Last updated: February 28, 2022
Person
Joseph Demas
Quick Facts
Significance:
Patriot of Color at the Battle of Bunker Hill
Place of Birth:
Newbury, Massachusetts(?)
Date of Birth:
Circa 1759
The following is from the 2004 National Park Service study Patriots of Color researched and prepared by George Quintal:
Joseph Demas was born circa 1759.I
He joined the eight month’s service from Newbury on 1 June 1775, in the company of Capt. Timothy Barnard in Col. Moses Little’s regiment. On a 9 October 1775 roll in which he is described as:II
age: 16
There is no record of 1776 service.
With Gen. Burgoyne preparing to advance on northern New York, the call once again went out for soldiers to meet this serious threat. Demas enlisted in the Continental Army on 1 February 1777 for a three-year term in the company of Capt. James Varnum, in Col. Michael Jackson’s 8th Massachusetts regiment.III This unit fought valiantly at both Battles of Saratoga, suffered through winter quarters at Valley Forge and then fought at Monmouth in June 1778.
Continental pay accounts name him from 1 January 1780 until 3 April 1780, at which time he deserted. A list of deserters dated 25 January 1781 describes him as follows:IV
age: 27
stature: 5 ft. 8 in.
complexion: negro
hair: black
residence: Amesbury
enlisted: during war
Footnotes:
- Birth date backwardly-computer, based on age in military descriptive roll.
- Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (1896-1908), 4:659, listed as ‘Demas.’ Also 2-CD Family Tree MakerTM set “Military Records: Revolutionary War.”
- Ibid 4:670, listed as ‘Demus,’ a 28 February 1778 list shows him as a resident of Salisbury (MA) - see Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (1896-1908) 4:659. Also 2-CD Family Tree MakerTM set “Military Records: Revolutionary War.”
- Ibid 4:670. A controversy developed in 1780 concerning length of service. Large numbers of Continental soldiers had signed up for ‘three years or during the war.’ Most soldiers interpreted this to mean the former; most officers interpreted this to mean the latter. Many ‘desertions’ resulted.