Peter Oliver

Quick Facts

Significance:

Patriot of Color in the Battle of Bunker Hill

Place of Birth:

Lincoln, Massachusetts

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

Peter Oliver was baptized on 6 June 1756 in Lincoln (MA), the son of Margaret (______) Oliver.^I

It is undoubtedly the same man who joined the eight month’s service on 30 May 1775 from Lincoln, in the company of Capt. Abijah Wyman in Col. William Prescott’s regiment. His name also appears on the 1 August 1775 roll, on a 3 October 1775 return dated Cambridge and on an 11 November 1775 ‘order for bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated Cambridge.’^II

As the attack on Canada crumbled, the call went out for reinforcements for the Northern Department. It is undoubtedly the same Peter Oliver who responded by enlisting in Capt. Timothy Stow’s company, in Col. Ephraim Wheelock’s regiment. This unit served at Ticonderoga during the time of the defeat of the American fleet on Lake Champlain under Gen. Benedict Arnold.^III

On his return, he joined the local 6^th Middlesex County militia, in the company of Capt. Aaron Jewett in Col. Jonathan Reed’s regiment. With Gen. Burgoyne preparing to advance on northern New York, the call once again went out for soldiers to meet this serious threat. Now residing in Littleton (MA), he joined the Continental Army on 20 March 1777 for a three-year term in the company of Capt. Edmund Munroe, in Col. Timothy Bigelow’s 15^th Massachusetts regiment. This unit served at Saratoga, Valley Forge, and Monmouth, where his Captain was killed. In February 1779 he was serving in Providence. He was on furlough in March and April 1779. On 20 March 1780 he was discharged.^IV

In 1780, a call went out for men to reinforce the Continental Army for six months. Oliver marched to Springfield (MA) under Capt. Clark and was ‘reported a negro’ on a descriptive roll on 19 July 1780:

age: 23
stature: 5 ft. 9 in.
engaged for: Littleton

A 25 October 1780 return dated Camp Totaway (NJ) lists his name. He was discharged 6 December 1780.^V

On 4 July 1781, he enlisted from the town of Carlisle (MA) into the Continental Army for three years. On 1 August 1781 he received a bounty. A descriptive roll lists him:^VI

age: 24
stature: 5 ft. 8 in.
complexion: Black
occupation: farmer (also given laborer)

Footnotes:

1. Vital Records to 1850. Births, Marriages and Deaths. Vols for most Massachusetts towns, Lincoln, Births, 59; referencing a Church of Christ record.
2. Secretary of Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (1896-1908), 11:642. Also 2-CD Family Tree Maker^TM set “Military Records: Revolutionary War.”
3. Ibid 11:643.
4. Ibid 11:642.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.

Learn more about Quintal's study.