Pero Hall

Quick Facts

Significance:

Patriot of Color at the Battle of Bunker Hill

Place of Birth:

Newbury, Massachusetts(?)

Date of Birth:

Circa 1720

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

Pero Hall was born circa 1720, making him the oldest soldier in this study.^I

He joined the eight month’s service from Newbury on 17 May 1775, in the company of Capt. Jonathan Evans, in Col. James Frye’s regiment. This company served in the Battle of Bunker Hill in the redoubt. His own service there is confirmed due to a return of articles lost in the Battle.^II He also is listed on a 28 June 1775 receipt for advanced pay^III and in an order for a bounty coat on 13 November 1775.^IV

There is no record of a 1776 service.

On 24 August 1777 he enlisted into the company of Capt. John Noyes, in Col. Samuel Johnson’s regiment. This unit served in the Northern Department and participated in the second Battle of Saratoga. He was discharged on 30 November 1777 and allowed pay for 240 miles travel home. Once home, he served a short four-month stint at Winter Hill (Somerville MA) in Capt. Caleb Kimball’s company.^V

On 1 June 1778, he enlisted for service in the Hudson Highlands, in the company of Capt. Stephen Jenkins in Col. Thomas Poor’s regiment. After its arrival at Peekskill (NY), the unit marched to Fort Clinton (NY) and served there until September 1778. The winter of 1778-1779 was served at King’s Ferry (NY). Hall was discharged 16 February 1779 and was allowed 260 miles travel home.

In 1779 a call went out to Essex County for men to join the Continental Army for nine months. Hall entered the service on 22 July 1779 in Capt. Hunt’s company, was mustered at Boxford (MA) on 8 December 1779, and discharged on 22 April 1780. A descriptive list states:^VI

age: 59
stature: 5 ft. 4 in.
complexion: black
engaged for: Newbury

In late 1780 another call went out in Essex County for men to join the Continental Army. Hall was engaged on 30 January 1781 for a term of three years or during the war. He received a bounty on 20 September 1781.^VII

He married Catherine Small of Ipswich on 14 August 1746 in Newbury (MA).^VIII

Footnotes:

1. Birth date backwardly-computed, based on age in military descriptive roll.
2. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (1896-1908) 7:104, listed as ‘Hall.’ Also 2-CD Family Tree Maker^TM set “Military Records: Revolutionary War.”
3. Ibid 8:125, listed as ‘Holl.’
4. Ibid 7:104.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Vital Records to 1850. Births, Marriages, and Deaths. Vols for most Massachusetts towns, Newbury, Marriages, 530, under ‘NEGROES;’ both are described as ‘mulattoes’ in a referenced Congregational Church record.

Learn more about Quintal's study.