lafayette at Yorktown," by Jean-Baptiste Le Paon (c1783). He also appears holding the horse's bridle in the statue of the Marquis de Lafayette at 9th Street and Park West, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York.
His petition to be Granted his Freedom:
To the honorable the Speaker & gentlemen of the genl Assembly,
The petition of James (a slave belonging to Will: Armistead of New Kent county) humbly sheweth: That your petitioner perswaded of the just right which all mankind have to Freedom, notwithstanding his own state of bondage, with an honest desire to serve this Country in its defence thereof, did, during the ravages of Lord Cornwallis thro' this state, by the permission of his master, enter into the service of the Marquiss Lafayette: That during the time of his serving the Marquiss he often at the peril of his life found means to frequent the British Camp, by which means he kept open a channel of the most useful communications to the army of the state: That at different times your petitioner conveyed inclosures, from the Marquiss into the enemies lines, of the most secret & important kind; the possession of which if discovered on him would have most certainly endangered the life of your petitioner: That he undertook & performed all commands with chearfulness & fidelity, in opposition to the persuasion & example of many thousands of his unfortunate condition. For proof of the above your petitioner begs leave to refer to the certificate of the Marquiss Lafayette hereto annexed, & after taking his case as here stated into consideration he humbly intreats that he may be granted that Freedom, which he flatters himself he has in some degree contributed to establish; & which he hopes always to prove himself worthy of: nor does he desire even this inestimable favor, unless his present master from whom he has experienced everything, which can make tolerable the state of slavery, shall be made adequate compensation for the loss of a valuable workman; which your petitioner humbly requests may be done & your petitioner shall ever pray &c.
--- Transcription from Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Citation: Legislative Petition for James, Slave Belonging to William Armistead, 30 November 1786, Box 179, Folder 10.
