Fortune Burnee

Quick Facts

Significance:

Patriot of Color at the Battle of Bunker Hill

Place of Birth:

Grafton, Massachusetts

Date of Birth:

March 24, 1757

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

Fortune Burnee was born on 24 March 1757 in Grafton (MA),^I the son of Fortune and Abigail (____) Burnee.^II

He was a minute man from Grafton who marched on the Alarm of 19 April 1775, in the company of Capt. Aaron Kimball in Col. Artemas Ward’s regiment.^III He joined the eight month’s service from Grafton on 26 April 1775, in the company of Capt. Luke Drury in Col. Jonathan Ward’s regiment. He is listed on an October roll and on a 3 November 1775 ‘order for bounty coat or its equivalent in money.’^IV

It is undoubtedly the same man who married Phylis, negro servant of Rev. Mr. Frost of Mendon, on 31 July 1778 in Grafton.^V It is also undoubtedly the same man who married second to Sarah Hector, of Sutton, on 8 November 1781 in Grafton.^IV There is no known record of children.

Footnotes:

1. Vital Records to 1850. Births, Marriages and Deaths. Vols for most Massachusetts towns, Grafton, Births, 29.
2. Marriage of parents: Vital Records to 1850. Births, Marriages and Deaths. Vols for most Massachusetts towns, Grafton, Marriages, 178; his father is described as a ‘negro’ and his mother as an ‘Indian.’
3. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (1896-1908) 2:871, listed as ‘Burnee.’ Also 2-CD Family Tree Maker^TM set “Military Records: Revolutionary War.”
4. Ibid 2:870, listed as ‘Burnea, Forten.’
5. Vital Records to 1850. Births, Marriages and Deaths. Vols for most Massachusetts towns, Grafton, Marriages, 178; both are listed as ‘Negroes.’ His name is shown as ‘Fortin Burnee’ in the marriage record, ‘Fortin Burney’ in the marriage intentions record and ‘Fortune Burnee’ in the Congregational Church record. Also, Vital Records to 1850. Births, Marriages and Deaths. Vols for most Massachusetts towns, Sutton, Marriages, 222; Fortune is listed as ‘Fosten Burnice,’ both are listed as ‘Negroes.’
6. Ibid.

Learn more about Quintal's study.