Rufus Franck

Rufus Franck was a man of African descent who served in the Rhode Island Militia from 1757 to 1762.

National Park Service

Quick Facts

Significance:

"Rufus Franck’s service, although part of a greater story of increased Black involvement in American military systems, was also part of a more personal narrative that set a tradition of military service for the Franck men.” - Shirley Green Ph.D., Franck Descendant

Place of Birth:

Unknown, New England?

Date of Birth:

Early to mid 18th Century

Place of Death:

Unknown, New England?

Date of Death:

Unknown

Rufus Franck was born in New England in the first half of the 18^th Century. As an adult he lived in Providence, Rhode Island. It is unknown whether he was born free, or enslaved. But Franck Family oral history holds that a male ancestor was born in West Africa, enslaved, and transported to New England from Hispaniola. Evidenced by the extensive slave trade between the two areas, this is probably not so far from the truth. This ancestor was likely Ffranck Negro (perhaps his father or grandfather), a man of African descent recorded as living in the Providence area at the turn of the 18^th Century. If this is the case, it appears that Rufus took his forefather’s first name as his last according to West African tradition.

It is unknown if Franck (or his forefathers) was the first to gain his freedom. But in 1756, he would have been given an opportunity to earn it via his service. In the 1700s, it was very typical for colonial and municipal governments to bar Blacks and Native Americans from military service or bearing arms. But because of war-time pressures as the French & Indian (or Seven Years War) broke out, most of these rules and laws were ignored to help fill the ranks. There were certain restrictions still placed on these new soldiers, and most were only able to serve as support laborers. In instances where the soldier was enslaved, half, to all of, their pay was usually collected by their enslavers in exchange for their conscription.

Franck officially joined the Rhode Island militia in 1757 as part of Captain John Whiting’s Company. In 1758, he served with his company on the shores of Lake George during the Battle of Ticonderoga. He was paid £43.00 for his service. In 1759, his regiment was tasked with supporting General Jeffrey Amherst’s attack on Canada, but soon stopped preparations as it became too cold to proceed. That year he collected £12.00 for his service. In 1760, as part of Colonel Christopher Harris’ Regiment, they proceeded to Albany and finally joined Gen. Amherst’s forces. Marching north, they forced French Montreal to surrender on September 8, 1760. Many Rhode Island men were discharged to return home at that point.

Franck does not appear to be part of that group, as in 1761, under command of now Colonel Whiting, he and 65 other Rhode Island men garrisoned Fort Stanwix, along the Oneida Carry on the border of western New York. They stayed from March to November of that year.

By 1762, with the French surrender in North America, the British began to focus their efforts on French ally Spain. Forces were raised and sent to attack Cuba. Franck was one of 212 Rhode Island men sent under command of Colonel Samuel Rose and Lt. Colonel Hargill to support the Empire in its endeavor. The combined British forces besieged Havanna, Cuba on June 2, and continued until July 29, 1762. The siege ended with the walls of El Moro falling and fierce hand-to-hand combat. When all was said and done, of the 212 Rhode Islanders, only two died in battle. Another 110 died of yellow fever over the course of the campaign. Only 100 made it home alive; three of which were wounded from combat. Franck was paid £5.00 for his service.

Shortly after his return, Franck moved from Providence, RI (an area with many Black families including more Francks) to Johnston, RI; a small town with far fewer free or enslaved Black families settled. In 1774, he was listed as a free head of household. His children were William, Benjamin, and Hannah. Because of strict “black codes” still in place at this time, their freedom of movement and ability to interact with their community would have been severely limited.

In April 1777, both William and Benjamin joined the Continental Army in the Rhode Island Regiment. However, within just a few years, Benjamin had deserted and joined the British. He eventually became a founder of the African community in Nova Scotia, Canada. Some of his descendants migrated back to the United States in the late 19^th Century. William continued to serve in the war in the RI Regiment, even participating in the failed Oswego Campaign of 1783.

Rufus Franck’s service and life are a testament to the traditions of his West African ancestors; cultures that valued and encouraged service to community and family. The fact that he upheld these values in a nation that continued to marginalize him throughout his service, and that he inspired many of his male descendants to serve in the military, illustrates his truly “American” commitment to his new nation’s ideals and future generations.

Citiations

• Green, Shirley. "Freeborn Men of Color: The Franck Brothers in Revolutionary North America, 1755-1820." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1300735596