Career
He was living in Narragansett, in 1777, when he ran away from his master and served in various capacities in the Continental Army for eight months during the American Revolutionary War. His situation was discovered and he was returned to his master, who later sold him to a man named Grant. With the assistance of Joshua Swann, his freedom was purchased from that master and in return he agreed to work for Swann for a certain time.
Joshua Swann took up residence in Milton, Saratoga County, New York, and brought along Jehu Grant.
After the agreed term had expired, Jehu Grant continued to live in Saratoga County. In 1832, the United States Congress enacted the first comprehensive Pension Acting, which granted an annual stipend to any veteran of the Revolutionary War who could prove his service.
Jehu Grant was one of several dozen black veterans, and one of thousands in total, who applied for the fund. The only proof many of these veterans had that they had been part of the fight were their own recollections.
To receive the funds, ex-soldiers had to tell their stories to a local court reporter, who sent the records on to Washington for disposition.
At the time of his pension application, Grant was 80 years old and blind. He made the appeal with the assistance of a neighbor. The following is an excerpt from the letter he sent to J. L. Edward, the then Commissioner of Pensions:
Grant"s application was denied, as was a subsequent plea.
Because he had remained, technically, a slave during the time of his service, the United States. government in 1832 would not recognize his claim.