Jonathan Anthony Jr.

Quick Facts

Significance:

Patriot of Color at the Battle of Bunker Hill

Place of Birth:

Medford, Massachusetts

Date of Birth:

January 21, 1753

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

Jonathan Anthony was born on 21 January 1753 in Medford (MA),^I the son of Jonathan and Catherine (George) Anthony.^II He is described as a ‘free negro.’^III

He joined the eight month’s service from Medford on 24 April 1775, in the company of Capt. John Wood in Col. Samuel Gerrish’s regiment. He is listed on a 1 June 1775 order for advance pay, on the 1 August 1775 muster roll, and on a 10 August 1775 return of men sick and absent dated Medford. He served out the end of 1775 in Capt. Joseph Pettengill’s company, Col. Loammi Baldwin’s regiment, being listed on a 27 September 1775 roll dated Sewall’s Point.^IV He is shown in the same unit on a 19 November 1775 ’order for a bounty coat or its equivalent in money, dated Camp at Sewall’s Point.’^V

There is no record of 1776 service.

Responding to an alarm at Rhode Island, he arrived at camp 9 May 1777, enlisting in the company of Capt. Stephen Dana in Col. Josiah Whitney’s regiment. After two months and eight days service, he was discharged on 10 July 1777.^VI

In 1778 he enlisted for a nine-month term, in Capt. Brooks’ company in Col. Thatcher’s regiment, serving at Fishkill (NY). The descriptive roll lists him as:^VII

age: 25
stature: 5 ft. 6in.
residence: Medford

The 1790 census of Medford lists him as head in a household of two free people of color.^VIII

He married Lois Way of Lexington on 6 March 1777.^IX

Footnotes:

1. Vital Records to 1850. Births, Marriages and Deaths. Vols for most Massachusetts towns, Medford, Births, 15; Jonathan was the namesake of his older brother who was born 4 September 1749 and evidently died as a young child.
2. Marriage of parents listed in: Vital Records to 1850. Births, Marriages and Deaths. Vols for most Massachusetts towns, Medford, Marriages, 179, in which both are described as ‘negroes’ and Catherine’s residence is listed as Charlestown (MA).
3. Wild, Helen Tilden. Medford [MA] in the Revolution … (1903), 27.
4. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (1896-1908), 1:279, listed as ‘Anthony Jr.’ Also 2-CD Family Tree Maker^TM set “Military Records: Revolutionary War.”
5. Ibid 1:277, listed as ‘Anthoney.’
6. Ibid 1:280, listed as ‘Antoney.’
7. Ibid 1:279.
8. United States Census, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 29 (1790-1850). Index, 1790, Massachusetts, Medford, 148.
9. Vital Records to 1850. Births, Marriages and Deaths. Vols for most Massachusetts towns, Medford, Marriages, 179.

Learn more about Quintal's study.