Anthony Shaswell

Quick Facts

Significance:

Patriot of Color at the Battle of Bunker Hill

Place of Birth:

Charlestown, Massachusetts(?)

The following is from the 2004 National Park Service study Patriots of Color researched and prepared by George Quintal:

Nothing is known of the early life of Anthony Shaswell.^I

He joined the eight month’s service on 6 May 1775 in the company of Capt. Jonathan Davis, in Col. Asa Whitcomb’s regiment. This company served in the Battle of Bunker Hill at the rail fence. His name is on the 1 August 1775 muster roll.^II On 18 June 1775, one day after the Battle, he was listed on an order ‘for cartridge boxes of which said Shasrel … is in need.’^III This is a strong sign of participation in the Battle. His name also appears on August and September 1775 receipts for wages^IV and on a 6 October 1775 company return.^V

There is no known record of 1776 service.

On 1 January 1777 he joined the 1^st Rhode Island Battalion, in Capt. John Singer Dexter’s company in Col. Christopher Greene’s regiment. On 24 January 1777 he was listed as ‘Taken Prisoner.’ After that there is no more record of him.^VI

Footnotes:

1. Soldier description unavailable – soldier placed in database based on given (first) name alone.
2. Secretary of Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (1896-1908), 14:155; listed as ‘Shezerell, Anthony.’ Also 2-CD Family Tree Maker^TM set “Military Records: Revolutionary War.”
3. Ibid 14:21; listed as ‘Shasrel, Antony.’
4. Ibid 14:154; listed as ‘Sheswell, Anthony.’
5. Ibid 14:155; listed as ‘Shezzerel, Antony.’
6. United States Revolutionary War Rolls and Compiled Indices, NARA, Record Group 15, Series M881, Roll 846, Frame 1223.

Learn more about Quintal's study.