Peter Ayres

Quick Facts

Significance:

Patriot of Color at the Battle of Bunker Hill

Place of Birth:

Lancaster, Massachusetts(?)

Date of Birth:

Circa 1753

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

Peter Ayres was born circa 1753.^I The respected historian Nourse describes him as ‘colored.’^II

He was a minute man from Lancaster who marched on the Alarm of 19 April 1775, in the company of Capt. John Prescott.^III He joined the eight month’s service from Lancaster on 27 April 1775, in the company of Capt. Andrew Haskell in Col. Asa Whitcomb’s regiment. He is also listed on the 1 August roll and on a 6 October 1775 return.^IV

On 22 July 1776 he marched to reinforce Washington’s Army in New York, in Capt. Samuel Sawyer’s company in Col. Jonathan Smith’s regiment. ‘They participated in the unfortunate affair at Kips Bay.’ He was discharged on 1 December 1776.^V

On 21 July 1778 he enlisted into the Massachusetts militia, in the company of Ebenezer Belknap in Col. Nathaniel Wade’s regiment. He was stationed at North Kingston (RI) until his discharge on 1 January 1779.^VI This service was at the time of the Battle of Rhode Island.

He published intentions to marry Esther Sumner of Pomfret (CT) on 10 April 1779.^VII No record of a marriage or children could be found.

Footnotes:

1. Birth date backwardly-computed, based on average age of marriage of 26 (per study of compiler).
2. Nourse, Henry S., A.M. The Military Annals of Lancaster Massachusetts...1740-1865 … (1889), 237.
3. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (1896-1908) 1:378, listed as ‘Ayers.’ Also 2-CD Family Tree Maker^TM set “Military Records: Revolutionary War.”
4. Ibid, listed as ‘Airs.’
5. Nourse, Henry S., A.M. The Military Annals of Lancaster Massachusetts...1740-1865 … (1889), 144.
6. Ibid, listed as ‘Ayres.’ His Captain was also given as Nathan Fisher.
7. Vital Records to 1850. Births, Marriages and Deaths. Vols for most Massachusetts towns, Lancaster, Marriages, 139; his name listed as ‘Aires.’

Learn more about Quintal's study.