Part of a series of articles titled 12 Soldiers of the Revolution.
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Jack Sisson: A Legacy of Courage and Liberty
Jack Sisson (c. 1743–1821) was a slave from Rhode Island, owned by Thomas Sisson. Very little is known about his early life, but accounts describe him as tall, stout, and muscular. He first entered the historical record as a militia volunteer in the American Revolution.
In 1777, Sisson volunteered for a dangerous raid led by Col. William Barton of the Rhode Island militia. Jack had enlisted on March 16, 1777, and months later, reenlisted in what would become known as the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, often called the “Black Regiment.” The “Black Regiment” was one of the Continental Army’s units primarily made up of black freemen as well as enslaved men who gained freedom in exchange for service. Sisson served with this regiment throughout the remaining years of the war, amassing a service record of over five years—a feat achieved by a very small percentage of soldiers. (Most served from six months to one year.
He died in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1821 at age 78.
DOI / Andrew King
Sisson and the 1st Rhode Island Regiment
In December 1776, the British captured American Major-General Charles Lee, second in command behind General George Washington. The Patriots sought a similarly high-ranking British officer they might capture to exchange for Lee.
Colonel William Barton learned that British General Richard Prescott was quartered at a farm near Newport, Rhode Island, and saw an opportunity to strike. Because of the dangerous nature of the mission, and the probability against its success, he asked for 40 volunteers. Jack Sisson promptly responded. The group was made up almost equally of black and white volunteers.
Prescott warned that it would be a perilous mission and many of them would likely not return. He stressed that all of them were “at full liberty to decline and he should not have the worse opinion of any person for so doing.” The mission involved penetrating directly into the heart of a British stronghold, then capturing and removing the general without the British knowing it. Despite the danger, none of them changed their minds. They unanimously chose to remain.
To reduce the likelihood that the British would be expecting them, the mission occurred late in the night of July 9, 1777, continuing into the early hours of the next morning. Under the black of night, the raiders loaded whaleboats and rowed through British-controlled waters. They placed “mufflers” on their oars to keep from awakening the British on the ships under which they would be passing.
Sisson steered the lead boat with Col. Barton and nine others aboard. After navigating the dangerous trek, the team landed, overpowered the sentinels, and surrounded the farmhouse that housed their general. (Prescott was housed in a Quaker home on an island secured by the British because he preferred it to military quarters.)
Having secured the immediate area, Barton led the way up the stairs to Prescott’s private quarters. Sisson followed closely and when confronted by a securely locked door, he lowered his head and shoulder and used them as a battering ram to plough through the barrier. He then knocked out the general and heaved him over his shoulder, quickly and safely returning with the others to American lines without any loss.
The raid was an immediate morale booster for the Patriot cause, and Sisson’s fame was publicly heralded. The Pennsylvania Evening Post lauded the “stout, active Negro” who forced the door with his head. Anonymous ballads praising Jack spread, celebrating the “sturdy Negro” who helped humiliate the British. The exchange of British General Prescott for American General Lee was successful.
Jack Sisson in Rhode Island
Sisson played a vital role in Rhode Island’s Revolutionary efforts. He served as a soldier in the Continental Army, which was the national military force.
Since the 1st Rhode Island was specifically formed to provide freedom to enslaved men who enlisted, it was one of the few Continental Army units comprised predominantly of black Americans. The typical term of enlistment for the national army was one year, and the number serving in that Regiment at any given time ranged from 140 to 300.
The 1st Rhode Island gained immense fame during the August 29, 1778, Battle of Rhode Island. During that fight, they faced the Hessians, or German soldiers hired to fight for the British. They were considered the most formidable and ruthless of all the enemy’s forces.
Three times the Hessians charged the 1st Rhode Island, each time driven back after fierce fighting with heavy losses. The cost was so devastating that the British commander of the Hessians requested a transfer, fearing his own men would shoot him after the losses they suffered. Numerous American officers praised the 1st Rhode Island for their performance.
The Regiment fought in numerous other battles throughout the war, including at Croton River (1781), where their commander, Col. Christopher Green, was terribly injured. Famous black historian William Nell reported:
Colonel Greene, the commander of the regiment, was cut down and mortally wounded: but the sabers of the enemy only reached him through the bodies of his faithful [personal] guard of blacks, who hovered over him, every one of whom was killed.
The 1st Rhode Island, one of the early units to form during the war, was there all the way to the end, including at the Battle of Yorktown, the last major engagement of the Revolution. That Regiment was highly praised by American leaders, both military and civilian.
Jack Sisson’s service highlights the importance of black patriots in securing American independence.
Faith
Like many enslaved persons in colonial New England, Jack Sisson may have encountered Christian teachings through his owner’s household or local churches, but like much else about his life, there are few specific records.The Revolution & Slavery
The American Revolution created a tension between the ideals of natural rights expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the institution of slavery. While the war did not immediately end slavery, it inspired gradual emancipation laws in many states, including Rhode Island.
Black soldiers like Jack Sisson—who numbered in the thousands in the Continental Army—proved their bravery and made a strong case for freedom and equal rights. Their service contributed to growing antislavery sentiments. Sisson’s courageous and inspirational story, along with that of other black patriots, watered the early seeds of the young but growing abolitionist movement.
Historical Tributes
Until this statue of Jack Sisson in Freedom Plaza, no specific monument was raised to celebrate him. He is listed on the 1976 Battle of Rhode Island Monument, and the Valley Forge Monument to Patriots of African Descent acknowledges the 1st Rhode Island Regiment in which he served. His remarkable legacy is now enshrined here in the heart of our nation’s Capitol.Legacy
Jack Sisson’s courageous actions and service remind us that the American Revolution was fought by people from all backgrounds—enslaved and free—who sacrificed for liberty. His story encourages Americans to honor the founding generation and continue striving toward the ideals articulated in the Declaration of Independence.Last updated: June 3, 2026