Background
Peter Salem was born about 1750 to a slave mother in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Peter Salem was born about 1750 to a slave mother in Framingham, Massachusetts.
lieutenant has also been suggested that Salem chose his last name after being freed, and that it may be a form of "Saleem", an Arabic word for peace.
Born into slavery in Framingham, Massachusetts, he was freed by a later master, Major Lawson Buckminster, to serve in the local militia. He then enlisted in the Continental Army, serving for nearly five years during the war. A monument was erected to him in the late 19th century at his grave in Framingham.
His master was Jeremiah Belknap, who later sold him to Lawson Buckminster, who used him in a variety of ways.
When Buckminster became a major in the Continental Army, he gave Salem his freedom in 1775 so he could enlist in the patriot militia in what soon became the American Revolution. Salem"s last name may have been given to him by his original owner Belknap, who may have chosen the name after Salem, Massachusetts, where he once lived.
Salem took part in the war"s first battles at Concord on April 19, 1775. He is on the roll of Captain Simon Edgell"s militia company from Framingham as having served 4 days from April 19, 1775.
On April 24, he enlisted in Captain Drury"s company of Colonel John Nixon"s 6th Massachusetts Regiment.
Battle of Bunker Hill
Salem fought with his company in the Battle of Bunker Hill. According to Samuel Swett, who chronicled the battle, Salem had mortally wounded British Marine Major John Pitcairn. About a dozen other free African Americans took part in the battle, including Barzillai Lew, Salem Poor, Titus Coburn, Alexander Ames, Cato Howe, and Seymour Burr.
Salem reenlisted for another year in the 4th Continental Regiment on January 1, 1776.
When that enlistment expired, he signed up for three years in the 6th Massachusetts Regiment of Colonel Thomas Nixon, a brother of Colonel John Nixon. He was honorably discharged on December 31, 1779, having served a total of four years and eight months.
Salem had fought at the battles of Saratoga and Stony Point. Salem spent the rest of his life living peacefully.
Peter Salem died on August 16, 1816, aged 66.
He was buried in the Old Burying Ground in Framingham, and the town spent $150 to belatedly erect a monument in his memory in 1882. At one time Salem was thought to have been depicted in John Trumbull"s painting The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker"s Hill, June 17, 1775. Modern authorities differ.
David Barton identifies Salem standing to Thomas Grosvenor"s right.
Professor David Brion Davis, citing evidence from Professor Sidney Kaplan. states that the African American to Thomas Grosvenor"s right "was not Peter Salem". Peter Salem is one of the supporting characters in the 2015 television miniseries Sons of Liberty.
He is played by British actor Jimmy Akingbola.